Settlers at Middle Street, Gomosa Sipo settlement at June Valley, have joined hands with the Motu Koitabu landowners to hold off the new freeway road construction this morning in Port Moresby.
The settlers claimed they were only given a seven-day demolition notice without being served an eviction notice. They are now pleading for the government to relocate them before allowing the work to continue.
Though they sometimes argue with some of the landowner claims, they have vowed to unite and pursue the matter for relocation.
Some of the settlers claim that they have lived in the area for almost 21 years now. This issue has really affected their daily lives in the city.
A 39-year-old mother, who had lived on the area for at least 5 years now, said other mothers who have lived in the area for almost 20 years are happy to move with their families. However, they are concerned about where they will resettle.
Cecilia Peter said: “We have pulled down our houses and buildings and are prepared to move but there was no word from the developers as to where we are going to be relocated to. Our kids need to go to school and some of us are working class people who need to settle in and go back to work,” she said.
Another woman settler, 36-year-old Wani Yapa, also expressed her concern as a working class citizen that wants the government to address the issue with urgency; to relocate them as soon as possible.
“We are packed and ready to move to allow development but it was a short demolition notice without an eviction notice. We are forced by police to move but we don’t know where we will be moving to,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the settlers are protesting that unless they are advised on the relocation, they will not allow the construction to continue; they are taking legal actions to stop it.