But when asked when exactly the report would be laid before Parliament, his response “as soon as possible” he said.
He later explained that the files had been undergoing police investigation and were only recently returned. The ministry, he said, must now collect and compile them before submitting the information.
On the question of when the report was presented to Cabinet, the minister said it was discussed last year but admitted he could not remember the exact date.
Despite that uncertainty, he confirmed that the ministry had already started acting on the recommendations of the report.
The issue of the construction embargo at the Kamalo site added another layer of questioning.
The minister told lawmakers that during the investigation, an embargo was placed on construction works at the Kamalo Industrial Layout. However, after the receipt of the investigative report, the administrative process led to the lifting of the embargo.
Construction, he confirmed, had been ongoing since last year after the embargo was lifted.
Members pressed further if there were re-entries on the land following the recommendations? Yes, the minister replied, but he could not provide the number of affected plots at the time.
Another concern raised was whether individuals who had been allocated land and invested in projects were later asked to stop work because previous owners were reclaiming the land. The minister said he would need that information in writing before addressing it.
The Minority Leader, Hon Alhagie S. Darboe, questioned how the report could be implemented if it was still before Cabinet awaiting approval.
In response, the minister clarified that the report had already been approved by Cabinet and implemented.
