Some evicted tenants lived at these places for more than a decade.
The
allegations come at the back end of the both organizations wielding their
authority, with the full backing from Housing and Urbanisation Minister Justin
Tkatchenko to “pay up or move out.”
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| Household stuff for families evicted this week in Port Moresby |
Displaced
tenants have raised concerns that the National Housing Estate has not been
fully operational having effective systems in place and worst as a company, it
has not filed annual returns for more than a decade.
A check with the
Internal Revenue Commission yesterday, an official confirmed the NHEL
incorporated in 2010 has not filed annual corporate tax since then.
The
company has not filed salary and wages tax as well.
The
acting managing director is Madeline Paulisbo and Internal Revenue Commission
records say she is the current contact person.
Their office and their public relations department were contacted but they could not
be reached.
The
IRC official said the company should file tax returns even if it was not making
profits.
Five
families around the 5 Mile, Henao Drive area in Port Moresby were this week
evicted as a result of defaulting their rentals, one had arrears up to K30,000.
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| The unit chained and locked |
The
family of nine, including father and mother, humbly moved out and the mother
admitted guilt of failing to pay and in several circumstances paying by cash to
company employees who produced stamped receipts a day later.
She
now realised the money never went to the company.
Minister
Tkatchenko on Tuesday said: “The national executive council (NEC) has changed
the ownership and shareholding of NHEL and NHC is now the major share holder and
will be working together under one umbrella and not separate anymore.”
“They
are now working together to develop and maintain all the properties owned by
the two entities as it makes it easier to develop housing in PNG,”
The
concern from affected tenants at 5 Mile, Henao Drive was that most have
outstanding arrears that could not be settled immediately and the company was
not functioning orderly and complying with tax compliances, they could work out
something mutual, beneficial and keeping all records clean.
“We
have been paying rent, and we have already discussed these issues with NHEL,
yet we are continuously bullied and harassed by police and NHEL staff,” said committee
leaders.
“Minister
for Housing Justin Tkatchenko promised no evictions, yet we have been thrown
out of our homes again,” they said.
“NHEL
has continued to be in breach of its tenancy agreement as well by failing to
maintain these properties. It cannot be always a one sided affair with NHEL,
they need to step up and play their role as the landlords and maintain the
properties.”
Committee
Leaders have called on the Metropolitan Superintendent for Police Perou N'dranou, Member for MoresbyNorth East John Kaupa Minister Housing Justin Tkatchenko, and CEO Madelin
Paulisbo to meet with them.
