Lae Evictions

It is no secret that many long-term National Housing Corporation tenants were shocked to find themselves evicted with a new buyer moving in quickly to claim the property.

This is contrary to the National Housing Corporation Act 1990, section 38, subsection 1, which states: “After a tenancy agreement has been in force for two years between the Corporation and a tenant, the Corporation may, in its discretion, offer to–

Meantime an internal investigation is looming for this state agency, NHC Acting Managing Director, Kenneth Cooke is traveling to Lae to address it.

On Tuesday, Minister responsible, John Kaupa maintained that the issue of eviction notices on tenants in Lae did not come from his ministerial office, nor headquarters.

The Minister said he has always spoken on humanitarian grounds; that every citizen has a right to decent housing.

He said what transpired in Lae, was unacceptable.