The 12-metre high wall located at Rainbow Village in the National Capital District (NCD) of Papua has become a threat to the locals in section 56. This was after heavy rain downpours which resulted in large cracks in the wall. The residents are worried that the wall that casts a shadow over their homes might soon collapse and cause massive losses.

According to the former academic at Divine Word University, Dr. James Macpherson, several complaints were filed months ago with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) Regulatory Service. The private developer was then ordered to bring down the wall. Despite these orders, Dr. Macpherson said that the developer has since continued to raise the wall and to place more backfill behind it. He also said that there were photos, dating back to more than a year taken off the cracks. The images also show continued rising of the wall by the developer as well as the increased backfill behind the wall.

Macpherson revealed that the residents in allotments on the hill below were told to leave their homes by the developers’ workmen. Dr. Macpherson’s house is near the foot of the wall. Most of the evacuated residents now camp in full homes. This has cost them a lot of resources including money. He also revealed that the private developer had hurled insults at the residents upon discovering that they had filed complaints with NCDC.

Further, workers at the wall were also reported to have thrown stones at one of the residents, Professor Allison Jablonko. This was after the 80- year old social scientist tried to take videos of the workmen raising the wall. At the time, cracks in the wall were highly conspicuous.

Dr. Macpherson implored NCDC to act immediately and efficiently to eliminate the wall which is a threat to the resident’s livelihood. He also said that the residents were taking extra cautions to avoid the possibility of being trampled by the wall. Dr. Macpherson had also set a meeting with NCDC Regulatory members together with his team.

Efforts to reach the real estate developer were futile.