Police can own houses

A police home ownership scheme was signed yesterday between the National Housing Corporation, police association, Millscope LLC Company and Bank South Pacific to build 1000 houses for members of the association.
The building site is state land at the back of the National Research Institute (NRI), with the cost of the construction to be met by the developer – Millscope LLC Company.
Housing Minister Paul Isikiel  said housing was a dilemma in PNG and one of the main agendas of the government to address.
“Providing housing is number one agenda for this government and we will continue to do so with involvement of our development partners,” Isikiel said.
He said the scheme would be like a pilot project for the country.
Isikiel said the housing issue was long over-due for the police.
“We want to give something back to the police,” he said.
“Not only institutional housing but something that they can pay over time and in the event they retire, they can go back and reside there and call it home.”
Isikiel assured the investor that this was the right time to invest in PNG with the economy picking up.
Chairman of Millscope Steven Millar thanked the stakeholders and government bodies that worked together to allow the company to develop the project.
“We also look forward for a long-term association.”