Land ownership worries fund

NAMBAWAN Super Ltd is concerned at the number of people living on the piece of land belonging to the fund at 9-Mile in Port Moresby.
Chief executive officer Paul Sayer told The National that Nambawan Super purchased large parcels of land in 1990 and since then, they had been through a series of legal proceedings to secure the titles for these parcels of land, now described as P2156, P2157, P2158 and P2159.
He said the fund’s intentions for the site remained consistent with those from 1990 and that was to build new, master planned suburb with affordable housing for the growing population in Port Moresby and for its members.
“Securing these titles has been a challenging process where Nambawan Super has encountered a series of bureaucratic difficulties with one title still being subject to legal action,” he said.
“This land is an asset of the fund’s membership, including teachers, police personnel, nurses, doctors, correctional services personnel, public servants and private sector employees.
“Nambawan Super is focused on achieving vacant possession so it can protect the members’ assets and help the membership through the development of affordable housing options.
“The fund is obligated to consider the benefit for all members through expected return when investing in such projects.
“It is the fund’s goal to deliver a development to accommodate more affordable housing through design, efficiency, scale and partnerships with key services and suppliers.”
Sayer said Nambawan Super had worked closely with the Lands and Physical Planning Department and the National Capital District Commission over many years, supporting master planning processes through the 8-Mile and 9-Mile area local development plan, ensuring essential infrastructure and services such as schools, power, water and sewerage were planned for within the new community.
“The fund has been increasingly concerned at the number of settlers in this area, purporting to have been actively involved with buying and selling parcels of land from unknown individuals claiming ownership,” he said.
“Nambawan Super published a full-page public notice, weekly for four weeks to improve community awareness of the risks associated with buying or selling land in the area.
“Legal proceedings have now commenced, with all parties with an interest called to register with the National Court.”
“The next court date is set for Dec 13.” Sayer said the fund has consistently stated it was essential that Nambawan Super possesses leases for all sites to enable them (the fund) to deliver a master planned estate, efficiently and at affordable prices and focused on achieving vacant possession so it could develop the land.
“Nambawan Super encourages all parties who believe they are affected to come forward and register with the fund, and provide copies of any paperwork they have signed or received regarding their ‘land ownership’.”
Nambawan Super’s membership base is 195,000 Papua New Guineans from both the public and private sector organisations.