Toropo opens scheme

PNG Defence Force Commander Maj-Gen Gilbert Toropo is the first to sign up for defence military home ownership scheme with Bank South Pacific.
It comes under the Comrade Trustees Services Ltd (CTSL) through its subsidiary Toea Homes Ltd.
It was formed five years ago to provide affordable housing to members of the defence force.
Maj-Gen Toropo said housing was a basic necessity which soldiers faced after leaving the force.
“The challenge I find over the years among the members of the force is that when they leave, they struggle to survive or they struggle to find affordable homes,” he said.
“From that experience, we understood the need of affordable homes and we did the ground-breaking ceremony five years ago.
“I’ve realised that members were reluctant to part take because they felt that it was not a proper housing scheme.
“So to tell our people that this is not just another fake housing scheme, I decided to be the first member to sign up.”
CTSL statutory manager Sitiveni Weleilakeba said affordable housing for members meant they had to ensure that it was affordable.
“It means K250,000, particularly to the lowest rank to ensure that the eligibility is widespread,” he said. “What we’re trying to do in this case is to provide affordable housing to the members of the PNG Defence force. We’re talking about 5,000 members.”