Women and children were among thousands of people at the eight mile settlement in Port Moresby’s North East electorate, who were threatened to be evicted.
Eviction notices were issued to them to vacate within two weeks to make land available for a new proposed ring road linking Nine Mile to Gerehu.
The confused settlers today raised concerns about where they will relocate to, and whether the Government will compensate them for the destruction of their permanent houses and businesses.
These people living at Eight Mile, Momase Block, next to McGregor Police Barracks, have organised a peaceful demonstration to raise their concerns about the proposed new ring road that will run from Nine to Eight Mile, up to Morata and all the way to Gerehu.
About three quarters of people in this settlement are working in Port Moresby. However, many did not turn up for work today, because they were concerned about where they will resettle their families when evicted.
The two weeks eviction notice will end tomorrow, meaning on Saturday, the eviction exercise will begin.
A women’s representative, Stella Waki, said the two weeks’ notice to move out of the proposed road construction site, is too short.
She said they are not against the government’s idea to build this road, but want their local MP, Labi Amaiu, to visit them and clarify where the affected people will be relocated, and whether the government will compensate them.
AOG Pastor, Joseph Pohory, said the people have used their own money to bring in power supply and build permanent houses, which the government had failed to provide for its employees.
Other community leaders have also raised their concerns requesting their local MP to meet with them and address this immediately.
These houses, including the AOG Church, will be bulldozed as they are inside the new road boundary, which is 100 meters wide. Surveyors have already marked the boundaries for clearing.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=i_Yi-8pBSQ4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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