State land sale cancelled

By CLARISSA MOI
ALL sale of State land through illegal and bad practices will be stopped, according to the National Housing Corporation (NHC).
Managing director Henry Mokono said this during a site visit to a NHC hostel at Hohola, Port Moresby yesterday.
According to the tenants, they were not aware that the hostel’s car park had been sold until a group came in claiming that they had the land title and put up fence blocking off the area.
One of the tenants, Stanley Bena, said proper processes should be followed when buying State or even commercial land.
“The tenants should also be (made) aware of what’s happening, not to be caught by surprise when the parties interested in a piece of land come in and start putting up posts and building fences.”
Mokono, in response, said the hostel’s car park was an offcut land that belonged to NHC.
“And it rightfully belongs to the tenants here,” he said.
“Whatever sale that was done previously has been cancelled.
“No private interest will own this land.
“This place will be upgraded and fenced for the tenants, it will not go to private hands.
“We will secure this place for you (tenants). I want to assure you (tenants) that this place never got sold and it will never be sold.
“Every illegal sale of State land which was previously done under suspicious circumstances will be nullified.
“There will be no such deal going forward.
“Not only here, but all of Port Moresby and countrywide,” Mokono said.
“Such stealing and corrupt practices will be stopped.”
Mokono told the 48 tenants that the hostel would be renovated as part of the renovating and maintaining of all government properties that were rundown.
“Slowly, but surely under this regime, we have started fixing government flats and units that were rundown.
“Eventually we will come here (Hohola) to fix and maintain it.
“Now we are at Manu, we will go to Gordon and (then) come here.
He also noted that anyone with a private interest needed to buy commercial land and not State land.