Parliament Warns Ministries Against Interfering in MMTU Land Dispute
Aaron Parker Parliament has issued a stern warning to various ministries regarding their involvement in the ongoing land dispute between Brookfields Hotel and the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU).
The dispute concerns a contested portion of land claimed by MMTU, which Brookfields Hotel seeks to reclaim.
Despite over nine months of negotiations between Brookfields Hotel and MMTU, the matter remains unresolved. The situation was exacerbated when Minister of Tourism Nabeela Tunis sought intervention from the Chief Minister, the Office of the Vice President, and the Attorney General. This escalation led to the issue being referred to a parliamentary committee for further examination.
During a joint committee meeting, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Education criticized the ministries for exacerbating the conflict rather than facilitating a resolution. He cautioned that continued interference from these ministries could lead the committee to take more drastic measures to ensure the dispute is resolved fairly.
The Chairman emphasized that the committee, as appointed by the Speaker of Parliament, is tasked with mediating the dispute impartially and in the best interests of all parties involved. He urged the ministries to avoid taking sides and to allow the committee to carry out its role without further interference.
Committee members also advised Brookfields Hotel to avoid leveraging political influence in the dispute resolution process, noting that shifts in government could lead to a loss of support. Instead, they encouraged the hotel to persist in seeking a resolution through direct dialogue with MMTU to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Education is a back bone for a nation in terms of development.