Tkatchenko wants officers suspended over evictions

MINISTER for Housing and Urbanisation Justin Tkatchenko wants the two National Housing Corporation (NHC) officers recently involved in the eviction of tenants in Lae to be suspended.
He called on National Housing Corporation staff to stop using the organisation’s name to sell properties, evict tenants or make money for themselves.
He has recommended to NHC acting managing director Elizabeth Bowada to immediately suspend the two officers over their involvement in the eviction of families along Cassowary Road two weeks ago.
“Now that we have found out the actions taken by the two officers in Lae, my recommendation to the acting managing director is to suspend them,” he said.
“A full investigation is to be done in relation to their actions which were done without consultation with head office.
“You can’t just have any (NHC employee) running around selling properties and making decisions.”
He said the NHC has come across similar problems with NHC staff in Madang, East Sepik and other provinces.
“Provincial (NHC staff) think that they can make decisions and sell properties whenever they want.
“It doesn’t work that way,” he said.
“You have got to follow the process.
“The assets belong to the Government.
“Those who think that they sell these properties for personal gain will be dealt with by the full force of the law.”