By: Lemuella Tarawallie
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence, chaired by Hon. Alex Rogers, on Monday conducted an oversight visit to the Peace Mission Training Centre (PMTC) in Hastings to investigate ongoing operations and address an escalating land dispute between the military and local residents.
The delegation included Hon. Beatrice Iyamide Langley of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Hon. John Sartty Kargbo of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), and other committee members.
During the visit, Chairman Hon. Alex Rogers ordered a suspension of all demolition activities within the disputed area until further consultations are held with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning.
“No one should defy the buffer zone established by the military,” Hon. Rogers stated. “All demolitions must be halted, and the headmen of Hastings and Yarms are to ensure that no construction activities take place within the buffer zone during this period.”
He emphasized that the Defence Committee, which comprises 17 members from both the SLPP and APC, will continue to monitor the situation and engage stakeholders to prevent further escalation. He also announced plans to convene a joint session with the Parliamentary Committees on Lands and Defence to deliberate on safety concerns and land-related grievances.
The Chairman reiterated that the Committee not only exercises oversight over the Ministry of Defence, the Office of National Security (ONS), the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Arms and Ammunition Unit, but also advocates for the institutional welfare of these bodies.
Colonel Abdul Baber Keita, Commandant of the PMTC, defended the Centre’s actions, stating that the demolitions were legally justified and aimed at removing illegal structures encroaching on military land.
“These demolitions were not arbitrary,” Col. Keita insisted. “They were carried out in collaboration with community stakeholders and the Ministry of Lands.”
He highlighted that the Ministry of Lands had reviewed and reaffirmed the military’s land allocation, necessitating the enforcement of temporary measures such as halting construction and setting up checkpoints. He also emphasized the PMTC’s broader mandate, which includes training Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) personnel for peace operations, supporting government agencies, and maintaining emergency response readiness.
Foday M. Tauray, Chairman of Constituency 111, acknowledged that the Hastings community does not have a direct conflict with the military. However, he accused the Ministry of Lands of failing to respect prior parliamentary agreements.
“If the Ministry of Lands had adhered to the original parliamentary document, there would have been no dispute,” Tauray remarked. “The military has acted professionally in trying to protect lives and property.”
Tauray pointed out inconsistencies in land allocation figures originally said to exceed 900 hectares calling for parliamentary review to reconcile the differences between the 48 acres and 79 hectares in question.
Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh (SLPP, Western Area Urban) added that both community leaders and local authorities support the implementation of previously agreed-upon parliamentary resolutions.
Chairman Rogers concluded the visit by commending the generally cordial relationship between PMTC personnel and the Hastings community. He emphasized the need for transparency, continuous dialogue, and joint parliamentary oversight to bring a lasting resolution to the land dispute.