Close to 14,000 residents living atthe ATS settlement inthe nation’s capital face eviction.
A court order is in place to ensure that.
The land in question is portion 695 here at ATS settlement. It’s land that was originally leased as agricultural land.
The population livingthere has called it home for over 19 years.
Yesterday morning police arrived onthe scene ready to carry outthe eviction. Bet community lLeadersaskedthem to hold off, askingthem to givethem five days inthe hope of dialogue withthe foreign owned company, Dunlavin Limited.
The state lease belongs to a Robert Chan, to be used for special mix farming purposes.
The argument given bythe settlers isthey were giventhe right to settle onthe land bythen Prime Minister Bell skate. They are asking for the government to respect that decision.
Treasurer ofthe Trade Union Congress Anton Sekum who also happens to reside at ATS, said middle income earning Papua New Guineas live in settlements like ATS becausethe government has failed to addressthe housing issue.
The community lLeadersare calling onthe member for Moresby North East and NCD Governor Powes Parkop to intervene.
Meredith Kuusa, National EMTV News
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