Pacific

Squatter settlement under threat after murder of prominent businessman in Port Moresby

16:13 pm on 17 December 2008

There are calls for action to be taken over a notorious squatter settlement in the Papua New Guinea capital after it was linked to the murder of prominent businessman, Sir George Constantinou.

The 75 year old was killed yesterday at a timber yard owned by one of his companies, in Gerehu, near the Tete squatter settlement.

He was set on by up to 30 youths, believed to be from Tete.

The National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop, says Tete settlement has been notorious for senseless killings since it was created a generation ago.

He says closing Tete down is probably not an option, but relocation is a possibility.

"We need to do something about the settlement. They've been warned so many times. We hve intervened in a number of ways, try and get people to divert away from this activity. There have been vigilante like reprisals against them but they still haven't the message. I am not sure if we could change the mindset of some section of this community."