The Papua New Guinea Rehabilitation Centre, together with its stakeholders, advocates and residents are appealing for immediate intervention from the relevant authorities concerning their eviction, unlawful take-over of the Board and denial of justice.
The appeal was made in a Press Conference held in Port Moresby today at the Hohola Rehab Centre, by the acting Chairman of the PNG Rehabilitation Centre, Mr. Dona Ou and Ms. Fiona Kapi the Chairlady of Brown Kapi Foundation, who are the mandated Caretaker of the Centre.
At the joint media conference, Mr. Ou and Ms. Kapi said, despite clear evidence of the constitutional violations and ongoing fraud investigations, an illegal management regime is actively working beyond their boundaries to evict the rightful occupants of the centre.
According to the Chairlady, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Centre and the Foundation in 2011M, giving the foundation the mandate to take care and operate the centre interim. It was an effort to sustain vital operations and maintain care for its community and members that are cared for by the centre.
The PNG Rehabilitation Centre is a registered Non-Governmental-Organization dedicated through its services to empower Persons with Disabilities (PWD). It was established and headed by former Chairman, Late Brown Kapi, who passed on tragically in 2015.
Seeing the prolonged leadership vacuum left behind by Late Brown Kapi, an alleged individual (named) unlawfully bypassed proper orga
Mr. Ou shared some light on this matter and recalled back to late Mr. Kapi’s passing and the events that occurred straight after his death. He said, after the late chairman’s passing the residents at the centre were pushed out to be left on the streets, as this alleged individual took over the Rehab Centre.
“This particular individual then set up a new board, went as far as to IPA to deregister the organization. And then, even to the extreme of going to the Lands Department to have the Title of the Land transferred under h** name, which is illegal and fraudulent,” said Mr. Ou.
He said that all these infighting over the land, the organization and position is not healthy and doesn’t serve the purpose of the people that matters the most.
Mr. Ou emphasized also that; Persons with Disabilities are the most vulnerable people in all these ongoing farces that will be badly affected because of the personal interests of certain selfish individuals.
“Let me just set the record straight that, as a registered organization, we have at the moment an interim board that is already in-place. And we hope to sit down soon to put a permanent board in-place quickly, to get things moving,”
He said that there are few other serious concerns that needs to be made public about this matter and the negative effect that are really affecting their livelihoods and their operations as an organization.
However, Mr. Ou refused to make any further comments on those concerns, stating that the matters is already before the Supreme Court. He only wished for a fair judgment and ruling by the court to rule in their favor to put this matter to rest once and for all.
In supporting Mr. Ou’s comments, Ms. Fiona Kapi, Chairlady of Brown Kapi Foundation is asking serious questions and is demanding for transparent answers.
She asked, why has the Police Fraud Squad failed to prosecute this case two (2) years ago after they lodged and official complaint with evidence of Land Title fraud.
Why were the NGO (Rehab Centre) denied a proper, full trial in both the District and National Courts to fairly and thoroughly challenge an eviction driven by an unconstitutional board?
And how has an individual facing serious fraud allegations been permitted to operate for this long and illegally organizing a hostile takeover?
“We are making a desperate, formal appeal to the Minister for Justice, the Police Commissioner, the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA), and the Department of Lands and the Department for Community Development as the custodians for Person with Disability, to step in immediately. State mechanisms must not be used as instruments to exploit the vulnerable. The responsible authorities must halt the pending eviction, investigate the fraudulent board registration, and safeguard the institutional assets of the PNG Rehabilitation Centre,”,” said Ms. Kapi.
She made this final appeal stating that if nothing is done, we will lose a vital sanctuary for the persons with disability.
