Shadow Minister for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sir Puka Temu, says the recent evictions at Two Mile in Port Moresby are not an isolated incident but the result of long-standing failures in urban planning, land administration, and governance at both the National Capital District (NCD) and national levels.
Sir Puka said illegal structures and settlements at Two Mile did not emerge overnight but developed gradually over many years due to weak enforcement, poor coordination among responsible agencies, and ineffective city management.
“The National Capital District failed in its responsibility to properly manage the city’s planning and administration. Illegal developments were allowed to expand unchecked, growing from isolated structures into a full settlement,” he said.
According to Sir Puka, when authorities allow illegal settlements to become entrenched over long periods, sudden evictions become inevitable, with ordinary families bearing the human cost rather than those responsible for governance failures.
He also criticised the poor and impractical use of vacant State land in Port Moresby, noting that large areas remain undeveloped or underutilised despite increasing demand for affordable housing.
“There has been no pragmatic strategy to convert State land into organised housing or serviced settlement zones. Instead, informal occupation was allowed to take root, which is neither humane nor sustainable,” he said.
Sir Puka stressed that illegal settlements must be addressed in a responsible and systematic manner. He said comprehensive social and land-use studies should be conducted before any eviction to establish who is living in the settlements, how long they have been there, and their living conditions.
“Evictions carried out without proper assessment simply displace families from one location to another. Any relocation must be to properly serviced areas with access to water, sanitation, roads, schools, and health facilities,” he said.
The Shadow Minister also called for stronger collaboration between the government and Motu Koita Assembly leaders to formally declare customary land and grant appropriate State titles. He said this would empower customary landowners and help manage urban growth more effectively.
Areas such as Taurama Valley and the Gereka settlements, he said, require proactive management to return land title authority to original landowners and establish long-term lease arrangements to provide certainty for residents, investors, and planners.
Sir Puka expressed strong support for the Parliamentary Committee on Customary Land and called for the passage of customary land legislation during the March sitting of Parliament, describing the reform as long overdue.
“Without clear legal frameworks for customary land use and leasing, disputes will persist, development will stall, and urban pressures will continue to intensify,” he said.
He also urged Parliament to pass the Vagrancy Bill introduced by NCD Governor Hon. Powes Parkop, saying it should form part of a broader national strategy to promote rural development.
“Urban drift is driven by necessity, not preference. When rural communities lack basic services and employment opportunities, people are forced to move to towns and cities,” Sir Puka said.
He concluded that evictions alone are not a solution, calling instead for competent urban planning, meaningful land reform, effective rural development, and leadership that addresses the root causes of informal settlements.
“Until these issues are confronted decisively, situations like Two Mile will continue to repeat themselves, to the detriment of our people and the nation,” he said.
Powerful and fact statement from the senior member for Abau Open Sir Puka Temu about the recent eviction at 2 mile hill NCD Papua new Guinea.What was the standing of NCD Commission under the leadership of Powers Parkop in relation to the evection in 2 mile.
Very true statement about the evection in 2 mile hill NCD Papua Guinea.