Links
General Links
Don't forget to take a look at the following websites --
The PNG Agriculture website can be found on http://www.nari.org.pg
and a (new upgraded) East New Britain web site containing all ENB business
addresses and tourism information is on http://www.eastnewbritain.com
http://tufi.alphalink.com.au/png
and http://tufi.alphalink.com.au/sogeri/
-- Sogeri National High School - History and Reunions.
http://www.treehouse.com.pg --
The TreeHouse Village EcoResort
Another web-site worth visiting is the Rose Gallery located at http://www.rosesgallery.com/
-- The websites deals with Rosalie Ann Christenson 1935 - 1998 who took over
3,000 black and white photographs of PNG in the '70's. The site also includes
ceramics and sculptures, collage, fabric design, printing and painting, abstracts
- varied media and illustrative projects that span over 45 years.
Education Sites
http://www.pngmc.ac.pg -- PNG Maritime
College
http://www.dg.com.pg/Che/index.htm
-- Commission for Further / Higher Eduction
http://www.ibs.com.pg -- International
Business Institute
http://www.iea.ac.pg -- International Education
Agency
http://www.pngimr.org.pg -- PNG Institute
of Medical Research
http://www.unitech.ac.pg -- PNG University
of Technology
http://www.uog.ac.pg -- University of Goroka
http://www.upng.ac.pg -- University of
PNG
http://www.workersmutual.com.pg
-- Computer Training
News Items
Commonwealth Essay Competition
A community school student from Koari Park School has put PNG in the spotlight
by winning the Commonwealth essay competition. The competition attracted thousands
of young writers from all over the world that saw the student, Susie Kutato,
receiving a special certificate from the Royal Commonwealth Society of which
Queen Elizabeth II is the patron.
Talasea Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority has closed West New Britain's Talasea airport.
The move by CAA is seen as an administrative matter because the provincial
government has not met certain conditions. It is understood that the information
required by CAA has been held back because the provincial government has not
paid the surveyor who surveyed the airport.
Hoskins Airport
The Civil Aviation Authority has now reopened Hoskins airport to Dash-8 or
smaller aircraft. Air Niugini is operating all Talasea flights into Hoskins
airport. The Flight schedule will be exactly as per the existing schedule
number 93 --http://www.airniugini.com.pg/timetable/index.htm -- except that
all flights will arrive/depart Hoskins airport instead of Talasea.
Australian Flights
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) has given commercial
aviation a reprieve by allowing the PNG Civil Aviation Authority extra time
to complete audit requirements for flights to Australia from PNG.
New CAA Boss
The new chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority has said that the board has
put in place two strategies that will help to bail the CAA out of its current
financial problems and fulfil its air safety audit responsibilities.
Beachfront Hideaway
Walter van Praag <walter@vanpraag.com> has the following to say about
the Beachfront Hideaway in Cairns. The Hideaway is a self-contained luxury
home away from home. Complete with CNN, Air conditioning, a saltwater in-ground
pool and a quiet beach! No need to bring your haus-merry, we even have a dishwasher
and an automatic washing machine for you! There are two Hideaways, each with
two bedrooms. For complete privacy and exclusive access to the BBQ deck and
pool why not bring your mates and take both Hideaways! Skinny-dip potential
here for up to 8 adults!
The ExPat Offer - just mention PNG Gossip! FOUR (4) nights in the 'Hai' Hideaway
or 4 nights in the 'Bali' Hideaway (with the timber BBQ deck) complete with
a day on the Great Barrier Reef. We include a trip with Compass Cruises. Snorkelling
and lunch included as is a glass of wine!
If you ask nicely we'll even put you in SCUBA gear and let you blow bubbles
underwater with a PADI instructor - a free introduction to diving! Pricing
for Expats: 'Hai' Hideaway: Regular price: $1072 for up to 2 couples! Our
Expat offer $872 ($200 saving) 'Bali' Hideaway: Regular price: $1272 for up
to 2 couples! Our Expat offer $1072 ($200 saving) BOTH Hideaways: Regular
price: $2344 for up to 4 couples! Our Expat offer $1899 ($445 saving).
This offer is available for any period during Jan/Feb/March 2003 pending
availability! Enquire about other exciting combinations!!! i.e.. PRIVACY PACKAGE:
SEVEN (7) night stay in both Hideaways (up to 8 adults) for $2800 ($50 per
person per night including reef trip!).
http://www.go4us.com.au/beachfront
Walter and Katherine-
Southern Highlands Elections
The date for the Southern Highlands Elections has been announced. Writs will
be issued on The 20th of February. Nominations will open on the same day and
close on February 27. Polling will start on the 26th of April and end on 9th
of May. The elections will be for both the National Parliament and all local
level governments in the six National Parliament electorates that failed to
complete polling in the 2002 July elections. The six electorates are Imbongu,
Tari, Komo-Magarima, Kagua Erave, Koroba-Lake Kopiago and Southern Highlands
Provincial seats.
Earthquake
Kevin McCue has supplied the following information -- 10 January 2003 at 12
minutes past midnight. That thump and familiar rumble felt by residents of
Bougainville, Southern New Ireland and East New Britain was a large earthquake
offshore. The epicentre was in the vicinity of two great (magnitude about
8) earthquakes in 1971 that caused landslides and tsunamis. Few of the PNG
national seismograph networks formerly operating in PNG are now working due
to lack of funds.
The following details are from the US Geological Survey.
Time -- 001156.7
Location -- 5.209S 153.566E
Depth -- 71 km
Magnitude -- MW 6.7 (Richter scale equivalent)
Foreign Aid
Is foreign aid like the help being given here?
Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students
put on his boots? He was really struggling, so she began pulling and him pushing.
The boots still didn't want to go on. Finally, after several minutes the first
boot was on. When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat.
She almost whimpered when the little boy said, "Teacher, they're on
the wrong feet."
She looked and sure enough, they were. It wasn't any easier pulling the boots
off than it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together
they worked to get the boots back on -- this time on the right feet.
He then announced, "These aren't my boots."
She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, "Why
didn't you say so?" like she wanted to. Once again she struggled to help
him pull the ill-fitting boots off.
He then said, "They're my brother's boots. My Mom made me wear them."
She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered what grace and courage
she had left to wrestle the boots on his feet again.
"Now," she said sweating profusely, "where are your mittens?"
He said, "I stuffed them in the toes of my boots. . ."
Murder Sentence
The National Court has ordered the death by hanging of a National Capital
District man for double murder. The man from Baruni village in Port Moresby
is to hang by the neck until he is dead. The Head of State or the Governor-General
will appoint the time and the venue of the execution. The death penalty was
imposed on the man for wilfully killing two youngsters from neighbouring Tatana
village between 31 March and 2 April 2002.
This is the fifth convicted killer sentenced to death by the courts since
the death penalty was reinstated by Parliament in 1991. The death penalty,
however, was not imposed until 1995 when Justice Tracey Doherty delivered
a sentence in Popondetta, Northern Province.
TreeHouse Village News
The TreeHouse Village EcoResort is pleased to inform you that they now have
five units available for twin-share group bookings of up to 10 people. The
main TreeHouse Suite and the four Beachfront TreeCottages all have a Queen
Double and Single beds.
The other good news is their website at http://www.treehouse.com.pg
- it is quite comprehensive and it is updated and added to it regularly. Please
save it in your Favourites Folder. It will answer many of your questions and
let you know what the EcoResort offers.
The TreeHouse Village has now installed the EasyBook Resort Software to ensure
that they can cope with the steadily increasing bookings and the extra tours
and services they now offer. They will now be able to integrate a direct email
booking service later this year. 2003 is looking good with more accommodation
and facilities coming on stream through out the year.
New Ireland and PNG is new to ecotourism and the TreeHouse Village EcoResort
is leading in the country with an exciting range of adventure accommodation,
spectacular rainforest & nature walks, canoe and reef tours and cultural
events. They also provide group and individual accommodation with special
rates for Divers, SportFishing, Surfing, Cyclists and other sporting activities.
General enquires can be made through info@treehouse.com.pg
School Fees
Lady Carol Kidu has urged schools to help parents by accepting small payment
of school fees. Lady Carol said whilst formal education could not be free;
many parents were struggling to pay school fees. She said she would not like
to see hard-working, gifted students out of school because of poverty.
Note From a Reader
Here is a note from Carole Saunders.
I would like to extend my sympathy's to the family of Peter Hall who was murdered
in Lae in early January. The Hall family were Peter, Claire, and children
Cynthia and Kathleen. Peter had only twelve months left before he was due
to go finis.
Teachers' Savings and Loans
The PNG Teachers' Savings and Loans Society has taken the initiative to set
up a cheque printing facility in Lae. This is seen as an investment for Lae
and Morobe Province as well as a major benefit for society members.
Mask Festival
The Seventh National Mask Festival and Warwargira will be held at Queen Elizabeth
II Park in Rabaul from the 7th to the 19th of July 2003.
Union Strike Threat
The public sector unions have relented and will not hold a nationwide strike
starting on the 27th of January over a wage freeze by the National Government.
This decision is mainly from the work done by a Department of Personnel Management
team led by Public Service Minister Dr Puka Temu and the unions. If the strike
had gone ahead it had the potential to have crippled the nation affecting
air travel, all government services and daunted internationally funded donor
projects.
Mt Pago
Most of the people that were displaced by the Mt Pago volcanic eruptions in
West New Britain have been sent home so that they can start growing food and
get their children ready for the school year. About 60 to 70 percent of the
people who were displaced have already moved back. The West New Britain provincial
government did not have funds to feed them and the government did not want
to continue to ask donors for help.
Free Education
Lady Carol Kidu has said that free education will reduce the quality of education
because not all children would have spaces in schools and those who gained
a space would face overcrowded classrooms, overworked teachers, shortage of
school materials and as a result a lower quality of education for all children.
PNG Lotto
The PNG Lotto, which has been struggling at around the K2 million jackpot
level, for a very long time has struck problems with its computer system.
Sales for the last 10- days have been wiped out of the computer system and
the company running the lotto are having to rely on customers checking their
tickets to see if they have won. The company has had to resort to checking
their hard copies of the records. It is hoped that the computer system will
be working soon. The jackpot on the 10th of January stood at K2,815,000 but
it is not known what the present jackpot is worth or if someone has won it.
Goroka University
Students at the university in Goroka have been warned that troublemakers have
no place at the educational institution. Students have been told that the
university would not tolerate drug and alcohol abuse and its related problems
and serious offenders would be referred to the police and the courts. Concern
has also been expressed at the high number of pregnancies and statistics reveal
that one out of eight female students became pregnant in 2002.
Police Accused
Once again allegations have been made against police. This time a police patrol
from Kagamuga in the Western Highlands is alleged to have collaborated with
armed men who burnt down two houses, slaughtered five pigs and destroyed a
Toyota Dyna truck at Wara Wau recently. Confirmation of this allegation has
been unsuccessful.
Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has made a recommendation that Parliament
sack the Secretary for Petroleum and Energy Joseph Gabut. Mr Gabut has failed
to make an attempt to appear before the PAC hearing. His office has also failed
to maintain dialogue with the committee secretariat as other institutions
do.
Australian Bushfires
The City of Lae has become the first in PNG to start a fund raising drive
to assist the victims of bushfires in Canberra, Australia. The Lae City Independence
Committee, the Lae Fire Service and the Lae City Council are leading the drive.
U-Vistract Offer
The main man behind the failed U-Vistract pyramid scheme, Noah Musingku, has
offered to bail out the cash-strapped Solomon Islands Government to the tune
of K1.3 billion. There is currently a warrant of arrest outstanding in Port
Moresby for Mr Musingku for failing to appear in court on charges relating
to his setting up of a pyramid scheme known as U-Vistract.
Bomana Jail
The quick action by night duty guards at the Bomana Correctional Institution
averted what would have been the biggest escape in Correctional Service history.
Between 8.30 and 9pm recently, convicted prisoners and remand prisoners lifted
and removed the ceiling of the roof of their cells in preparation to escape.
In the process they also knocked out the brick wall and forced out the iron
rails. Alert night shift guards heard the noise and checked the cells and
upon confirmation of the activities taking place raised the alarm.
Ghost Road
A company has submitted invoices to the Office of Rural Development (ORD)
for the construction of three roads in the remote Jimi area of the Western
Highlands. The company has been paid more than K400,000 by the previous government
of Mekere Morauta and claims are pending for a further K800,000 for work that
was never carried out. K417,305.53 has been paid for work allegedly done and
invoices for K850,949.47 were in the "in-tray" pending an independent
inspection by an ORD engineer however sources say that the work has not been
done.
Banz, Western Highlands
Landowners are threatening to stop students returning to the Father Peter
Secondary School at Fatima near Banz in the Western Highlands Province over
a land dispute where the school and Catholic mission are located. The landowners
want compensatio of K12 million for the developed portion of the land and
also for the State and church to relinquish the title of the undeveloped portion
back to them.
Real Estate Agents
Arthur Strachan (Lae) http://www.arthurstrachan.com.pg
Century 21 -- http://www.century21.com.pg/
and http://www.siule.com.pg/
Kohoy Real Estate -- http://kohoyrealestates.tripod.com/
L.J Hooker http://www.ljhooker.com
Ray White Real Estate - monian@online.net.pg
Strickland RE -- http://www.sre.com.pg/
The Professionals -- http://www.theprofessionals.com.pg
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