Morobe Provincial member Luther Wenge urged the responsible authorities to handle eviction in the country with care and dignity as those affected are human beings.
“I support the Lae City Authority’s (LCA) eviction exercise, but my focus is on ensuring that long time residents are treated fairly,” Wenge said.
He successfully obtained a court order to halt the eviction stating that it is not to entirely stop it, but to ensure that proper documentation is done before any action is taken.
“With accurate data, we can identify illegal settlers and find a fair, humane solution to relocate them to their home districts and provinces,”
“Even those classified as illegal settlers are still Papua New Guinean citizens who deserve dignity and respect as many of them contribute to the economy by working and paying taxes, and their rights should not be ignored,” Wenge said.
He emphasized that unemployment and law and order issues are his key concerns.
“Instead of simply removing people, we should take this opportunity to properly plan and develop suburbs in the affected areas,”
“By capturing the right data, we can distinguish between long time residents and illegal settlers, ensuring fairness while addressing the city’s growing challenges,” Wenge concluded.
