Home scheme for soldiers

 MANY ex-service men of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) face problems owning homes on retirement, Defence Minister Fabian Pok says.

Speaking during the official launching of Defence Force Retirement Benefit Fund Home Ownership Scheme on Friday at Taurama Barracks, Pok said it was an important project because it was the first housing scheme for members of the force to participate and enjoy the benefits of owning a home. 

“Today, our country is going through many challenges and one of the challenges is the need for affordable houses,” Pok said. 

”The availability of houses for the citizens of a country is generally accepted  to represent one of the key measures of level of development of a society and adequate housing is one of the millennium development goals (MDGs) agreed in 2009 by the United Nations organisation.

Pok acknowledged that members of the force lived in institutional housing during their service but when they retired, most of them faced the difficulties in owning homes of their own. 

“I, as the minister responsible for Defence, am proud and honoured to be part of this milestone achievement.”

Pok said another benefit for the welfare of the members of the force was that all homes of PNGDF personnel would receive new sets of white goods each by Christmas and this included a fridge, a stove and a washing machine. 

PNGDF Commander Brigadier General Gilbert Toropo said housing was a basic need and he was proud of the success of the home ownership scheme.