.gif) |
.jpg) |
|
|
Neo Melanesian"Pidgin English" |
placesples place |
|
|
|||
|
Links
No new links found this week. Does any one have any links they want mentioned? The links must be related to PNG items even if not located in PNG. I believe Air Niugini is about to launch a new look website. Like all PNG websites it will be designed so that people can still use it even with the low bandwidth available within the country.
Request for Help
Here is a request that I do not know the answer to. Can any one help?
I served with the 2nd Battalion in Wewak during 1971 and 1972; subsequently I commanded the Military hospital in Port Moresby. During some of my time in PNG 1PIR was commanded by Lt Col Russ Lloyd. His wife Stephanie has been involved in writing a book re her time in PNG. I heard this book reviewed on the ABC some year ago. I did not write down the title. I have been trying to track down that book for about a year with no success. Can you help?
If anyone knows the answer then please send email and I will pass on the details.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice has lost his house when it burnt down. Fire fighters were on the scene within five minutes of receiving the alarm and for once there was plenty of water pressure to fight the fire. Unfortunately the fire was fanned by high winds.
Rumours
Any truth in the rumour that the fire at the Chief Justice's house was caused by a hand grenade being thrown over the fence?
Fire Services
The Japanese government has donated the freight costs for five fire tenders to be shipped from Japan to PNG. The funding worth about K230,000 will come from the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP). The five recycled fire engines were donated by the Japanese Fire Fighters Association.
Pelgen's Bread
I mentioned a few weeks ago that Pelgen's in Lae were using shopping bags to advertise bus routes and things well the latest is bread packaging. The plastic bag used to pack the bread not only has information on the bus routes it also has the dates for all the various shows to be held in the Province. A sample can be found at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/pelgens1.html
A sample of what is on the pack ---
Morobe Province Cultural Shows
Date Town / District Description Jan 7 - 9 Morobe Station, Huon District Morobe Dist Show Apr 18 - 30 Bulong Station, Nawaeb District Kasala festival May 26 - 28 Boana Station, Nawaeb District Nawaeb Dist Festival Jun 23 - 25 Sialum Station, Tawae/Siassi District Siassi Festival Sep 15 - 17 Bulolo/Wau, Bulolo District Wau/Bulolo Dist Festival Sep 15 - 17 Siassi LLG Bunsil, Tawae/Siassi Siassi Festival Sep 15 - 17 Menyama station / Menyama district Menyama Dist Festival Oct 6 - 8 Zoc Barung Festival Flame of Forest, people live culture live Oct 26 - 28 Lae Show Grounds Morobe Show Nov 1 - 3 Lae International Hotel Lions Club (Art & Craft Show) Now if only some of the other companies did something as equally civic minded!
Defence Force
The new Defence Force Commander, Brigadier General Peter Ilau, wants a professional armed force that is responsible and affordable. A defence force that could be deployed within hours if required. He has requested a complete audit of the available manpower as well as policies and directives to confirm the true position of the force.
PNG Made
The PNG Made Trade Fair is on as previously mentioned. It is being held at the Sir John Guise Stadium from the 9th to the 11th of November.
Postage
Postage rates within PNG will soon increase to 50 toea for a normal size letter posted from anywhere in PNG to anywhere else in PBG regardless of the distance between the two points. It is hoped that with the increase in postage a corresponding increase in deliveries will eventuate.
Boroko Post Office
Unreported, as far as I can see, was the robbery of the Boroko Post Office early last Saturday or is it just a sign of the times that a robbery of the major post office in PNG no longer rates a mention?
Bougainville
It is likely that next year the various school boards in Bougainville will have to request more in school fees form parents as the provincial government has been unable to provide assistance this year. The National government owes the provincial government subsidies for the third quarter of the year. The provincial government is struggling with finances and although the National government has paid second quarter subsides the provincial government cant pass these on to the schools. It is expected that grade 11 and 12 students will have to pay up to K1000 per student.
Grade 10 Exams
Students around PNG are now in the middle of sitting for their grade ten exams. It is expected that more than 22,000 students are sitting for the final exams of the year.
Ela United Church
The relocation and rebuilding of the church is moving ahead in downtown Port Moresby. A recent photograph can be found below
Ela United Church (September)
Ela United Church (October)
Asylum Seekers
About 216 refugees arrived in four aeroplane loads from Christmas Island. The refugees are being housed at Lombrum in Manus. Several of the refugees are upset as they thought they were being flown to Australia. Between 20 to 30 of them went on a hunger strike, which has now finished. The majority of the refugees are from Iraq. One couple have been identified as illegal immigrants from Macedonia and another is believed to be an escaped convict.
Many organisations have condemned the move to house the refugees in PNG. The Foreign Affairs Minister, John Pundari, has written and expressed his own personal opinions to the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby telling them he does not want anymore asylum seekers brought into the country.
Manus
Manus Governor, Stephen Pokawin, has alluded to several benefits that the province will receive for housing the asylum seekers. He mentioned that the Momote airport will have the runway lengthened and straightened, upgrading of the water supply to the Lombrum Patrol Boats Base and he is also hopeful of the wharf being extended.
The Lorengau Harbourside Hotel has had a 100 percent increase in business since the before the asylum seekers arrived. The hotel has had to double up guests in some rooms and make staff accommodation available to guests. All other businesses have experienced a flow on effect.
Buka
Two Australian surgeons and a nurse are in Buka conducting surgery on people with broken and infected bones. An Australian Aid Agency Health Program sponsors the team.
PNG Economic Survey
A paper titled "PNG economic survey, a scorecard for the Morauta administration" has been presented at a seminar held jointly by the Australian National University and the Institute of National Affairs. The paper highlighted a number of factors, which have led to the poor performance of the PNG economy recently. Factors such as
- Exchange rate depreciation
- Privatisation plans not moving ahead
- Major resource investment development plans not being advanced
- A fall in mining exploration and development
- Pessimistic investors in the mining sector
- and the downgrading of PNG's creditworthiness.
Politics
The Peoples Action Party will give women up to 15 percent of the toal number of seats that it intends to contest in the elections next year.
Lady Carol Kidu
Lady Carol, a small voice in amongst all the other politicians, has said that both the government and the opposition has failed the city of Port Moresby in recent years and abused its resources for political purposes. While others have been busy playing petty politics Lady Carol has been preparing a report titled "NCD Reform Committee" which is now being misused by both sides of parliament. The report was presented to the Provincial Affairs minister in June 2000 but it had been allowed to sit on a shelf collecting dust until now.
Lady Carol has recently had a very trying time in parliament. She attempted to pass legislation that would amongst other things see a husband being charged for the rape of his wife but the male dominated parliament rejected this part of the legislation much to the disgust of all women and many men who would seem more civilised than others.
Australian Trade Unions
A delegation from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has recently paid a four-day visit to PNG. The ACTU spoke with students and the vice chancellor at the University of PNG about the recent student unrest and subsequent shooting of three students and a member of the general public. The ACTU hopes that the results of the enquiry will not be swept under the table to be forgotten forever.
Roadworks
The roadworks in the national capital, apart from causing headaches for motorists, are proceeding well. Many residents along Taurama road now do not have access for motor vehicles to their front yards and all motorists will find that they can't make turns where they used to. It would appear that the only right turn when coming from Murray Barracks along the stretch of road to Gavmani road will be the hospital. This effectively blocks off streets such as Chinsura Street and Pipigari Street both of which were main roads leading to Korobosea Drive. If anyone has driven down Gavmani drive past the Shell service station in recent years you will realise that that area is a major traffic hazard and often blocked by PMV's. Surely feeding traffic into that area near the market is not going to help the situation especially in years to come?
PNG Motors, Hubert Murray Highway
Chinsurah and Taurama Rd
Pregnant Women
The sacking and discrimination of pregnant women is one of many issues that need to be addressed jointly by the union movement in Australia and PNG. The area of occupational health and safety is another major issue, which needs to be addressed.
Elcom
Heard another rumour that the PNG Electricity commission still do not have their mainframe computer year 2000 ready yet. Any truth in this rumour? That is as bad as Air Niugini still advertising the 25th anniversary of PNG after the 26th anniversary celebrations have finished.
Agarwood
A fragrant wood known as Agarwood also known as aloeswood, eaglewood and gaharu has been discovered growing in PNG. It has been traded since biblical times and is used in religious, medicinal and aromatic preparations. Due to a world wide shortage top quality wood can sell for as much as US$10,000 per kilogram.
Rugby Union
Fiji has beaten PNG 33 to 14 in the final cup round of the Air Niugini Sponsored World Barbarians Sevens held at the PRL ground in Port Moresby. 16 teams took part in the two-day competition.
Morobe Show
The 41st Morobe Show was a success. A highlight of the show was the Miss Morobe Show Queen contest won by Patricia Patrick from the East Sepik.
PNG media related sites
- Post Courier Newspaper -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg
- The National Online Newspaper-- http://www.thenational.com.pg
- PNG Village -- http://www.pngvillage.com
- Chin H Meen (Music) -- http://www.chmsupersound.com
- EM TV (Television) -- http://www.emtv.com.pg
- Hitron (Cable TV) -- http://www.hitron.com.pg
- Pacific View Multimedia http://www.pvm.com.pg
If a friend has given or sent you a copy of this newsletter and you would like to keep receiving free copies then please visit index.html for instructions on how to join the list.
Articles for this newsletterIf you think you have a PNG page worth mentioning then please send e-mail to giaman@png-gossip.com.
To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter queue please e-mail your contribution to pngnews.queue@png-gossip.com
View PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive