Kaupa assures residents they will not be evicted

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
MORESBY North-East MP John Kaupa, pictured, has assured residents of the Gordon Flats in Port Moresby that they will not be evicted.
The flats are at the centre of a dispute between the tenants and the developer of the land who wants them evicted as ordered by the court.
“Although the National Capital District Commission regularity services have condemned this place on health hazard grounds, I will talk to the National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop to find the best way to address this issue,” Kaupa said.
Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’dranou said police were at the scene to ensure that the demolition was done in an orderly manner.
“In such situations, you will see opportunists getting involved and creating chaos.”
Housing and Urban Development Minister Justin Tkatchenko was injured on Tuesday when caught in a clash between the tenants and those implementing the eviction order.
Tenants’ spokesman Steven Mune denied reports that the tenants injured Tkatchenko.
“It was the (men dressed in) city rangers (uniform) who started the unruly situation.” Mune said the men armed with bush knives and other objects accompanied the two backhoes which were to tear down the flats.
“When some of the tenants tried to stop them, they retaliated with bush knives and threw stones.”
National Capital District-Central police commander Donald Yamasombi later told the men to leave the area.