By Amin Kef (Ranger)
In a resounding show of effective leadership and conflict resolution, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has been widely praised for his decisive role in resolving the long-standing land dispute involving the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) and the Ministry of Tourism.
The dispute, centered on a plot of land occupied by the New Brookfields Hotel within MMTU’s campus, has been a point of contention for years. MMTU asserted that the land was integral to its Faculty of Hotel, Tourism and Nutritional Sciences, claiming ownership based on legal documentation. Conversely, the Ministry of Tourism, citing agreements from previous administrations, maintained that the hotel had legitimate rights to the property.
Despite earlier recognition by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Technical and Higher Education of MMTU’s ownership, unresolved differences threatened to deepen the rift. It was the intervention of Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh that brought about a resolution acceptable to all parties.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh emphasized the need for collaboration between MMTU and the Ministry of Tourism, noting that both entities are vital institutions of Government with shared objectives for national development. He stressed the importance of respecting the legal opinion provided by the Law Officers’ Department, which served as the Government’s definitive position on the issue.
By urging adherence to this legal guidance, the Vice President steered the discussion towards a resolution grounded in fairness, legality and mutual respect. His approach garnered praise from both the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, who expressed satisfaction with the mediation’s outcome.
The agreement affirms Ministry of Tourism ownership of the land, leased to Brookfields Hotel enabling the facility to move ahead with its plans for expansion.
For the Ministry of Tourism, the resolution ensures continued access by the MMTU Tourism School to the New Brookfields Hotel, a critical asset for promoting hospitality and tourism initiatives.
Parliamentary Leaders have hailed Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh’s intervention in the issue stating that Parliament had laid the groundwork for an understandable resolution.
The resolution underscores the trust placed in the Vice President to handle sensitive matters and demonstrates his effectiveness in fostering collaboration between Government institutions.
Both institutions are looking forward to a definitive closure that would allow them to continue to work together as vital partners in the hospitality industry.
