Prime Minister James Marape has called for a temporary halt to eviction notices issued to residents in the Wildlife area and surrounding communities, following an inter-agency meeting aimed at resolving the matter.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Port Moresby city, the Prime Minister said relevant government agencies had convened to assess the situation and agreed to engage directly with the developer through the Chief Secretary.
Mr. Marape revealed that the developer, a local company, has held legal land titles since 2012 and 2013 and secured court orders in 2018 which have since been upheld.
Despite the legal standing of the developer, the Prime Minister said he personally appealed on humanitarian grounds for a stay on the enforcement of the eviction orders.
“We’ve asked the developer to hold off while we work through immediate solutions,” he said.
As part of those solutions, the government is proposing a land swap arrangement. The Department of Lands, in collaboration with City Hall, will identify and allocate land of equivalent size elsewhere in the city for the developer to continue its projects.
At the same time, authorities will begin properly identifying and registering residents currently occupying the affected areas. This includes mapping out settlements and working toward formal suburban arrangements in the medium to long term.
Mr. Marape emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring those facing eviction are treated fairly, particularly those living along key infrastructure corridors such as roads and utility lines, who may need to be relocated.
He also warned that, if necessary, he is prepared to challenge the enforcement of the court orders to protect affected residents.
“For the sake of our people, I’m willing to go to court and face the consequences if it means giving time for proper intervention,” he stated.
The Prime Minister noted that the developer is an established local entity with a proven track record, having already developed more than a thousand allotments. He said the government is willing to support the company by providing alternative land to ensure development continues without displacing communities abruptly.
Mr. Marape also highlighted ongoing efforts to address land access issues, including government support that has enabled the allocation of over 5,000 land blocks in recent years.
He urged citizens not to settle on land without proper titles, acknowledging longstanding challenges within the lands system while reaffirming the government’s commitment to reform.
Appealing directly to residents in affected areas, including those near Kennedy Estate, Mr. Marape called for calm and cooperation, stressing the importance of maintaining law and order.
“Government will step in, but people must also respect the rule of law,” he said.
The Prime Minister reiterated his vision of transforming Port Moresby into a modern, livable city by 2028, where all Papua New Guineans can coexist and benefit from planned urban development.
