Voluntary Land Eviction in Madang

Madang MP Hon. Bryan Kramer speaking to the people in Madang settlement. Image: Kramer Report.

Following announcement of 30 day eviction notice at Nagada Settlement located 10 km outside of Madang Town, I'm pleased to report that people have began voluntarily moving out.

Individuals residing in other settlements around Madang have also contacted my office seeking assistance to be repatriated back to their respective provinces.

I explained to them right now my office is only focused on ensuring the court ordered eviction of Nagada settlement is carried out lawfully.

People seeking assistance to be repatriated will need to be first documented by the District to avoid them using it as an opportunity for weekend trip home only to return a few days later.

Next week the Madang District Ward Project office will commence the largest ever community law and order program in the country, training some 1000+ youth throughout the District to carryout social mapping exercise of estimated 150,000+ people that reside in the Electorate.

25-30 youth will be identified in partnership with community leaders, trained and deployed in each of 49 wards throughout the District covering some 2,500 km2. They will be tasked with mapping every household from urban resident, settlement to the village hamlets in the remotest parts of my electorate.

Following the mapping exercise community forums will be conducted to develop community by-laws in partnership with Village Courts, Community Policing and Judicial Services.

The exercise will also involve collecting baseline data and intel to pin point those suspected of having committed serious criminal offences, such as killings, rapes, armed hold ups , production of home brew and sale of drugs.

Following the forums and intelligence gathering I plan to work in partnership with Madang Police and ACP Momase Command for the deployment of a Mobile Squad to Madang for a three month operation to apprehend each and everyone of them.

Operations will be carried in all settlements and villages who harbor criminals or living in fear of them.

All settlements will be re-organised under proper administration in partnership with District Ward Project Office, Provincial Administration and Community Leaders,

There will no expansion of any settlement during my term as Member for Madang. Any individuals or family who refuse adhere to community developed by-laws will be subject to eviction.

My office has 5-10 year plans to relocate all settlements outside of town to free up land for commercial and residential development. The resettlement program will involve establishing, small semi permanent houses with connection of electricity, water utilities, schools, health aid Post etc.

Picture below was taken at DCA Settlement located near the Madang airport which is a hot spot for hold ups.

On Friday I took the time to visit the settlement to explain to them my office's planned law and order program. They agreed to support it and assist with submitting names of youth to carryout social mapping of their ward which will begin next week.

source: Kramer Report on Facebook.