Upgrading settlements

By SAMUEL BARIASI
UPGRADING settlements to proper suburbs will become part of the Government’s development programme over the next 10 years, Prime Minister James Marape says.
He said people in settlements were PNG citizens and had the same rights as any other Papua New Guinean.
“The Government must give equal opportunity for everyone to grow together as a nation,” he said.
Marape made the remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony at 9-Mile yesterday for the first National Capital District Commission’s settlement-to-suburb upgrade programme.
“I give you my fullest commitment to work with NCD Governor Powes Parkop to ensure that there are no more settlements in this country after 2030,” he told the crowd.
He said those whose houses and properties had been demolished because of the upgrade would be compensated and resettled.
“I will find some money for that.”
He urged settlement residents to respect each other and the rule of law in their communities.
“Once you start to respect, everything else will fall in neatly,” Marape said.
“Fighting does not resolve anything.
“The government wastes more than K100 million a year just for police operations.
“We do not need to burden the police if we can respect each other and the law, and learn to live in peace.”
Marape also called on Port Moresby residents to respect the Koiari and Motu Koitabu landowners.
“Let them keep whatever land that they still own, we have to respect them.
“Do not settle on land that does not belong to you,” Marape said.
Parkop said the 9-Mile quarry settlement would be upgraded to a suburb with access to proper roads, electricity, water and sanitation.
He said more than 300,000 people in Port Moresby lived in about 100 unplanned settlements.
“One of my major pillars when contesting the elections in 2007 was to end settlements in Port Moresby but I am 13 years late because it has not been easy,” he said.
“It’s not easy to get a land title, survey, and other preparations. It has been long and hard.”
He said the country was 45 years late in upgrading settlements to proper suburbs. .