Road issues incurring costs to city authority

Caption: NCD Governor Powes Parkop.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 13, 2015 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

NCD Governor, Powes Parkop explained the dilemma when responding to queries regarding the completion of various road projects in the nation’s capital.

He referred to numerous court injunctions laid against the municipal authority that were hindering road projects that were to get off the ground as scheduled.

“We have had an injunction from villagers down at Elevala relating to cemetery issues, however, that has been sorted out and the injunction has been lifted,” Governor Parkop said.

“Now we have an injunction in relation to the new road that is going to be constructed from Gerehu stage 1 through to Morata and out to Waigani and it will connect to independence drive. To ease the daily lockup that our residents at Gerehu will face.”

“On the part of the injunctions, I want the courts to appreciate that the law in terms of injunctions is very clear- it is based on balance of convenience.”

“And if the complainant has an alternative remedy like damages- there is no need to grant an injunction and the courts must understand that when they issue an injunction against a state agency or an organization like NCDC constructing roads it is very costly.”

He said that they have to pay contractors to do nothing while injunctions were in effect.

“It is costing us not just inconvenience but also costing the public a lot of money just for an injunction.”

“When there is an alternative, that whoever is complaining whether they are landowners or state agencies like the university or private companies that they might have relief in damages. They can sue us for damages later if we have taken over their land.”