THE TST Group of Companies has described the recent demolition of the Jack Pidik Park (JPP) erected steel fence by the National Capital District Commission as blatant and inconsiderate.
It has now opted to file contempt charges against the commission for their actions.
On Wednesday August 25, 2021 National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop ordered the demolition exercise into JPP fencing with the knowledge of the Supreme Court order dated June 17, 2021 instructing TST to build the fence.
In a statement released by TST regarding the matter stated that TST through its subsidiary Boy Consultancy Limited (BCL) now Capital Centre Limited (CCL) negotiated in 1989 with the government and obtained the land on April 14, 1991. The negotiation was agreed upon by the TST and the government at that time to exchange the land owned by TST at 3-mile to allow the expansion of Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) in exchange of the land portion 2191 commonly known as JPP.
After the agreement granting the expansion PMGH new wing, TST was denied the access and development of JPP.
TST claimed that the land portion 2192 was declared by Court to TST through CCL as the registered proprietor of the land and is a commercial zone as stated in the National Gazette No.G274 on June 2014.
However, NCD governor Powes Parkop is standing on the powers of the Physical Planning Board and the National Capital District Commission which he is the chairman to prove that JPP is not a commercial land.
NCDC as custodian of public utilities in the city through Parkop claims that JPP remains a recreational area. Parkop said NCDC will continue to maintain this approach as it is their responsibility to protect public property and the interest of the people.
“We are the only authority in this city that has powers to decide what happens in terms of development in the city. The power belongs to NCDC and the PPB non other. Not even TST, they don’t have the right and they don’t have the power to decide what happens in the city in terms of development.
“We have issued them stop work notice but they didn’t respect it. We have also issued them demolition notice, they have not respected it so I am here to reaffirm the power and authority of the two important boards of the city,” said Parkop.
Moreover, TST claimed in a statement that prior to the demolition they have respected the rule of Law and the powers of the NCDC by offering three options for NCDC and PPB to consider.
This includes:
- TST have offered to overlook the agreement and purchase the land.
- Buy half of the land and use the other half as recreational park.
- Request the approval of their physical planning application which includes an open park area to be developed in the area at the cost of TST.
TST claimed the issues have taken over 30 years to solve through the court of law and during that period they have filed a total of eight physical planning applications to NCDC PPB. Seven of which were refused while the eight one is pending. They have also claimed that five different Supreme Court proceedings were initiated and all of it ruled in favors of TST.
Isn’t it strange that the NCD Governor is also the chairman of NCDC and PPB? Is this even possible? Clearly there is some form of conflict of interest here.