Housing issue will lead to greater national issues

 WHEN the bulk of our nation’s growing middle class is forced to live in settlements and resort to land grabbing, you know that there is a problem with affordable housing in our nation. 

The government has chosen to ignore a National Research Institute (NRI) 2010 strategic report on the national housing policy with a multi-pronged implementation strategy. 

The housing minister rejected the policy and refused to table it in the National Executive Council (NEC). 

The NEC convened to axe the Task Force Sweep team in a record time of 24hrs, but that is another story.

He just wanted to build houses and disregard the multi-pronged approach, which sets aside plans for schools, health centres, parks, sport facilities, roads and utility planning to encompass the whole development scope of communities that is needed for proper urban existence. 

This problem is acute in Port Moresby, Lae and other townships. 

Unless we address the housing issue now, in a proper way, the effects of unplanned development will have many negative implications on the people and our provincial capitals and communities. 

Land is vital to our livelihood. 

Perhaps there is a need to have a stronger push for private-public partnership where land mobilisation can be used to facilitate such a strategy in all centres to address these emerging problems before they develop into severe issues. 

Lack of proper housing development chokes development and civil liberty. 

A nation simply cannot progress when the bulk of the people are not adequately housed. 

Derrick Nagul, Via email