The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has given illegal settlers occupying its Five-Mile headquarters land 21 days to leave voluntarily or face forced eviction by police.
NBC Managing Director Kora Nou in a statement today announced the ultimatum yesterday following the alleged assault of the son of a senior NBC staff member over the weekend, which resulted in his hospitalization. A formal complaint has since been lodged with police.
Mr. Nou said NBC has re-established communication with the Metropolitan Superintendent, with police officers tasked to conduct awareness among the settlers during the 21-day notice period.
“We have re-established communication with the Metropolitan Superintendent and officers have been asked to carry out awareness among these illegal squatters so they can voluntarily move out within these 21 days,” he said.
“Failure to do so will result in NBC requesting the courts and police to evict them.”
Mr. Nou also called on the settlers to identify those responsible for the assault and hand them over to police for investigation.
He said NBC staff and their families should not be subjected to violence or intimidation while providing an essential public service.
“Our officers throughout the country provide an essential service to our people every day, including weekends and public holidays,” he said.
“These officers and their families do not deserve such unprovoked physical attacks or daily intimidation as they carry out their work, especially within the confines of our institutional housing premises.”
Mr. Nou said harassment, physical attacks and drunken behavior around the 5-Mile staff residences had increased as more illegal settlers moved into the area following eviction exercises elsewhere in Port Moresby.
“We will work with the courts, the police and NCDC to immediately stop this, as well as remove the illegal squatters already there,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Nou said the eviction is also in line with an NBC Board decision to develop the land.
He said funding has already been secured to build 38 staff houses, with construction expected to begin once a building permit is issued.
“Funding for 38 staff houses has already been secured, and NBC is only awaiting the issuance of a building permit to begin construction at Five Mile,” he said.
“The land presently occupied by these illegal squatters is an integral part of this major development plan.”