The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Rehabilitation Centre, a registered NGO dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities, is appealing for immediate intervention from state authorities as the centre faces the threat of eviction.
Stakeholders, residents, and advocates warn that governance disputes and administrative irregularities could displace vulnerable members of the community. The appeal has been directed to the Minister for Justice, the Police Commissioner, the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA), the Department of Lands, and the Department of Community Development and Religion.
During an interview with the Sunday Bulletin, Mrs. Rute Kapi, wife of the late Brown Kapi (former chairman of the Brown Kapi Foundation and PNG Rehabilitation Centre), and their daughter Fiona Kapi Marang, now Chair Lady of the Brown Kapi Foundation, shared concerns about the centre’s leadership challenges since 2015. They explained that disputes over organizational control have escalated into legal proceedings, resulting in an eviction order.
Stakeholders fear the eviction could lead to liquidation of the property, noting that other centres for persons with disabilities in the region have already been sold under circumstances that raised concern.
The community is calling for transparent answers to:
• Police Fraud Squad action on complaints lodged over land title issues.
• Court processes that denied stakeholders a full trial to present their case.
• Accountability measures for individuals alleged to have bypassed governance protocols.
Stakeholders emphasize that state mechanisms must not disadvantage vulnerable communities. They urge authorities to halt the pending eviction, review disputed board registrations, and safeguard the institutional assets of the PNG Rehabilitation Centre to ensure continued support for persons with disabilities.