Picture: Ariel view of ATS housing scheme

Source: Post Courier

Real estate developer Glory Development Limited yesterday refuted reports published about Portion 693 outside Port Moresby.

The reports had been made by Lands and Physical Minister Benny Allen and Moresby Northeast MP Labi Amaiu queried in Parliament this week.

Mr Amaiu said the rapid development in the city has caused a lot of tension in the community at Eight-Mile and ATS and it has come to light that some foreign-owned companies were collaborating with the officers of the Department of Lands to take over land currently occupied by Papua New Guineans.

Mr Allen replied that he had put a stop to the eviction exercise and had ordered an investigation, singling out portion 693,694,695,696,697 and 698 which, he said, were occupied by people who had built permanent homes there.

But yesterday Glory Estate managing director Teck Kong Lee clarified that Portion 693 was bought for K2.5 million from Mae Limited, a company owned by the late Sir Albert Maori Kiki and his wife who transferred the title to the son. The son later sold it because he could not develop the land, he added.

Mr Lee said Glory Development Ltd bought the 20 hectares land from Mae Limited, the Maori Kiki family company, in 2006 and was now developing it to assist the Government’s policy on affordable housing. The houses will be sold to those interested in owning a house.

"We own that portion of land.We purchased it from the owner, not Lands Department," Mr Lee said. "Also, we purchased that land from the owners, we never acquired it from Lands Department as stated."

"And also there was never any eviction notice served on anyone at that piece of land because we have our buildings there already," Mr Lee said.

He told the Post-Courier yesterday that all instruments were in order as per the purchase of the land from Mae Limited and Lands Department was also furnished copies in 2006.