Scott Waide posted: " In June last year, we got a call from distraught mother saying they were being evicted from their home on Doyle street, Eriku, Lae. I was assigned for the job and given a brief background that this family had been evicted before. This was my first evic"
No protection: How PNG families are being evicted from their homes
By Lucy KopanaIn June last year, we got a call from distraught mother saying they were being evicted from their home on Doyle street, Eriku, Lae.
I was assigned for the job and given a brief background that this family had been evicted before. This was my first eviction story I was tasked to cover.
I set out with our camera man, Raguel Kepas, not knowing what to expect. We arrived at the house, and the mother Ellen Tigia Bis opened the gate and motioned us to go inside.
I set out with our camera man, Raguel Kepas, not knowing what to expect. We arrived at the house, and the mother Ellen Tigia Bis opened the gate and motioned us to go inside.
She told us they had been served an eviction order, and the police would be there anytime to evict them. At that, she gave us an interview and she produced the documents she had with her.
Just when we were about done, a car came to the gate. It was the police. They told her they had a court order to follow and she had to comply. An explanation was no use.
Just then a man, emerged from a vehicle parked on the other side of the road. He headed straight to me shouting “What is the media’s interest in this?!”. It was my first confrontation.
The next day, the family was evicted. Mrs. Tigia Bis, a widow, a mother and a grandmother, along with her family were forced to camp out in the rain.
Just when we were about done, a car came to the gate. It was the police. They told her they had a court order to follow and she had to comply. An explanation was no use.
Just then a man, emerged from a vehicle parked on the other side of the road. He headed straight to me shouting “What is the media’s interest in this?!”. It was my first confrontation.
The next day, the family was evicted. Mrs. Tigia Bis, a widow, a mother and a grandmother, along with her family were forced to camp out in the rain.
A canvas was pulled out in front of the gate and their belongings were stacked up to avoid them being washed by the rain.
This is a woman whose husband passed on a few years earlier because of the pressure he was under, fighting to get the title for the property he had been a tenant in for over twenty years.
Her husband, the Late Tigia Bis was a public servant. He and his wife signed a tenancy agreement and moved into the property, and raised their family there.
Soon after, the government started advertising the government sell off scheme for interested home buyers. Mr. Tigia, applied and was successful. In 1988, he was given a letter of offer to purchase the property.
His name was printed in the National Gazette listing him, as an “approved proprietor” on the 9th of February 1989, followed by a letter of confirmation from the state, to purchase the house.
He signed a salary deduction form, allowing a deduction of K112.50 to be deducted from his fortnightly pay, over a period of ten years.
Six years after settling the payment, he signed the contract of sale and the transfer instrument, that would allow the title transfer to take place.
In 2008, another man claimed he had the title to the property, which he used in court and got the family evicted.
The Mr. Tigia was under pressure, confused, and shocked at how the property he had spent ten years to pay off was simply given to someone else. He fell ill and passed away in 2011, leaving his wife and children to fight for the home.
The case took ten years and was dismissed by the judge, because it had taken too long.
We were last advised by the NHC office in Lae that the title held by the man claiming ownership was deemed illegal and was struck out.
This is a woman whose husband passed on a few years earlier because of the pressure he was under, fighting to get the title for the property he had been a tenant in for over twenty years.
Her husband, the Late Tigia Bis was a public servant. He and his wife signed a tenancy agreement and moved into the property, and raised their family there.
Soon after, the government started advertising the government sell off scheme for interested home buyers. Mr. Tigia, applied and was successful. In 1988, he was given a letter of offer to purchase the property.
His name was printed in the National Gazette listing him, as an “approved proprietor” on the 9th of February 1989, followed by a letter of confirmation from the state, to purchase the house.
He signed a salary deduction form, allowing a deduction of K112.50 to be deducted from his fortnightly pay, over a period of ten years.
Six years after settling the payment, he signed the contract of sale and the transfer instrument, that would allow the title transfer to take place.
In 2008, another man claimed he had the title to the property, which he used in court and got the family evicted.
The Mr. Tigia was under pressure, confused, and shocked at how the property he had spent ten years to pay off was simply given to someone else. He fell ill and passed away in 2011, leaving his wife and children to fight for the home.
The case took ten years and was dismissed by the judge, because it had taken too long.
We were last advised by the NHC office in Lae that the title held by the man claiming ownership was deemed illegal and was struck out.
Whilst the Tigia Bis family still waits to be transferred their title for the home, but the ‘title holder’ has gone ahead with advertising the property for sale.
This is just one of many other cases that we have covered regarding NHC properties in Lae.
In December last year two nurses and their families were also evicted from their homes. Like the Tigia’s, they put up tents at the front gate, and camped outside for one week. Both families have children under the ages of five.
Almost every eviction that we’ve covered have had reports of violence shown against the occupants, mostly women and children.
This is just one of many other cases that we have covered regarding NHC properties in Lae.
In December last year two nurses and their families were also evicted from their homes. Like the Tigia’s, they put up tents at the front gate, and camped outside for one week. Both families have children under the ages of five.
Almost every eviction that we’ve covered have had reports of violence shown against the occupants, mostly women and children.
Helpless women and children who cannot fight back against men with weapons. Men with bush knives, axes, and weapons appear at every eviction with NHC officers to evict tenants.
It got me wondering if this is even how evictions should be conducted.
Just last week Tuesday, the families of two long serving public servants were forced out of their houses when the men were at work.
It got me wondering if this is even how evictions should be conducted.
Just last week Tuesday, the families of two long serving public servants were forced out of their houses when the men were at work.
The wife of one of the tenants said she was sitting outside when one man came and pulled her, whilst another jumped over the rails on the verandah and kicked the door open.
They forced their way into the house and started bringing their belongings out.
When we arrived at the scene, the men who went to conduct the eviction had their faces covered, their bush knives in hand, staying guard over the property and the women and children, whose homes they had just ransacked.
Again the women and children were traumatized, just like in the other families.
There is the question of whether the correct and legal processes were followed in purchasing properties, transferring titles, and evicting long time tenants.
One thing for sure is that no Papua New Guinean man, woman, and child should have to be chased out of their homes without being given the opportunity to purchase the houses they occupy.
When we arrived at the scene, the men who went to conduct the eviction had their faces covered, their bush knives in hand, staying guard over the property and the women and children, whose homes they had just ransacked.
Again the women and children were traumatized, just like in the other families.
There is the question of whether the correct and legal processes were followed in purchasing properties, transferring titles, and evicting long time tenants.
One thing for sure is that no Papua New Guinean man, woman, and child should have to be chased out of their homes without being given the opportunity to purchase the houses they occupy.
They should not be forced out by men armed with bush knives and axes, especially when they are paying rent. They should not be chased out by men acting on behalf of foreign owned companies, who wouldn’t care less about the welfare of the average Papua New Guinean.
It’s painful to see that people with money can buy their way through the process without considering how their actions would affect the livelihoods of others, their children and grandchildren.
I wonder if they ever stop to think, “What if this was done to my family, my mother, wife, or child?”.
No protection: How PNG families are being evicted from their homes| By Lucy Kopana by Scott Waide
He headed straight to me shouting "What is the media's interest in this?!". It was my first confrontation.
Scott Waide | December 11, 2018 at 7:21 pm |
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https://mylandmycountry.com/2018/12/11/no-protection-how-png-families-are-being-evicted-from-their-homes-by-lucy-kopana/
It’s painful to see that people with money can buy their way through the process without considering how their actions would affect the livelihoods of others, their children and grandchildren.
I wonder if they ever stop to think, “What if this was done to my family, my mother, wife, or child?”.
No protection: How PNG families are being evicted from their homes| By Lucy Kopana by Scott Waide
He headed straight to me shouting "What is the media's interest in this?!". It was my first confrontation.
Scott Waide | December 11, 2018 at 7:21 pm |
Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser:
https://mylandmycountry.com/2018/12/11/no-protection-how-png-families-are-being-evicted-from-their-homes-by-lucy-kopana/
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