With forty days left before the grace period ends and before the eviction exercise takes place at Bushwara/ Saivara at Nine Mile just outside of the Nation’s Capital, more than 6000 illegal settlers have been urged to evict voluntarily from Nambawan Superfund Limited land.
However, about 200 contributors of Nambawan Superfund Limited, most of which who obtained housing advances to build their homes at Bushwara/Saivara at Nine Mile have called on NSL board and management to refrain from carrying out the eviction but cater for them in its development plan.
The contributors questioned NSL board and management whose interest it is working for, by issuing notices of eviction on portion 2156, 2157 and 2159 by which the eviction is set to take place on July 10.
The contributors who believed that over the years their contributions to NSL have made NSL board and management prosperous now described the actions of NSL board and management as “insane and irresponsible” driven by “greed showing lack of interest to the welfare of 200 affected contributors” who make up 1% of over 200,000 NSL contributors throughout the country.
One contributor Ms. Angela Philip, NSL membership number # 201391 is questioning what kind of housing project is NSL trying to build for its contributors?
“I’ve already built my house, just include me in your development plan, I do not need to be evicted if the Housing project will be for NSL contributors,” she said.
Another Contributor, Ms. Hilda Aipi NSL membership number # 366993 said what kind of a superfund will bring itself too low to demolish the homes of its contributors throwing out women, children, elderly and even babies out of their homes onto the streets.
Both Angela and Hilda make up the 200 NSL contributors living among the 6000 population in the three affected portions at Bushwara/Saivara at nine mile, NCD.
There has been a tussle between NSL and the settlers most of which are public servants and working population in the private sector and retired public servants who have been living in the affected portions for some time.
Kepsey Puiye, a Freelance consultant who recently resigned from the Department of Petroleum and Energy questioned NSL over its motive to evict over 200 contributors.
“Whose interest is NSL pursuing if it can blatantly ignore its own contributors and members (of which I am one) currently owning properties at Bushwara by issuing a blanket eviction notice. To begin with, NSL’s approach and attitude is seriously questionable.”
“Whose interest does it promote of its very own legitimate financial members and contributors are ignored. It reeks of bad air here. How can my fund manager bark at me like a dog?”
Mr Puiye added that the principal source of funds to breathe financial oxygen into NSL’s lungs came from its members, therefore it does not make any sense when NSL treat its legitimate members contemptuously by issuing a blanket eviction order.
Mr Puiya furthers stated that NSL is wilfully treating its own members with contempt, because in the National newspaper in November 2021, NSL said it will develop the Bushwara land to build affordable houses for its members.
“The blanket eviction notice contradicts some of its own public statements, that is why I say that the whole matter reeks bad air and only God Almighty knows the intentions of NSL and individuals orchestrating the whole eviction exercise.”
Puiya continued that most of us living in Bushwara are genuine citizens and some of us have made profoundly significant contributions to the PNG economy, including the PNG LNG Project and other mining and hydrocarbon projects in our nation.
Currently, the settlers are seeking a judiciary review of the National Court decision in which the court ruled in favour of NSL.
Meanwhile, over 6000 residents living on the three affected portions have called on NCD Governor Powes Parkop to intervene.
“We call on governor Parkop to intervene as he was the one who advised us not to appeal the National Court decision in 2021 where it ruled in favour of NSL.”
“We could have challenged the court decision if not for Governor Parkop’s advice. Now that eviction is on foot, we call on the governor to intervene as lives of 6000 plus people including men, women, school children and babies are on the line,” said Chris Pia, former Internal Revenue Commission officer.
Governor Parkop in 2021 visited the bushwara area four times assuring the settler that he was working with NSL board to find a solution.
On the 26th of August 2021 governor Parkop assured the settlers at Kumul street that he had meetings with NSL board consisting of Reginald Monagi, Anthony Smare and Richard Sinamoi discussing a win-win solution for NSL and the settlers.
Governor Parkop has urged NSL not to carry out eviction despite the court victory.
“NSL may have legal rights to develop this place, but they failed in their moral right by not developing this place in the last 29 years.”
“The law requires one to develop a place in five years of which NSL failed to do so” said governor Parkop.
The settlers stated that the land was empty but over time, they added value to it, connecting roads, power, water supply among other amenities lifting the area’s profile and then seeing the value added to the area NSL wants to step in and evict settlers, this is truly not acceptable.