Widow wins 16-year legal battle against National Housing Corporation

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Widow wins 16-year legal battle against National Housing Corporation

PORT MORESBY: A gutsy widow won a 16-year legal battle against the National Housing Corporation for illegallky selling her property in 2005.

Justice was served when Ellen Bis, from Finschhafen’s Gubu village in Morober received her land title witnessed by the Ombudsman Commission in Port Moresby yesterday (Dec 14, 2021).

Details of Ellen’s Samson vs Goliah-like battle  were published by The National:

16-year battle pays off

December 15, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By KELVIN JOE
A WIDOW has won a 16-year legal battle against the National Housing Corporation (NHC) for illegally selling her property in 2005.
Justice was served when Ellen Bis, from Finschhafen’s Gubu village, Morobe, received her land title from Housing Minister Justin Tkatchenko and NHC managing director Henry Mokono, witnessed by the Ombudsman Commission in Port Moresby yesterday.
Tkatchenko said Ellen had fought and won a lengthy legal battle spanning 16 years because of the corrupt actions of some NHC staff and management.
“This legal battle was the result of NHC staff selling her husband’s property under him for their own personal gain,” he said.
Tkatchenko said it was a common practice in the past where corrupt staff, including former managing directors were selling off properties to individuals for their own personal gain.
He said there were many issues that needed to be cleared due to corrupt practices from the previous staff and management since the 1970s.
Bis thanked the Ombudsman Commission and the current NHC management for ensuring the Lands Department released the land title to her.
Her husband Tingia Bis was working with the Works and Supply under the division of water and sanitation for 10 years from 1977 to 1987 before the division became the PNG Water Board.
Tingia and Ellen moved into Doyle Street, section 36, allotment 30 property in Lae in 1983.
“We fully paid of the property through fortnightly deductions under Government sell-off –scheme and occupied the land and property but waited for the title since 1999,” she said.
The mother of five and grandmother of three said her husband was the victim of a court order to evict him and his family when their property was illegally sold to Richard Wapua.
“My husband suffered a stroke, and was hospitalised in Angau where he passed away in 2011 after the court order to evict him as illegal tenant.”
She flew over from Lae last week after receiving a call from the National Housing Corporation that her land and property title was ready to be given to her.
According to the NHC, the issuing of her title was an early Christmas gift, after years of fighting for it in court.
The department also met her travel expenses.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Growing unemployment rate in Papua New Guinea (Employment stagnant since 2014) PORT MORESBY: Employment in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has remained stagnant since 2014 with millions of unemployed looking for jobs. The formal job market currently can only accommodate between 400,000 and 500,000, Institute of National Affairs executive director Paul Barker says. “As more young people enter the job market this year after graduating from tertiary institutions and schools, the chances of securing formal employment is slim. “Employment had remained stagnant despite the increase in potential workers coming out of educations institutions,” he added. Read on for more details as published by The National : Hard to get jobs January 27, 2022 The National Main Stories By DALE LUMA MILLIONS of eligible workers around the country are looking for jobs in the formal sector, which currently can
Read more

Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30

Image
News that matters in Papua New Guinea Armed tribal warriors on the move in Sugu Valley. Sugu Valley tribal war death toll rises to at least 30 PORT MORESBY: At least six tribes have been fighting in Sugu Valley (Kagua-Erave, Southern Highlands) since Feb 10, 2019, without any signs of an end and peace. In fact, the death toll has risen to at least 30, up from 11 on May 23, 2019, and the opening of a new battlefront in Sumbura near Poroma with multiple deaths reported in 24 wards. Armed tribal warriors on the march into the forests and jungles. PNG Cyber Monitor had on a May 25, 2019, posting ( https://pngcybermonitor.blogspot.com/2019/05/real-life-rifles-bows-and-arrows-bloody.html Real life rifles, bows and arrows bloody fights in PNG ) highlighted the bloody battle waged by tribal warriors armed with rifles, bows and arrows and knives. PNG Cyber Monitor is again highlighting the plight of the villagers who have been living in fear as reported by The Nationa
Read more

Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas

Image
News that matter in Papua New Guinea Sorcery tortures and violence are still being practised in Papua New Guinea in this 21st Century digital era. Sorcery shame for Papua New Guinea in X’mas PORT MORESBY: It was international shame for Papua New Guinea (PNG) this Christmas when sorcery reared its ugly head. Six women were stripped, bound to poles and burnt with hot knives as they screamed in pain, watched by an unsympathetic crowd. In a video that has gone viral in the internet, the women were accused of practising sorcery in Southern’s Enga. Police Comm David Manning described the sorcery torture as vile, inhumane, uncivilised, void of any human decency. “Papua New Guinea cannot progress without letting go of these horrific traditional beliefs. We have launched an urgent probe into the incident in Aiya’s Pawayamo village in Kagua-Erave.” The news break was published by The National : Horror torture of women Decem
Read more