LAND TITLES FOR 2MILE FAMILIES ARE NOT FREE: GOVERNOR PARKOP CLARIFIES
NATIONAL Capital District Governor Powes Parkop has clarified that land titles issued to families affected by the 2 Mile relocation are not free and will not be given away at no cost, as part of the government’s commitment to lawful and dignified urban development.
Governor Parkop stressed that while settlers and those at 2 Mile are being supported to resettle properly, ownership of land within the city must follow due process and payment, that has always been the case for state land in Papua New Guinea.
“No one has ever received free land titles inside state land or within the city,” Governor Parkop said.
“Even Public servants who serve this country do not get land for free, so nobody should expect free titles.”
He confirmed that 80 families being relocated from 2 Mile have been allocated properly surveyed land with legal titles at 6 Mile, and that these titles have either been paid for already or will be paid for over time.
“This is about giving our people dignity, security, and a lawful pathway to ownership.”
Governor Parkop explained that many people living in settlements do so not by choice, but because access to affordable land and housing in Port Moresby has been difficult for decades.
High rental costs and slow land administration processes have pushed families into informal settlements.
“Our people want to live in proper homes,” he said. “They want to raise their children in safety and dignity. But when access to land is denied or delayed, we condemn our people to settlements.”
He reiterated that the relocation from 2 Mile is necessary due to the construction of Sir Hubert Murray road, which has taken up land previously occupied by homes.
“We do not have a choice but to relocate,” Governor Parkop said. “Where the road goes, water and power follows. This is how we must plan our city.”
Governor Parkop highlighted examples across the city, including 9 Mile, 8 Mile, Vadavada and Taurama Valley, where residents have accessed land legally, paid for their titles, and gone on to build permanent homes and businesses.
“At 9 Mile, people have built good homes and even guesthouses because they were given security of title,” he said. “That is what happens when we trust our people.”
Governor Parkop said his administration is committed to transforming settlements into properly planned suburbs, but emphasized that this cannot be done through free handouts.
“We must stop the mindset that land should be given for free,” he said. “We must work, save, and pay for it — that is how we build pride, responsibility, and long-term security.”
He confirmed that funding has been allocated in the NCD budget to support resettlement and upgrading of settlements, including surveying, subdivision, road access, and basic services, to ensure relocated families can rebuild their lives properly.
50 years now as a nation, Governor Parkop called for a shift in thinking starting from the government down to the people.
“Our children are our legacy,” he said. “We must plan properly today so that they can live in a better tomorrow.
Secure land titles — earned, not given — are part of that future.” Governor Parkop concluded.
