NCD Governor, Powes Parkop this morning set a record straight on evictions, issuance of land titles and NCDC’s policy position on resettlement and settlement upgrade project in the city.
Debunking fake claims by individuals with vested interested, Mr. Parkop said that under his leadership as the governor and NCD Physical Planning Chairman, along with his three open members of Parliament, the board and management are not engaging in an eviction exercise over settlements in the city.
He said police are only implementing Judicial Orders to evict illegal settlers squatting on someone’s property.
Speaking at a media conference today in Port Moresby, Governor Parkop said if police do not implement them, who else will do it?
The judicial system will collapse, he said.
However, in order for the capital to thrive as a truly metropolitan city, he indicated that some settlements within the heart of the city will be evicted but will be resettled in serviced land.
This, he said, will be done in collaboration with the National Government.
He said 4-Mile works eviction was carried out by the landlord, adding for 2-Mile Rabiagini few criminal elements have brought it upon themselves.
Numerous consultations were held with this community, but their violent actions persisted threatening safety and security of genuine city residents, he said.
He emphasized that land titles are issued by the Department of Lands and Physical Planning, not by the NCDC.
He explained that landlords-who have titles to a particular piece of land-have gone to court.
“There’s a process that has led to eviction orders,” Governor Parkop explained.
“Those orders have been sent to ACP and Metsup, the metropolitan command in the city, and they are obliged under the law to enforce those orders.”
“If they don’t enforce them, it’s a problem for the law and the judiciary. Imagine if judicial orders are not respected and implemented; the judicial system will collapse, and we cannot afford that,” he said.
Governor Parkop said that the settlers who are being affected have gone through due process, adding they have had their time in court and the opportunity to defend their rights.
“It’s something beyond the control of me or three other open members of Parliament; it’s subject to an independent judicial process,” Governor Parkop said.
Governor Parkop reiterated that his settlement to suburb upgrade project is transforming settlements into suburb, with a clear goal: “To end settlements in Port Moresby and hopefully in the country.”
Mr. Parkop outlined that 9-Mile Settlement Upgrade has already been completed, and they are looking forward to the 8-Mile Settlement upgrade.
NCDC wants to resettle settlements in the city center so the city can be developed in a planned and organized way, Mr. Parkop continued.
He appealed to the community to cooperate with NCDC to end settlements in the city.
On resettlement, he said NCDC in collaboration with Moresby South DDA has repatriated two truckloads of evicted settlers from 2-Mile to Kuni in Kairuku.
Over K300,000 has been expanded to cater for relief supplies for the displaced residents, Governor Parkop told reporters.