By PATRICK SAKAL
THE National Court has warned people thinking of buying land outside of cities and towns to follow due process to acquire land.
The court also urged genuine buyers to conduct proper searches with the Department of Lands and seek proper legal assistance to varify the ownership over the property.
It issued this warning following a recent rulling at Waigani National Court after a full trial in favor of Nambawan Super’s primary rights over the land portion 2156,2157 and 2159, known as Buswara Settlement at 9-mile outside Port Moresby.
The landmark rulling also ordered more than 20,000 settlers and squatters to remove any improvements in the property at their own cost by March 16, 2021.
Effective as of November 16, 2020, the court ordered that the defendents and occupants have 120 days to vacate the respective parcels of land.
Justice Thomas Anis, while handing down the ruling said the settlers had been led to believe that they were buying land from the customary landowners and they will be evicted or asked to leave because the property is a state land, which has leases that are registered to Nambawan Super.
He said land cannot be sold like a chattel or a loaf of bread, nor can anyone just occupy it and try to claim rights over it without proper legal basis.
The Nambawan Super in a recent media statement said it is in preparation towards developing the property to provide more affordable housing for the growing Port Moresby population and in particular the fund members.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Lands, John Rosso issued similiar warnings to illegal land grabbers squatting on State land around the country to vacate or face eviction.
Rosso said all available State land has been earmarked for affordable housing projects for the general public.
He said the department has plans to provide land for the construction of affordable homes for the working class population adding that the department will partner with superannuation companies to build and manage the projects.