Committee formed to help NHC evictees

Ellen Tigia (right) from Pindiu in Finschhafen, was evicted from her house on July 2017. Her late husband, who was a public servant, paid National Housing Corporation for the property through the Government’s sell-off scheme that was introduced in 1988. – Picture supplied

By JIMMY KALEBE
A COMMITTEE representing the National Housing Corporation (NHC) evicted tenants in Lae, Morobe, was formed last Monday to work with the corporation to find amicable solutions to problems and difficulties between NHC and its tenants, an official says.
The newly-appointed interim chairman of the NHC evicted tenants in Lae, Dick Karim, said one of the main reasons for forming the committee was to be the voice of the evicted tenants and working with the NHC to find workable solutions for issues faced by evicted tenants.
“The formation of this committee is not meant to go against NHC but to help both parties find out how the eviction exercises came about, how these exercises were carried out and the reason behind those evictions,” he said.
Karim said the committee would help NHC to find out whether those evictions were legal or not.
“These evictions had negative impacts on the lives of many families,” he said.
“Some of those who were evicted have lost their husbands and are only with the kids since they were evicted.”
Karim claimed that on many occasions, the NHC acted on short notices and evicted the tenants which they felt was not good and asked if both parties could map a way forward to negotiate a better solution.