Links
Car Dealers
Boroko Motors - http://www.boroko-motors.com
Ela Motors - http://www.elamotors.com.pg
Hertz Hire Cars - http://www.leasemaster.com.pg
Training Institutes
PNG Maritime College -- http://www.pngmc.ac.pg
International Business Institute -- http://www.ibs.com.pg
International Education Agency -- http://www.iea.ac.pg
Pacific Training Academy -- http://www.pta.com.pg
PNG University of Technology -- http://www.unitech.ac.pg
University of PNG -- http://www.upng.ac.pg
Computer Training -- http://www.workersmutual.com.pg
Miscellaneous
PNG Orchids website by Wolfgang H. Bandisch -- http://www.orchidspng.com
General PNG Information -- http://home.worldonline.dk/csv/Geography.htm
Remington PNG -- http://www.remington.com.pg
Investment Promotion Authority -- http://www.ipa.gov.pg
Airlines of PNG -- http://www.apng.com
Century 21 real estate -- http://www.century21.com.pg
News Items
PNG Maps on CD
Maps in full colour including latest updates with street details for Port
Moresby, Lae, Mt Hagen, Goroka, Rabaul. Kokopo and Madang are now available
for K495 each or K395 each if you purchase six or more CD's. For further details
contact mapper@daltron.com.pg
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (http://www.
pngtourism.org.pg) has launched a new logo. The new Corporate Logo "Papua
New Guinea Experience" was launched at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Port
Moresby on Thursday the 22nd of August, by the new Culture and Tourism Minister.
The new slogan emphasises that you have to come and experience PNG in order
to feel the difference. It replaces the old image known as "Paradise
Live".
Malahang
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG has handed over the ownership of a
large piece of land (420 hectares) at Malahang on the outskirts of Lae to
the traditional landowners.
Wewak
An earthquake has struck Wewak and the offshore islands. The epicentre of
the earthquake was only 575 metres offshore from Sowom village on the west
coast of Wewak. At the moment four people are confirmed dead on Kairuru Island
but the casualty list could be higher. The quake measured 7.5 on the Richter
scale. At least 14 people have been admitted to Wewak hospital with injuries.
All schools in Wewak have been closed and the hospital at Boram may have
to be closed due to a shortage of water. One of the taxiways at Boram airport
has had to be closed due to a large crack appearing almost down the centreline.
Literacy
The chief of Transparency International, Sir Anthony Siaguru, has said that
44 per cent of Papua New Guineans were illiterate and only 56 per cent could
read. Of these, perhaps only half were fully and functionally literate. Females
were generally more disadvantaged in this respect than males.
Privatisation
The government will investigate the sale of the PNG Banking Corporation to
the Bank of South Pacific. The make up of the IPBC has also been changed to
have political representation.
Car Purchase
The purchase of luxury vehicles has been declared as grossly inappropriate.
A 1986 policy states that the heads of departments may only have vehicle up
to the value of a Mazda 929 which is far less than the K350,000 of the vehicles
purchased recently in West New Britain.
Australian High Commission Message
The following message has been received from Mark Lynch at the Aussie High
Commission.
I write to advise that there has been a change of the guard in the Consular
and Passport Section. My name is Mark Lynch, I am the new Consul at the Australian
High Commission, Port Moresby, telephone 325 9333 extension 324. I have been
in Port Moresby since December 2000, from then until recently I was head of
the Finance Section.
Once I settle into the position of Consul, I hope to be in touch with you
all on a regular basis to keep you informed of current and any new developments
that may be of interest to Australian citizens in PNG.
We encourage all Australians to register with the High Commission. It is
a means of contacting citizens if the need arises for example, there is an
emergency concerning your family in Australia or abroad. The information provided
is protected by the Privacy Act, ensuring
that your contact details are not divulged to another party.
If you know of any Australian citizens that wish to register or you would
like to advise a change of address/contact details please do so in one of
the following ways:
on-line - www.orao.dfat.gov.au
e-mail - ahcpmsb_consular@dfat.gov.au
cards - registration cards are available at the High Commission
Kind regards
Mark
RIFL
The Labour and Industrial Relations Minister has confirmed that he invested
K2 million of his own money in shares in the failed Resources and Investment
Finance Limited (RIFL). According to newspaper reports the Public Officers'
Superannuation Fund (POSF) is also understood to have invested several million
kina of contributors' money in the now troubled (RIFL).
Porgera
The Porgera Joint Venture Gold Mine has not been able to process any gold
since the 16th of July. The mine contributes approximately 14 per cent to
the country's gross domestic product. As reported here previously the processing
operations were halted after power pylons leading to the mine were damaged
on several occasions. Some of the workers at the mine have been sent home.
The mine will have lost K160 million in revenue since the closure. The Ok
Tedi mine is also facing production problems due to the lack of rainfall.
Judicial System
Approval has been given for four additional judges to be appointed to National
and Supreme courts.
Taxation
The Internal Revenue Commission and Lands and Physical Planning departments
will be given assistance to improve the tax collection system. The government
hopes this will increase the amount of tax collected. There are currently
only 18 judges and they are overworked.
Post PNG
Post PNG has been able to revoke the appointment of the interim liquidator
as it returns to profitability. New systems are now in place to ensure that
Post PNG runs more efficiently.
Bougainville
The Prime Minister, Michael Somare, has given the go ahead for Bougainvilleans
to contest a class action suit against Rio Tinto in the United States.
Child Abuse
The deputy secretary of the Social Welfare Department has said that child
abuse in PNG had increased rapidly in the last 10 years. The increase has
been attributed to unstable family relationships, neglect of children by parents,
inter-marriages and second marriages which contributed to family instability.
K18 Million Write Off
Peter Yama has brought up the write off of K18 million from the Gaming Board
during the reign of the Morauta government. Mr Somare has said he will repeal
the legislation passed that allowed this to happen and investigate the issue
further.
Braille News
Blind people in PNG have access to a Braille Newspaper produced by the PNG
Post Courier and the Fiji Times as a community services project. The third
issue of the paper is available free of charge to people in Fiji, PNG, Australia,
Tonga, Samoa and Chile. The paper uses the resources of the Post Courier,
the Brisbane Courier-Mail and the Fiji Times.
Blind Hold-up
A policeman who was blinded by a shotgun blast on Bougainville has been robbed
at gunpoint on the weekend. The policeman, the president of the PNG Disabled
Sports Association, was robbed of K500 which was intended for a disabled amputee
to take part in a competition in Korea.
Road Statistics
6000 reported accidents
3000 reported injuries
300 deaths as a result of road accidents in PNG every year.
Six Mile Slaying
A Chinese storekeeper at six-mile in Port Moresby has been slashed to death
from knife wounds to his midriff after he was attacked by two men armed with
a bush knife and a pistol. Police have mounted a massive operation in the
surrounding areas but no arrests have been made.
Port Moresby Hash
The Hash runners from Port Moresby will be celebrating their 1500 run.
Talasea
Work is underway upgrading the old airstrip at Talasea in West New Britain.
Work has begun so fast that there is some debate whether the engineering people
at the Office of Civil Aviation had time to test the landfill being used as
to the suitability of it for use as a runway. There appears to be some dispute
as to who the real landowners are and whether permission has been given by
the right people to use the airstrip.
Independence
PNG Celebrates its 27th Independence day on the 16th of September. The Hiri
Moale festival, which is held in Port Moresby, is well and truly underway.
Contestants in the Hiri Hanenamo quest are currently being judged. Two lagatois
(traditional canoes) have been completed and others will be ready to be sailed
from Manubada Island to Ela Beach during the Hiri Moale festival.
Hiri Moale Festival
The annual Hiri Moale festival held every September celebrates one of the
epic trading voyages between Central Province villagers and the people in
the Gulf of Papua. It is a three-day festival of traditional dance, singsing,
and drama. During the festivities, Port Moresby's Ela Beach is lined with
stilt houses, canoes and swaying dancers decorated with leis of frangipani
and hibiscus.
A traditional seven-piece African Combo group will be playing musical instruments
from Guinea in West Africa during the Hiri Festival.
Milne Bay
Alotau, along with all other towns, has planned events for the Independence
weekend starting on Saturday the 14th of September with the Milne Bay Alive!
Agri-Cultural Show which is to be held at the Alice Wedega Park (next to the
Town Market). A Craft Market will also held at the Park. There will be cultural
performances from around Alotau and other Milne Bay areas.
Goroka Show
The Goroka Show, run by the Eastern Highlands Cultural Show Society, is being
held between the 14th and 16th of September to coincide with PNG's 27th Independence
Anniversary Celebrations. The first Goroka Show was held on in 1956 and it
is one of the oldest in PNG.
Mount Hagen
Mt Hagen suffered a shortage of water over the weekend because only one water
pump was working to pump water. Shafts on the other water pumps had broken
due to the constant failure of the electrical supply.
Red Cross
The PNG Red Cross is actively helping people in West New Britain province
after the recent volcanic activity. The society has sent 18 volunteers and
two containers containing relief and medical supplies to the province to assist
victims of the Mt Pago volcanic disaster. 12,000 people are now being housed
at eight care centres in the province. The volcano erupted violently again
last weekend spewing out heavy dark smoke but activity has now subsided again.
Parks and Gardens
The Port Moresby Parks and Gardens headquarters near Rainbow estate just outside
Gerehu were burnt down last week. About 50 percent of the buildings were destroyed.
Several previous attempts had been made on the building but were not successful.
Terence Walton
Here is an unusual query from Catherine Brown who is hoping that a reader
may be able to help her.
Quote
My parents lived in Port Moresby in the 1960's and worked with the Public
Service Association. My Dad travelled a great deal with his work all over
PNG and developed a strong interest in its flora and fauna.
Whilst in Moresby they commissioned two paintings of two Birds of Paradise.
An artist called Tristan Walcot did both. Mr Walcot's real name was Terence
Walton DSc FRZS and he and a W. I. Adams ran a business, I think, called Safari
Assignments. I think it was
based in Banz in the Western Highlands.
I know that Terence Walton did some work for one of the national museums
but do not know if it was a PNG or Australian national museum. I am trying
to find out more information on Terence Walton or his business. I do not know
if they are still operating etc.
I realise this is an out of the ordinary request and hope you are still able
to help. If it isn't in your area any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Regards, Catherine Brown
End Quote
If anyone can help Catherine then please send me an email and I will forward
it to her.
Internet Banking
The ANZ Bank is almost ready to start Internet Banking in PNG. Work should
have already begun and will become a reality early next month.
MP's Trips
The Speaker of Parliament, Bill Skate, has announced that overseas trips for
Members of Parliament, apart from Government Ministers, have been cancelled
until January next year, Government Ministers do not come under the control
of the Speaker but are under the control of the Prime Minister.
Morobe Show
The Morobe Province Agricultural Society will be held on the 19th and 20th
of October. Traditional Sing Sing groups have been encouraged to register
for the show with registrations closing on the 4th of October.
PNG Media
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for instructions on how to join the list.
Articles for this Newsletter
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queue then please click here
Some of the above are courtesy of Liz and her friends at the University of
Technology in Lae. http://www.unitech.ac.pg
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