Residents at Half Street refuse eviction

By PISAI GUMAR
HALF Street residents in Lae have refused to accept an eviction notice from a private company.
The police served the notice at 5.30pm on Thursday for the residents occupying two flats and 13 stand-alone houses in section 1, allotment 75 in Top Town.
The properties are owned by the National Housing Corporation (NHC), which JB Investment Ltd  is seeking to purchase.
Ward Two chairman and resident Thompson Benguma said the incident resulted in a protest march by the tenants to the Morobe government office to present their grievances yesterday.
However, police turned the protestors back advising them that it was illegal and summoned their leaders to meet with Lae Met Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr.
Superintendant Operations Fred Kaiwa said protest organisers should seek approval from the Metropolitan Superintendent.
Kaiwa and police legal officer Paul Henry met with Benguma and the community yesterday afternoon.
He said the eviction notice was a follow-up from 2016 when the tenants were advised to pay their arrears.
Kaiwa said he was unsure of the transaction by JB Investment Ltd but acted upon the notice, as part of police duty.
Henry said: “The notice gives assurance to the occupants to read and understand the contents and sign to ensure they have received the notice.
“However, despite signing the notice, occupants have legal and human rights to get the court order to stay the notice or eviction notice, go to the court to determine the matter.”
Benguma said the owner of JB Investment Ltd should provide legitimate land transaction documents for them to view.
He said most occupants living at Half Street were public servants and had been there for more than 40 years.
“The government should consider giving us the title to this area.”