Eviction exercise at 9-Mile Bushwara will run for 21 days 

The court-ordered land repossession by Nambawan Super Limited [NSL] at Bushwara Settlement at 9-Mile in the nation’s capital will run for 21 days, after it started on Thursday [video insert].

The Royal PNG Constabulary stood guard, enforcing the court directive, as heavy earth-moving-equipment bulldozed everything in its path, starting at portion 2157 in the Port Moresby North–East Electorate.   

According to NSL site managers, the eviction will continue onto portions 2156 and 2159, and is expected to be completed within three weeks.

NBC Reporter on-location Henrietta Yama said “All one can hear is the sound of the bulldozer tearing down anything that gets in its way and the clatter of hammers as helpless settlers try to pull down the remains of what was once their homes.

“The future seems uncertain for the settlers with heaps of cargoes, not knowing where to go from here.”

Estimated statistics state that more than 900 houses are on the three land portions housing more than 5, 000 people.

Speaking to the media, NSL site managers said eviction awareness had been carried out in the last three years.

The court order was executed after the 120-day grace period given to the settlers to compile with the court order ended on Wednesday.

Late last month, the Supreme Court dismissed an application filed in May 2024 by the settlers seeking a review of the decision of the National Court in 2020, which found Nambawan Super to be the rightful owner of the Land Portions 2156, 2157 and 2159 at Bushwara [9-Mile].

The ruling was based on the facts that, the settlers failed to demonstrate cogent and convincing reasons or exceptional circumstances to warrant a review… [and] the indefeasible titles of the respondents [Nambawan Super] have not been challenged . The applicants do not have any titles to the land.

NSL in a statement stated that “the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision over the three land portions reaffirms Nambawan Super’s ownership.

“This is a positive outcome for the 228,319 Members who have been waiting for a long time to have their property freed up for their collective benefit."