Support for settler eviction plan

NORTHERN commander ACP Peter Guinness supports Lae commander Chief Supt Chris Kunyanban’s call for Lae city to come up with a good plan to remove illegal settlers. “Police are ready to work with the Morobe government and Lands and Physical Planning Department to map a way forward to facilitate the eviction of illegal settlers squatting on reserve State land,” he said. This comes after a sector response unit was stoned and empty beer bottles were thrown at policemen at a road side market on Cassowary Road in Banana Block last week. “Attacks aimed at police have been happening for quite some time now and if people can do this to the police, what is the guarantee for public safety?” ACP Guinness asked. He said while the authorities were not doing enough to address the issue, “it is now getting out of hand”.
“We will have to do it now and that means the provincial government and other stakeholders need to work with the police to ensure amicable solutions are found to evict illegal settlers,” he said. ACP Guinness said for the illegal settlers to intimidate law enforcement agencies, especially the police, could not be tolerated and measures need to be taken to stop such behaviour. “We do not have the power to issue eviction notices to illegal settlers,” he said. “It is the provincial government or the courts. Police will only be there to enforce the eviction notice. “I support Chief Supt Chis Kunyanban to work with Lands and Physical Planning Department and the provincial government to take out an eviction notice against these settlers because Banana Block is known for various criminal activities.”