Bel-China land remains untouchable during appeal

The United Democratic Party today won a victory of sorts when the Court of Appeal granted a complete stay of execution of its judgement in the Bel-China land case. The same court had previously reversed a decision of the Supreme Court, ruling that the UDP acquired the land from government illegally. But after Attorney and UDP Leader Dean Barrow argued the case, the Court of Appeal said that the UDP should continue to occupy the entire parcel, including their headquarters building and that the government cannot enter the land until the Privy Council rules on the appeal lodged against the Court of Appeal’s earlier decision. That ruling will likely not be made until after the next general election. It can be recalled that the last UDP government gave the UDP the valuable land free of charge to use for its headquarters. Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh upheld the grant, the Court of Appeal ruled otherwise. Today’s decision effectively freezes the status quo until the Privy Council makes its ruling.