John Kaupa

Member for Moresby North-East and Minister for Housing and Urban Development, John Kaupa, announced this during the launch of the Nine-Mile ridge community service association last Friday.

Minister Kaupa said he has submitted more than 30 applications to the Lands Department, working in line with the Urbanisation and NCDC technical teams to obtain the title.

Local Member and Housing and Urban Development Minister John Kaupa has commended the National Government and other stake holders for their tremendous effort in preparation to host the World Leaders.

“It has cost a lot of time, money and effort to organise this meeting. And our Government under the Leadership of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has strategically taken a leading role to bring all the world leaders into our country to discuss development issues of significant importance to the livelihood of our people.”

Minister responsible for National Housing Corporation and Urban Development, John Kaupa, said the spotlight is on the illegal acquisition of the blocks of land in the K17 million National Government sanctioned project at portion 528 of the 302 hectors of land at Durand farm, in the Moresby North-East district.

Last Friday, former Moresby North-East MP and owner of the PNG Resources Corporation Ltd, Labi Amaiu, was arrested and faces fraud-related charges, said Kaupa.

While they welcomed road development into their community by their electoral member, John Kaupa, they are calling on the member to help them in terms of the lack of these vital resources.

The community of the ATS block have raised the concern that they have low to no water pressure.

Community policing member, Jessie Lenny, says they have been faced with the challenge of having to wake up in the early hours of the morning to fetch water.

While at times they have no water pressure at all.

The feeder road upgrading in the electorate includes the areas of Eight-Mile, ATS, Nine-Mile, Bushwara, Seven-Mile and Nine-Mile Morobe block through to the Wildlife feeder roads.

In collaboration with the National Capital District Commission physical planning and the engineering division, some of the roads are currently being upgraded to ensure Government services are accessible to those who are settling in those locations.

In a presentation attended by stakeholders, community representatives and media, the member for the district and Housing and Urbanisation Minister, John Kaupa, held a showcase of the plan.

Themed "Getting the basics up and running on the ground", the 5 year plan according to the district planner, Jimmy Williams, is set to lift the standard of life for the community. Williams also outlined 10 development areas in his overview of the district.

The member bluntly addressed critics saying that he needed cooperation to ensure the district moved forward in terms of the five-year development plans.

In a recent media briefing, the MP admitted that while his administration was not perfect, he welcomed input from all development partners.

“My door is always open,” stated Kaupa.

“If you have genuine ideas to move (the electorate) forward, come and talk to me.

“Let’s all work together.”

Former MP Labi Amaiu claimed that Kaupa allegedly used the funds to pay for cleaning services and family vehicles.

Amaiu added that the Amaiu Haus was his own initiative and they have been seeking funds to build it.

However, he claimed that Kaupa had allegedly used up the funds for his own benefits.

Loop PNG is aware, from reliable sources, of payments being made to various entities, mostly for cleaning services.

As per a bank statement, only K5 million is left in the Moresby North-East District Operating Account from the initial K10.9 million.

Challenging this norm, local Member for Moresby North East and Minister for Housing and Urbanisation John Kaupa surprised everyone in bringing his District Development Authority (DDA) meeting into the urban village of Korobosea.

Previous meeting by the MP were hosted by the Nine mile and the Bush wara community.

Minister Kaupa in thanking the Korobosea community said, the purpose of hosting his DDA meetings in settlement and Motu village is to bring the government back to the people.

Kaupa says Moresby North-East administration will work in partnership with the office of NCD Governor and the Lands Department to ensure all legal procedures are fulfilled to enable proper acquisition of land titles.

Kaupa said during his tenure in office, the Urbanisation Office will take the lead in proper planning of all urban settlements, in collaboration with the NCDC and the Lands Department, in ensuring proper suburbs are established and people receive security for their land.