The Minister for Housing and Urbanisation is urging tenants of properties belonging to the National Housing Corporation (NHC) to be consistent in paying their rentals, having been given the opportunity to reside in, or even purchase these homes over the years. Minister Kobby Bomareo made this call on the floor of parliament today when he asked leave of parliament to respond in a statement to a question from Gulf Governor Sir Chris Haiveta, which was asked last week Wednesday regarding a NHC public notice published on 4th of November and its effects on tenants residing in NHC properties in certain parts of Port Moresby city. These areas of concern are Hohola, Waigani and Gerehu suburbs where the first public servants settled, and the settlement areas of Sabama, Kaugere and Kilakila. “Let me clarify that the government through the National Housing Corporation has compensated most of our senior public servants through various housing scheme, like the Give Away Scheme and the Government Sell off Scheme,” said the Minister. “They were given subsidised market prices lower than the market price to purchase their homes in areas like Hohola, Waigani, Gerehu, Boroko and even Paga Hill and Downtown area.” “These privileged public servants were given prices ranging from just around K11, 000 to K35, 000 and repayment terms.” He said the other group that were also given the privilege were the public servants under the colonial administration who were given lands to settle on. “In the 1960s to the 80s the low-ranking public servants and other citizens that worked in the colonial administration were given vacant land under the National Housing Corporation Self Help Settlement Scheme at Sabama, Kaugere, Horse Camp, Morata, Erima and similar National Housing Corporation settlements around the country.” He said these lot were only required to pay K50 annual rent for the land and they were required to construct permanent houses as per the State Lease Condition within two years, but unfortunately most have not done so. “We are in 2024 and there is a huge demand and public outcry for affordable public housing,” he stressed. “As the minister responsible for providing affordable homes to all citizens of this country, I am of the view that it is unfair to current working public servant to the so called senior and retired public servants who were given National Housing Corporation houses on a golden plate, on very low prices to continue residing in these houses without settling their arrears for decades.” He further stressed that the NHC does not provide free housing, its user pay, and the government did its part to subsidise the cost in accordance with the NHC Act 1990. “The country has to move forward and for National Housing Corporation to contribute and supply more affordable homes to citizens, current NHC tenants must pay these low rentals that are charged by the NHC as per the tenancy agreement and the landlord tenant relationship as per the NHC Act 1990,” said the minister, suggesting that those unable to pay up should make way for new tenants.