Settlers vandalise 50 new police houses at Bomana

By Alphonse Porau

SETTLERS have vandalised 50 of the 150 newly constructed police houses at Bomana outside Port Moresby.
National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Benjamin Turi said the houses were not immediately occupied because the contractor Red Sea Housing had not been paid in full.
Turi told The National that people were stealing goods from the houses to sell and for their own use.
He said something had to be done quickly to avoid spending more money on maintaining the houses.
“All the last row of houses from the end of the barracks towards the dog unit are completely vandalised,” he said.
“You can see there is graffiti on the walls, toilet pots and sinks are missing, the window classes are broken and metre boxes and wirings are all stolen.
“We are trying to relocate officers residing at Gordon barracks after the condemning of the barracks but looks like we will spend more money to fix the damages done.”
Turi said he spoke to the company management about the delay and they advised that they were not given their dues after the completion of the barracks.
“The delay now is the funding.
“Yesterday, I went down to talk to the Red Sea management about the issue and they said they will not move until the chief secretary starts paying up the debt before the power and water is connected.”