There is much to be learned from our experience and we sincerely hope it can be leveraged.

PHDC handed over its relocation site of Tagua to United Nations acclaim in October 2014. Many households have since sold their land, with those currently residing at Tagua no longer representing the relocated community. More than four years after the site’s handover, PHDC is not aware of the status of each of the relocated households.

At no stage have the courts ruled in favour of the settlers.

At every point the settlement had access to legal representation. That the settlers were able to stay eviction orders (on multiple occasions), challenge the validity of our title and their requirement to relocate all the way to the Supreme Court is evidence of this.

PHDC adhered to Amnesty International and United Nations guidelines at all times and would ultimately receive United Nations acclaim for what was ultimately achieved.

Despite not being legally required to do so, PHDC carried out the first privately funded and humane resettlement of an illegal squatter community in PNG, receiving United Nations praise for this landmark achievement.

PHDC has evidence of consultation with the settlement as far back as 2002, with ever eviction taking place on the back of court-issued orders and extensive consultation.

The former settlers had no legal right to reside at Paga Hill and knew they were illegally squatting.