Prime Minister, James Marape yesterday took a decisive and compassionate leadership on one of Papua New Guinea’s most pressing and long-standing challenges—land, housing, and settlement evictions—following a high-level stakeholder meeting at Melanesian Haus.
The meeting brought together key government leaders and institutions, including Minister for Police Hon. John Pundari, Minister for Housing Hon. Dr Kobby Bomareo, the Police Commissioner, Secretary for Lands, Managing Director of the National Housing Corporation, NCDC officials, and other senior agency heads, to urgently address the growing concerns surrounding eviction exercises in Port Moresby and across the country.
Prime Minister Marape emphasized that while legal land ownership must be respected, the Government has a moral and constitutional duty to protect the dignity and rights of Papua New Guineans—especially those living in informal settlements.
“This issue of eviction is not just a legal matter—it is a human issue. Thousands of our people are affected, and we must proceed with care, compassion, and responsibility,” Prime Minister Marape said last night in a statement.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the Government has formally called on parties holding court orders to slow down eviction processes, allowing space for dialogue and practical, humane solutions.
“We have asked those pursuing eviction to slow down while we explore alternative solutions that balance both the rights of landowners and the welfare of our people,” he stated.
This directive follows increasing concerns about displacement, particularly in areas surrounding established developments such as Kennedy Estate, where thousands of families are currently at risk.
In a bold and unprecedented move, Prime Minister Marape revealed that the Government is actively exploring land-swapping and compensation arrangements for legitimate title holders, while also securing new land for displaced settlers.
“We are looking at giving alternate land to the title holder, equivalent in size and value, while ensuring our people are properly relocated and settled with dignity,” he said.
He acknowledged the role of responsible developers, noting that some investors have a proven track record in delivering housing estates, but stressed that development must not come at the cost of social disruption.
Prime Minister Marape outlined a broader national strategy aimed at addressing the root causes of informal settlements, including rapid urbanization and lack of structured land allocation systems.
“Papua New Guinea is urbanizing rapidly. We must now plan our cities properly and ensure that every citizen has access to land and a place to call home,” he said.
The Government will expand land acquisition programs, work closely with NCDC, provincial governments, and districts, allocate properly planned residential land to employed citizens, taxpayers, and SME participants, and ensure structured urban development with proper titles and allotments.
“We want to organize our cities so that our people live with proper titles, proper planning, and a secure future,” the Prime Minister added.
In this historic year marking Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary, Prime Minister Marape linked the Government’s actions to its broader “Reset @ 50” vision—anchored in restoring dignity, equity, and opportunity for all citizens.
Drawing inspiration from Bible scripture, he referenced the biblical principle of restoration.
“Leviticus 25:8–10 teaches us about returning people to their land. This is not just theology—it is a principle of justice and nation-building that we must now put into action.”
While committing to humane solutions, the Prime Minister also issued a strong appeal to settlement communities to uphold law and order.
“As we work towards permanent solutions, I call on all community leaders to contain lawlessness, alcohol abuse, and violence. Let us work together to build safe and orderly communities,” he urged.
Prime Minister Marape acknowledged that land and housing remain among the most complex and historically under-addressed issues in Papua New Guinea.
“This is perhaps the biggest challenge no government has fully tackled before—but we are committed to confronting it head-on, fairly and decisively,” he said.
The Prime Minister has directed that continuous stakeholder consultations will take place in the coming days, led by senior government officials, to refine and implement practical solutions.
Prime Minister Marape’s intervention signals a turning point in how Papua New Guinea approaches land ownership, urban development, and human settlement.
By balancing legal rights with human dignity, and immediate concerns with long-term planning, the Government is laying the foundation for a more equitable and orderly future for all citizens.
Related news: https://www.thepngsun.com/govt-steps-in-to-ease-fears-of-displacement-pm-calls-for-stakeholder-meeting-on-eviction/
“Every Papua New Guinean deserves a place to live in their own country. That is the future we are working towards—fair, just, and inclusive for all.”