Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Photo: Supplied/ MSchlauch - public domain
The closure of Papua New Guinea government offices due to non-payment of rent has ended in court.
The Post Courier reports the landlord Nambawan Supa Limited had locked doors to its buildings which house major government departments because of outstanding rent arrears.
The five major government agencies affected included the Departments of Finance, Treasury, Lands, and National Planning, and the Internal Revenue Commission.
Justice Emma Wurr granted an interim order to allow the staff back in the buildings pending the substantive hearing and adjourned the matter to October 14.
But the PNG government honoured its commitment to pay a further instalment of $30 million Kina - about US$8.5 million - to the landlord.
Representatives from the Departments of Finance and Treasury have signed an agreement committing to pay the outstanding balance of US$25 million in a series of monthly payments starting in November.
Nambawan Supa chairman Reg Monagi said acting in good faith after the government's positive actions, they lifted the lockout.