By Ragan M. Conteh

The Brookfields Hotel and Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) are currently drawing daggers over a piece of a land.

The university has claimed it owns the land.

At a jointed committee hearing between the Tertiary Education Committee and the Tourism Ministry Committee in Parliament, The Chairman of the Tertiary Committee in Parliament, Hon. Lamin interrogated the authorities from the Tourism Ministry and MMTU for the said land.

“The two institutions are claiming ownership of the said land but the documents submitted to the MPs show that the land is owned by the  University, ” a statement by authorities has said.

According to records, the land in question belongs to the university but the hotel owners aided by the  Minister of Tourism are understandable pushing for the land to be the property of Brookfields hotel.

Authorities from the University have said they had earlier negotiated with the hotel management to lease the land but the Ministry of Tourism has abrogated the earlier agreement being made.

The Director of Tourism Ministry said the hotel management have documents to show of the clear demarcation on the land.

He said the land is to be expanded by the hotel.

A Member of Parliament from Kambia District said there is nowhere in the world that a land for educational purposes is giving to a private individual.

He said the said land according to document is the property of the University and the only way the Hotel can do is to negotiate in other means.

Owing to the nature, of the case, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, has joined the committee of Higher Education to probe into the issue.

Hon. Tawa asked for the presence of the Permanent Secretary from the Ministries of Tourism and Higher education respectively.

“We cannot proceed without the presence of all the parties,” he said.

He said the Brookfields hotel, the two ministries, Melton Margai University representatives and among others should be appear for the proceedings.

The matter comes up on Thursday 22 August 2024 at the Committee Room one in Parliament for further scrutiny.