GOVERNOR PARKOP, MINISTER KAUPA BRING HOPE OF RESETTLEMENT, SETTLEMENT UPGRADE TO THE EVICTED AT SIX-MILE MOROBE SETTLEMENT IN PORT MORESBY
A joint visit by NCD Governor, Powes Parkop and, Housing and Urbanisation, John Kaupa late yesterday (Tuesday) gave hope to some 4000 settlers affected by an eviction being underway in Morobe settlement in Six-mile.
The visit also put smiles on their worried faces for a silver lining.
The eviction was executed by Fletcher Morobe PNG Limited to extend its facility, following a ten-year court battle initiated in 2007 by the settlers to stop a previous eviction.
The National Court ruled in favour of the company this year.
Speaking to them, sympathised Governor Parkop assured them that 50 families be resettled in Saraga-family owned land at 6-Mile after a payment was made to the owner.
Speaking to them, sympathised Governor Parkop assured them that 50 families be resettled in Saraga-family owned land at 6-Mile after a payment was made to the owner.
As part of their Settlement to Suburb Upgrade program, he said he wanted that land to be properly surveyed, subdivided and titles be given out to them later.
He said living condition in the settlement should not be taken as something normal, calling for its change to build a better future.
Parkop, who is the Chairman of the NCDC Physical Planning and Development, further said he would negotiate with the company to leave the higher hill for those whose houses have been demolished in the eviction exercise but still want to live there.
“I came here with long and short-term solutions as the eviction must be used as an opportunity for us to build a better future in the city. I sympathise with you all that houses have been demolished and three care centres have set up. However, when we are thinking about the past, we will not find a solution,” a saddened Parkop told them.
He described its behaviour as immoral, saying how could the company-which they helped with labour to grow from strength to strength-turned against the very contributors of that growth.Donating K2000 cash as his personal contribution, he said a request was made to the City Manager Bernard Kipit to raise a cheque for their relief supplies.
Governor Parkop also assured them that this opportunity should be used as well to build a better future by way of building better houses for them when surveying, subdivision and allotments are completed.
He also announced that the process of settlement upgrade program had already started with a declaration by Minister for Lands and Physical Planning Justin TKatchenko that portions of land at 8 and 9-Mile be reserved to cater for it.
The instrument will be signed later to complement it, said Governor Parkop.
“If we continue this way in the care centres, we won’t have a better future. I don’t have any more excuses. Ten years is enough. City will not completely change by building flyover, roads, TVET, Urban Youth Employment and other projects unless we deliver this project. This is the impact project to improve the living standard of our people when we give them land titles.
“We will be steadfast on our aspiration to build a better future for us in the city. If we can’t make it, we must make sure our kids do,” a confident Parkop said.
John Bare, a community representative, said they had been living in the area for over 54 years since 1964.
He added the settlement was established at the back of the company facility after a verbal agreement was reached between the company and their fore-fathers who were its employees.
Mr Bare shared similar sentiment with Governor Parkop, expressing a concern that due respect on humanitarian grounds was not accorded to them before it was carried out.
He added that the eviction notice was not served properly giving them ample time to bring their houses down for relocation.
He claimed that an owner of a semi-permanent house died due to high blood pressing whilst seeing his how being demolished.
The company, he said, failed to honour its social obligations especially humanitarian assistance.
Councillor David Waula said they were the first settlers in the city.
According to Mr Waula, inhabitants were mainly the people of Gulf and Karamui Salt-Nomane in Simbu province.
There are three care centres in the area whilst the eviction is on-going, he said.
There are three care centres in the area whilst the eviction is on-going, he said.
The settlers also petitioned the leaders and in that most of their grievances netted assurance for a promising future.
