BY: FELISHA KAPIPI
OVER 5000 illegal settlers of Bush Wara settlement in Nine (9) Mile, North East Port Moresby were asked to vacate the land voluntarily before July 10, 2024.
The land initially belonged to Nambawan Super Limited (NSL). It acquired the land in 1990 but must defend its full title in court.
“Whilst NSL was defending its titles in court, these portions of land were left unsupervised, leading to substantial settlement by illegal squatters,” Monagi said
A grace period of 120 days was given to illegal squatters to vacate possession of the following land portions 2156, 2157 and 2159 allowing settlers the opportunity to remove any personal property or structure at their own cost.
Chief Executive Officer of NSL Paul Sayer said after the 3-months grace period lapsed, bulldozers will be forced to evict any standing structure.
“NSL will not be responsible for any damages done and will not be paying any form of compensation,” Sayer said.
The grace period begun on Tuesday, March 12, and will end on Wednesday, July 10th. Thereafter, the Sheriff’s office and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) will implement the eviction orders.
He further stated that the land rightfully belongs to the 228,000 hardworking members of NSL, both in private and public sector and cost about K90million for the redevelopment of the land.
Chairman of NSL Reginald Monagi told the media that the court has granted leave to NSL to issue Writs of Possession to illegal squatters at Bush Wara.
NSL is also taking steps to lawfully secure the possession of its fourth adjacent land portion 2158.
NSL intends to build new mix suburbs, with housing, industrial and commercial allotments, and the infrastructure improvements that comes with it, creating thousands of jobs and injecting much needed capital into the economy.
Meanwhile, NSL has provided sufficient opportunity and time to the illegal squatters to voluntarily relocate themselves away from these assets.