By Nasratu Kargbo
Speaking during a joint meeting held by his committee and the Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs in parliament, the Chairman of the Committee- Tertiary and Higher Education, Joseph William Lamin pointed out that the New Brookfields Hotel has breached the lease agreement they had with the Milton Magai Technical University (MMTU).
The meeting which was held on the 13th of August 2024 according to the MPs was for them to understand the issue between the university and the Hotel over land disputes. Lamin whilst looking at the agreement said the Hotel breached Clause 2(2) of the agreement, which states that the hotel was supposed to increase the pay by twenty percent (20%) after every five years, which they have not done over the years.
He stated that in 2015 the hotel had paid sixty thousand dollars and did the same in 2020, noting that five years later they did not increase the twenty percent as stated in the agreement.
Speaking on other contraventions made, the Chairman quoted Clause 2(9) of the agreement which speaks on annoyance, nuisance, damage, and inconvenience to their neighbours, noting that according to the pictorial evidence presented, the hotel has contravened that clause.
Responding to some of the quarries, the Manager of the Hotel Paul Shuffield said they only have sixty percent of Plot One, saying the forty percent is where the dispute is.
He said they paid all their taxes to the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
The Chief Whip of the Opposition Abdul Karim Kamara said he expects the Ministry of Tourism to be a referee and not a player in the issue.
He said that the hotel was in talks with the university for an extension of their parking lot, adding that the arrangement was going on smoothly until the ministry interfered and caused the rift between the two parties.
The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela F. Tunis said that education and tourism are both important in the development of the country, stating essence of expanding the hotel. She explained that they had reached an agreement in September and that the university had ceded the place to the hotel without contention. Tunis said all that was left was for the university to take the matter to their court.
She requested that they come at a later date for them to provide evidence (documentation) and respond to questions.
The Vice Principal of the University said the institution was created by an Act of Parliament, “Section 16 of the Polytechnic Act of 2001 which says that all the property of Hotel Tourism and Training Institution has been transferred to the new institution that is created. He sternly stated that if one claims the property that was legally given to them, then the same can be done in the future to the Eastern Polytechnic and other institutions.
He expressed appreciation to the committee, stressing that if it wasn’t for them, the matter which is already at the police would have left them behind bars.
Amongst the shreds of evidence submitted to the committee by the university were a survey plan, video and picture evidence of a scaffold erected by the hotel that blocked a classroom, and concrete mortar from the hotel’s workers spilled along the campus’ corridor, which according to them has affected their newly rehabilitated building.
The Hotel Manager also submitted the lease agreement and plan as evidence.
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