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Welcome to the Papua New Guinea Gossip - 28 Feb 2001. A very special welcome is extended to any new readers. If you have comments or suggestions to make then please e-mail them to giaman@png-gossip.com
Remember that this mailing list is mainly meant for people who have an interest and already know a little bit about the people and geography of Papua New Guinea. The PNG Kina, which is mentioned from time to time, is currently worth somewhere around 28 - 30 United States cents but varies on a daily basis.
If you are really keen on finding out what the Kina is worth a currency converter for most world currencies can be located at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/moni.html - another currency converter, with a local flavour, is located at the Papua New Guinea Business Resources Directory http://www.pngbd.com.
For those who are not so familiar with the geography of Papua New Guinea I suggest taking a look http://maps.expedia.com and then click on the find a map option. Go to this link for a quick start to a link to a map of Port Moresby. http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/pom-map.html
Also remember that the accuracy of the information in this newsletter should not be relied upon - it is, after all, a gossip newsletter.
Interesting Websites
Transparency International -- http://www.transparencypng.org.pgIf anyone is considering a bushwalking / hiking trip to PNG then I suggest you take a read of the following site "A Papua New Guinea Story" by Ehud Reiter located at http://www.travel-library.com/pacific/papua_new_guinea/trip.reiter.html
The story consists of three parts
For some nice pictures of PNG pay a visit to United Pentecostal Assemblies web pages at http://www.upcpng.org/index.htm and click on the slide show option.
- Part 1: On how I spent two days waiting for an airplane in a small "end of the road" town in PNG
- Part 2: On how I spent a week in the PNG "cities" of Mt Hagen and Wewak, trying to track down my lost companions
- Part 3: On the sad tale of a truly "buggeredup" trek through the PNG Highlands
2002 General Elections
People eligible to vote in the 2002 elections are being urged to register to vote. This is in a bid to overcome anticipated problems with the electoral roll. It is also to build up public confidence in a common roll that in the past has been seen to be not accurately representing all eligible voters.
Air Niugini
The national airline -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg -- has announced a review of its schedule, which sees direct flights to Sydney and a reduction in the number of flights to Brisbane. The flights to Sydney which are scheduled to leave early in the day from Moresby are aimed at the international traveller who is attempting to get to destinations other than Australia without having to overnight in Australia. The earlier return flights from Sydney will also connect with direct flights to Madang.The airline is also looking at replacement aircraft for existing aging fleet. Two planes, one a 78 seat Dash 8 and the other a 70 seat CRJ 700 jet, were in Moresby the other day for demonstration flights. Both aircraft were from the Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace. The chairman of Air Niugini, Sir Michael Bromley, stated that the airline was not in a position to buy any aircraft whilst it was in the middle of a privatisation exercise.
Port Moresby Projects
The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) has announced an allocation of K70.9 million for infrastructure and capital development projects in the city.The NCDC has allocated K48.7 million for design, construction and maintenance of roads and drains in the national capital.
HIV / AIDS
The Secretary of Health is concerned that line agencies do not have the capacity to implement the multi million Kina HIV/AIDS programs funded by overseas donors. AusAID has mad a commitment to fund a K100 million project over a period of five years. Other agencies have committed K9 million towards the program. The PNG government has committed K1.34 million towards the same program.
Madang - Education
The Madang Teachers College has, with the help of AusAID and Downer Constructions, started the year with a construction and renovation program. The work involves extending the library, renovating classrooms, dormitories, the students mess, staff housing as well as building a new basic technology building and two new staff houses.It is hoped that Balob and Kaindi Teachers' colleges will receive the same treatment from AusAID.
It has also been reported in the National Newspaper - http://www.thenational.com.pg - that a shortage of teachers in the Madang province has stopped hundreds of school children from being able to attend school. Apparently that although there are teachers available there is no money to send them to their posted schools in remote areas.
Madang - Tourist Ship
For the first time in over a year Madang played host to 650 passengers from a cruise ship. Some of the tourist took trips around Madang whilst others went artefact hunting and buying from the many Sepik carvers and weavers.
Port Moresby - Tourist Ship
The cruise ship Europa, from Germany, sailed into Port Moresby for a one-day visit before sailing for Darwin.
Hiri Moale
The Prime Minister launched the 2001 Hiri Moale festival on the weekend. The festival was put on hold last year to make way for the 25th Silver Jubilee celebrations.
Vanimo Free Trade
A proposed free trade zone in Sandaun province has hit a snag because the signing Member of Parliament did not consult other relevant government agencies especially the department of the Attorney General and the Foreign Affairs department. The Attorney General clearance must be given on all documents that concern the state.
University PNG
The university of PNG has purchased 120 new computers so that students can use them to complete assignments and projects on time.
PNG Web Directory news headlines
Located at http://www.pngwebdirectory.com/news.php you will find links to PNG news items gathering news from ABC Online, Australian Financial Review, and many other online media sites.There is also a new Message Board / Discussion Forum located at www.pngwebdirectory.com/forum - People can post messages etc. The unique feature of the message board is that it has many categories to discuss different topics. Pop in and have a look! It has many features to keep you hooked :)
Other forums can be found at
Catholic Church
The former East Sepik premier, Father Cherubim Dambui has been ordained as the auxiliary bishop for the Catholic archdiocese of Port Moresby. The bishop is from Timbunke village in the Angoram area of the East Sepik province
Chamber of Mines and Petroleum
The chamber is holding its fifth community affairs conference to be held at the Lae International Hotel between the 19th and 20th of March.
Mining Links
- Highlands Pacific
- Lihir Gold Limited
- Misima Mine
- Oil Search
- Ok Tedi
- Orogen
- Porgera Environmental Advisory Komiti
- Porgera Mine
Internet
Pacific Mobile Communications which operates Tiare, the Internet Service Distribution Gateway in PNG, announced that they have increased the bandwidth to four of the five Internet Service providers as well as placed an order with Optus Australia to increase the bandwidth from Australia PNG from two meg to three meg. It was only in August last year that the gateway bandwidth was increased from one to two meg.
Internet Service Providers
- Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
- Datec -- http://www.datec.com.pg
- Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
- On-line PNG -- http://www.online.net.pg
Correctional Services
The new main in charge of jails around the country is hoping to be able to sweep through the system and weed out any corruption and malpractice.
West Sepik
The disabled people of Vanimo have received a generator valued at more than K49,000 from the British High Commissioner. The generator will be used to run rehabilitation equipment.
Copra - New Ireland
Copra growers in the Namatanai area of New Ireland province will no longer have to rely on transporting their copra by sea to Kokopo, East New Britain province with the proposed building of a Copra Marketing Board sub-depot on the west coast of the Namatanai area. Growers have not been able to transport their copra to Kavieng due to poor road conditions.
Copra - Quality
The director of a British based firm has said that the quality of copra produced in PNG far surpasses the quality from other countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
Elcom
The government run electricity company, Elcom, has received an ultimatum from Hanjung Power Pty Ltd, the private company that generates power for Elcom at the Kanudi Power Station. Hanjung have threatened to stop generating power, as Elcom owe the company K16.5 million. The private company generates 40 percent of the power consumed by the residents of Port Moresby.The Elcom General Manager has said the Electricity Commission is committed to paying back the debt to Hanjung and would do so bit by bit due to cash-flow problems.
Sports Program
The former head of the PNG Sports Commission, Jan Waddy is set to return to PNG as the co-ordinator of the K6.5 million PNG Silver Jubilee Sports Program. The program, a 25th birthday gift from Australia, is aimed at developing programs that will increase the opportunities of people in PNG to be involved in sports and cultural activities within their own communities.
Popondetta Basketball
Basketball in Popondetta, Oro province is set to start again after last year's suspension due to the acts of some players. Several teams are ready to go whilst others are still to confirm their participation in the competition.
Air Traffic Control
After sitting around like a white elephant for several years, the air traffic control centre was finally opened at Jackson's airport. The associated control tower should be in operation by July of this year.
Buka
A bailey bridge was opened recently in Buka. The bridge opened up a shorter route to the northwestern end of Buka Island (Haku) and to the inland farmers of the Solos area. The opening ceremony speeches took a mere three minutes.
Morobe Province
Lae MP and Foreign Affairs Minister, Bart Philemon, has recently opened a new 24-hour FM radio station in Morobe. The station aims to cover a 50-kilometre radius around Lae.
Optical Donation
A kind-hearted Australian from Mackay in Queensland has donated 21 boxes of optical glasses weighing almost 160 Kilograms to the people of Morobe who can not afford to buy their own glasses. The lone donor, Pat Riddle, collected the second hand glasses from around the Mackay area and personally delivered them to Lae.
Contaminated Kerosene
BP Australia has admitted that kerosene sold from fuel outlets in Madang were contaminated and that the company was willing to compensate the families affected. It also admitted that the outlets had gone unlicenced for over a year.BP has been ferrying some of the most severe cases down to hospitals in Australia as well as bringing a burns specialist up to PNG to treat affected people here.
Prices
Daltron - http://www.daltron.com.pg - has advertised Epson ink-jet printers for the following prices.
- Epson Stylus Printers
- Colour 480 -- K325
- Colour 580 -- K395
- Colour 680 -- K645
- Colour 760 -- K680
- and Colour 860 for K960
Financial Sites
- Bank of South Pacific -- http://www.bsp.com.pg
- Currency Conversions -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/moni.html
- Currency Conversions -- http://www.pngbd.com/finance
- Finance Corporation -- http://www.fincorp.com.pg
- Public Officers Superannuation Fund -- http://www.posf.com.pg
Car Dealers
- Boroko Motors -- http://www.boroko-motors.com
- Ela Motors -- http://www.elamotors.com.pg
- Hertz Hire Cars -- http://www.leasemaster.com.pg
Privatisation
The Prime Minister has publicly stated that privatisation should stop members of parliament from meddling in the affairs of currently publicly owned businesses.
Politicians Pay Rises
The Post Courier http://www.postcourier.com.pg has listed the following pay rises for politicians on the front page of their newspaper.
- Prime Minister an increase of 99.5 percent to K165,000
- Deputy Prime Minister 56.6 percent K100,000
- Speaker 85.1 percent to K140,000
- Cabinet Ministers 68.9 percent K80,000
- Opposition Leader 56.6 percent K100,000
- Deputy Speaker 57.1 percent K65,000
- Deputy Opposition Leader 57.1 percent K65,000
As this is after all a gossip newsletter and for a report in greater detail pay a visit to http://www.geocities.com/pngpayraise.html. Just remember that the accuracy of any information is not guaranteed.
PNG newspaper sites
- Post Courier -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg
- National -- http://www.thenational.com.pg
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Articles for this newsletter
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