PNG Police Confirm Court-Backed Evictions for Tete and Erima Settlers in Port Moresby

Court-approved evictions are set to proceed in parts of PNG’s Port Moresby, with police confirming that settlers in Tete and Erima must prepare to leave.

The directive applies to residents in the Tete settlement within the Moresby North West electorate, as well as those occupying land in the Erima wildlife area under Moresby North East.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Chief Superintendent Benjamin Turi said the operation will target people living in specific sections, including the area in front of the field at Tete.

He revealed that eviction directives had been served years earlier, in 2018 and 2019, prompting legal disputes initiated by settlers.

Those cases were eventually dismissed, allowing authorities to enforce the removals.

According to Mr Turi, settlers positioned along the ridge overlooking the golf course at Erima will face similar action.

He said police will first engage communities through awareness efforts, even though the legal groundwork for eviction has already been completed for both Tete and Erima through to Morata.

Mr Turi stressed the importance of lawful land ownership, warning residents to secure proper documentation before settling, adding that “if they don’t, they will be illegally living on the land and will eventually be evicted by the landlords.”