Only two evictions in Lae legal

By JIMMY KALEBE
ONLY two evictions among many by the National Housing Corporation in Lae last year were legal, the corporation’s Mamose office says.
Regional manager Joe Bulahge, in a phone interview yesterday, said he knew of the two official evictions through a court order last month.
“The one at section 3, allotment 5, at 12th Street and one at Top Town section 35, allotment 15, Gurney Street, Eriku, are legal evictions but apart from that, they’re all illegal,” he said.
Bulahge said before the two legal evictions last month, he did not authorise any eviction to any other locations.
However, notices were issued to tenants reminding them about their arrears and other things.
Lae has seen several evictions over the last year, either by NHC or customary landowners, and many of those came about illegally – without court orders or not following normal procedures, Bulahge said.
He said tenants who experienced such evictions had to identify which NHC officer was involved.
Bulahge said some NHC staff members in Lae were put off the payroll over the last fortnight for unknown reasons.
“Under the Public Services Management Act and the Public Service Regulating General Order, we have to know the reason why these officers were put off the payroll,” he said.
Bulahge said they had raised the issue with the Ombudsman Commission but did welcome directives by Housing and Urbanisation Minister John Kaupa to suspend officers in Lae who were involved in illegal evictions.
Meanwhile, a tenant at section 98, allotment 11, Hornbill Crescent, 7th Street had his house demolished allegedly by a former MP’s son and accomplices.
Reuben Penu said he had in 2012 tried to apply for the title of the land and property but found out recently that someone (named) took the title instead.
“I have consulted with the Lands people and they said they did not know how the person got the title,” he said.
“I have also taken the matter to the district court and it is still pending in court. That person moved in and pulled down my house.”
Penu said he had reported the matter to the police fraud squad, too, and was waiting for them to help him track the person down to see if he had the legal documents for the property and that if procedures and processes were followed.