Links
If you are looking for information about Michael Somare, the Prime Minister
of PNG, then pay a visit to -- http://www.pm.gov.pg/pmsoffice/PMsoffice.nsf
If you are interested in music from PNG by PNG artists then I suggest taking
a look at the Haus Boi web site located at http://www.hausboi.com.
I believe that this is the first web site devoted solely to a PNG band.
http://www.pitic.org.au -- Pacific
Island Trade and Investment Commission.
The Papua New Guinean chapter of Transparency International -- http://www.transparencypng.org.pg
Another good web site to visit is Ples Bilong PNG on the World Wide Web --
http://www.tokpisin.net
Port Moresby Golf Club has a web site located at -- http://www.pomgolf.org.pg/
Accommodation Links
The website for the Magila Motel, Backpackers & Women's
Hostel is at http://www.magila.com.pg.
The Magila Complex is conveniently located at Six-Mile, Magila Road, Port
Moresby - the capital city of Papua New Guinea. It is only four (4) kilometres
from the Jackson's Airport (international and domestic terminals) and has
easy access to downtown Port Moresby, Boroko and Waigani business districts.
Tree House Village -- For those who want a truly tropical
style accommodation package then I suggest the exotic Tree House Village.
The village is about 15 minute along the scenic Buluminski Highway from Kavieng
in the New Ireland province. If anyone wants further details then please write
to Tree House Village, PO Box 351 Kavieng, PNG. Phone +675 984 2666 / facsimile
+675 984 2693 or email albeck@global.net.pg.
Haus Poroman in Mt Hagen has a website located at http://www.hausporoman.com.pg.
Nusa Island Retreat -- http://www.nusaislandretreat.com.pg
Kaivuna Hotel resort -- http://www.kaivunaresort.com
The following link will take you to the Coral Sea Hotel
website which covers these hotels around PNG.
- Gateway Hotel (Port Moresby)
- Melanesian Hotel (Lae)
- Highlander Hotel (Mount Hagen)
- Coast Watchers Hotel (Madang)
- Huon Gulf Lodge (Lae)
- Lamington Lodge (Popondetta)
- Hibiscus Motel (Port Moresby)
http://www.coralseahotels.com.pg
- They also look after Budget Rent a Car.
Haus Poroman (accommodation) in Mt Hagen has a website located at http://www.hausporoman.com.pg
Dive Links
If you are interested in diving in PNG -- then any of the following websites
should be of interest to you -
Note: -- the diversionoz web
page, with dive information on PNG, has been completely revised and can be
found at http://diversionoz.com/en/png.htm
Quoting from the web page
PNG is a dream of divers. Crystal clear waters, "paradise islands",
and mountain ridges covered with thick rainforests or spectacular volcanoes
provide an exclusive setting for the best dive vacations imaginable
End Quote
The web site for the Port Moresby Stock Exchange can be found at -- http://www.pomsox.com.pg
More Links
If you are looking for logging or conservation on Woodlark (Muyuw) Island
take a trip to -- http://www.ulb.ac.be/soco/apft/GENERAL/PUBLICAT/RAPPORTS/YOUNG.HTM
An interesting view of Port Moresby --
http://www.fourmilab.to/cgi-bin/uncgi/Earth?lat=9d26m9s&ns=lSouth&lon=147d13m0s&ew=East&alt=200
This site -- http://www.geocities.com/edbooth_1,
-- By Edwin O. Booth, is dedicated as a resource to the Veterans of WW II
and their families and friends ... and to the citizens of Bougainville who
assisted the Americans in WW II. Special attention is given to personnel of
the Americal and the 37th Infantry Divisions. It offers a generous selection
of publications related to the Islands as they were in the old days, as well
as updates on current information and facilities.
News Items
Coming Events
Erema Papmai Provincial Cultural Show - will be held from the 25th to the
27th of October 2002, in Kerema, Gulf Province.
World Barbarians Rugby
Sir Michael Somare has accepted the invitation to become the patron of the
Air Niugini World Barbarians Rugby Sevens (WBS) Tournament. The tournament
is set to kick off between the second and third of November this year. The
venue has been double booked and it is unsure where the event will be held.
The WBS and the Wanderers' Sevens have booked the PRL ground with the Wanderers'
appearing to have made the earlier booking. The Puk Puk's although advertised
as playing in the Barbarians matches will not play due to the fact that the
WBS has not been sanctioned as an official match.
2003 Yearbook
The National Newspaper (http://www.thenational.com.pg)
is offering a 50 percent discount on the purchase of the 2003 PNG Yearbook,
which will be available in January 2003. The Yearbook contains information
and articles on the 2002 Elections, developments in PNG, the Bougainville
Peace Process, Environment, Health, Wealth and Education etc. The Yearbook
is on sale for K60 per copy (K30 if you get in early) from PNG yearbook 2003,
PO Box 6817, Boroko, NCD, Papua New Guinea. (Phone +675 324 6851 and Facsimile
+675 325 2764) or send email requesting further information to advertising@thenational.com.pg.
O bin Laden T-Shirts
The general public has complained about t-shirts on sale bearing an image
of Osama bin Laden and the destroyed World Trade Centre. Outraged citizens
have called for the t-shirts to be banned completely.
Plastic Bags
The Post Courier (http://www.postcourier.com.pg)
is offering K50 weekly over the next three weeks to the person who comes up
with the best idea for helping the National Capital eliminate the unsightly
plastic bags, which, as some people say, has become the official flower of
the National Capital.
Highlands Highway
It has been suggested that once the Highlands Highway has been fixed a toll
should be imposed on all users. The highway, 600 kilometres in length, goes
from Lae in Morobe Province to Wabag in Enga Province and Mendi in the Southern
Highlands. It is estimated that the Government will need to find K500 million
to fix the highway.
PNGBC Sale
A three-man commission will probe the sale of the PNG Banking Corportaion
to the Bank South Pacific. Many people have been concerned over the sale at
what some say was sold at only 25 percent of its actual value. The terms of
reference for the probe have been announced earlier this week.
Alotau Hospital
The Alotau hospital, in Milne Bay, sees between 30,000 to 40,000 patients
every year and admits around 4,500 of these. Like every other hospital in
PNG it is facing a shortage of funds. This leads to problems when drugs arrive
at the wharf they cannot be cleared because the accounts are closed or there
is no money to pay the fees owing on the shipment. At other times there is
no money to buy food for the patients staying at the hospital.
Miss Air Niugini
Many rumours are going around about Miss Air Niugini. The only fact that can
be reported is that at a special Miss Air Niugini Ball a major fund raising
raffle was drawn and 33 lucky people won a host of prizes.
VAT Changes
The provinces have won a change in Value Added Tax (VAT). As from Jan 2004
the collection will become a Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the provinces
will receive 80 percent of the amount collected. Presently the National Government
retains 70 percent of the VAT that is collected and distributes 30 percent
amongst the provinces. GST will be taxed at 10 percent. The Government will
retain the import duty on goods coming into the country. The provinces will
not get a bite of this.
School Subsidies
Schools in the National Capital have received subsidies for the fourth quarter
totalling over K500,000, which is less than what was expected by the various
schools. Many of the schools consider the money allocated is nowhere near
what is required to run the schools for the final quarter of the school year.
Some reports have said that the amount of money provide is short by almost
K2 million.
School Exams
Students around the country are sitting for their exams. Students in some
of the provinces where the results of the elections are still in dispute may
have to stay down and repeat the class again next year.
AIDS Advertising
The AIDS advertisements have been stirring up much comment in the local press
and around offices in PNG. Many people fail to see the main point of the advertisement,
which is to raise the awareness of the general public about AIDS. If the amount
of adverse comment about the advertising could be channelled into raising
further awareness then the AIDS awareness people would have nothing to worry
about.
Popondetta War Memorial
The Popondetta War Memorial in Oro Province has a new World War Two monument
and plaque that will be commissioned on the 2nd of November. War veterans
from the province have been invited to attend.
Government Payroll
Due to the court decision on Value Added Tax and the fact that money is now
tied up in court cases the government may not have enough money to pay government
workers soon. One of the hardest hit will be the Governor of Morobe Province
who will possibly not receive the money from the National Government to pass
onto the various Provincial Governments.
Bougainville Power
The power situation in Bougainville is causing a headache for everyone. Everyday
the population suffers from lack of electricity, telephones and other services.
Along with all businesses the banks are not able to work effectively without
power so people do not have ready access to banking services.
Moresby Power
Landowners at Sogeri just outside Port Moresby and the location where Port
Moresby draws its water from for human consumption and hydro-electricity generation
are upset because there has been no follow up over their demands for compensation
set down over a year ago. It has been claimed that the landowners of the Sirinumu
dam at Sogeri have not received royalties for the use of their land since
the dam was built over 40 years ago.
Ombudsman Commission
The Commission has moved from Boroko to the Deloitte Tower in downtown Port
Moresby. They are occupying parts of the ground floor, the fifth floor and
the sixth floor. All visitors are requested to contact the office located
on the ground floor. The new contact numbers for the Commission are +675 308
2600 (voice) and facsimile numbers 320 3260, 320 3266 and 320 3267.
Madang School
The Japanese Government has given a grant of K145,00 to the Holy Cross Meiro
Primary School in Madang. The school will use the grant to help build three
double classrooms. The school has 13 teaching staff looking after 600 students.
Rabaul Airport (Tokua)
Due to volcanic ash on and around the Tokua (Rabaul) airport Air Niugini has
had to cancel all flights to Tokua (Rabaul) recently.
Air Niugini is hoping to have been able to fly to Talasea, the temporary
airport set up after the closure of Hoskins due to the eruption of Mount Pago
volcano on the 24th of October. The airport has now been certified for Dash
8 aircraft.
Joe Tauvasa
Reports in the newspapers, on TV and over the radio have confirmed that Joe
Tauvasa is back as the chairman of Air Niugini. It was welcome news by the
staff that have taken to reading the newspapers to see what is going on within
the airline. The acting Chief Executive, Captain Dave Wiltshire, has departed
and the Chief Financial Officer is acting in the acting position until a new
CEO is appointed.
Industrial Relations Office
The Industrial Relations Office has been closed until the end of the year.
The Office is supposed to resolve disputes between workers and employers.
The PNG Maritime Industrial Workers Union is currently in a dispute with its
stevedoring employers and is concerned that the closure will add unnecessary
delays in resolving the dispute that has been going on since May this year.
OCA Security Fee
The Office of Civil Aviation already slugs international passengers leaving
PNG from the Jackson's Airport (Port Moresby) a K30 "Airport Facilities
Fee" but now they want to slug passengers a further K30 as a security
fee on international travellers! It has been suggested by the Port Moresby
Chamber of Commerce that all businesses should voice their objections to the
introduction of the proposed fee. -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg.
Bulolo
Ten residents of the National Housing Corporation in Bulolo have been given
secure titles to the land and houses they occupy. One of the tenants is former
Bulolo MP Mathew Bendumb. More titles to houses and land are expected to be
given away around the country.
Rice Farming
The Pacific Adventist University, rice demonstration farm, is offering any
rice farmers in the areas around Port Moresby to come and avail themselves
of rice seedlings. The seedlings will be given out free of charge from the
University at 14-mile on the Sogeri road. The offer is open from now to the
5th of December from Monday to Thursday (8:30am to 11:00am and 1:00pm to 3:00pm)
and on Friday from 8:00am to 11:00am.
Media Workshop
Alun Beck is conducting media workshops designed as intensive, "hands
on" experience suitable for journalists, writers, photographers, video
camera persons, and production staff or simply for people serious about learning
new media skills.
The various courses cover knowing about your digital still camera, video
camera pro techniques, video scripting and production as well as computer
video editing. The courses are being held at the Tree House resort. For further
information about dates and times etc please contact Alun direct on albeck@global.net.pg
or +675 984 2666 (voice) +675 984 2693 (facsimile).
Approx Exchange Rates
- 0.4082 = Australian Dollar, AUD
- 0.2290 = US Dollar, USD
- 0.2346 = European Euro, EUR
- 0.3612 = Canandian Dollar, CAD
- 1.7733 = Danish Kronor, DKK
- 0.4828 = Fijian Dollar, FJD
- 1.7795 = Hong Kong Dollar, HKD
- 10.91 = Indian Rupee, INR
- 28.19 = Japenese Yen, JPY
- 0.4667 = New Zealand Dollars, NZD
- 1.7135 = Norwegian Kroner, NOK
- 12.13 = Philipines Peso, PHP
- 0.4080 = Singapore Dollar, SGD
- 1.6594 = Solomon Islands Dollar, SBD
- 2.3180 = South African Rand, ZAR
- 2,1018 = Swedish Kronor, SEK
- 0.3486 = Swiss Francs, CHF
- 9.87 = Thai Bhat, THB
- 0.1475 = United Kingdom Pound, GBP
Bank of PNG
The central bank, the Bank of PNG, has paid a dividend of K35.6 million to
the government for the year 2001. This compares with K44.5 million for the
year 2000. I hope that this is not like other organisations owned by the government
that pay dividends and then have nothing left to make the business grow bigger
and stronger.
PNG Media
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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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PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive
22
Sep 2002