Links
Aitape / Sissano
On the 17th of July 1998 a tidal wave hit the Aitape area of PNG. Here are
a few websites dealing with Sissano and Aitape.
http://www.chron.com/content/interactive/voyager/sail/news/98/07/980720png.html
http://cwis.usc.edu/dept/tsunamis/PNG/aitape.html
http://www.ssc.uwo.ca/anthropology/jorgensen/tsunami.htm
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/~tsunami/PNG/Upng/Et_981117/factors.html
http://nativenet.uthscsa.edu/archive/nl/9604/0120.html
http://www.multimap.com/wi/136865.htm
Keith Buxton
Don't forget that the book "The Golden Years" by Keith Buxton is
still on sale. I have heard that about half of the original shipment has been
sold and now the price has been reduced. If you are interested in obtaining
a copy then either visit the web site at http://www.keithbuxton.com or email
info@keithbuxton.com for more information. The book was great value at the
original price and now with the reduction it is even better value. You can
also write to PO Box 3102, Pallas Street Post Office, Maryborough Queensland
4650, Australia for information.
Keith Buxton first travelled to PNG in 1956 to commence employment with the
Public Health Department as a Field Medical Assistant serving ion the Morobe,
Sepik and Highland Regions. In the later part of the 1960's he left the government
and then spent over two decades in the tourist industry in PNG. With credentials
like that his book is a wealth of experience with a particular emphasis on
the more humorous side of living and working in PNG.
Strange Meals
Thanks to Rick for the following link -- http://www.familyhaven.com/travel/melanesianman.html
-- Make sure you are not eating when you read the contents of this page!
Trukai Rice
The Trukai Rice company has an official website located at -- http://www.trukai.com.pg/
-- if you want to find out about what Trukai does then this is the site to
visit. When you hear the name of Trukai you may think of the familiar yellow,
red and green packs of PNG's favourite rice.
But Trukai Industries encompasses much, much more than rice. In fact Trukai
Industries has since 1970 been a major producer and marketer of a whole range
of important foods for PNG. Trukai supplies over ninety five percent of the
PNG rice market.
News Items
Aitape FM Radio
Thanks to the generosity of the United States Embassy in Port Moresby the
people of the Aitape region of the country will soon have an FM radio transmitter.
The transmitter will be used to help warn the inhabitants of any future Tsunami's
as well as other community broadcasts.
Mining
A mining seminar will be held from the 28th to the 29th of July at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel in Port Moresby. It is organised by the Department of Mining,
the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy with the PNG Chamber of
Mines and Petroleum. Metals Refining Operations, Terra Search and Hastings
Deering are sponsoring it.
Buimo Correctional Institution
The Buimo Correctional Institution recently opened an elementary school classroom
that is a result of their hard work. The staff and prisoners at the prison
camp built the new classroom. The materials used, to build the classroom,
were recovered from an old office that was torn down. The prisoners, who helped
to build the classroom, used the exercise as part of their industrial training.
Preferential Voting
The PNG Electoral Commission will soon start explaining the new Limited Preferential
Voting, LPV, to the nation. To help achieve this a National LPV Community
Awareness Advisory committee has been set up. Members of the committee include:
Representatives of key government departments and organisations like education,
health, police, the National Statistical Office, the Department of Planning
and Monitoring, the Prime Minister's Department, Treasury, Finance; and Members
of the Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) like Transparency International,
the churches and women's groups.
Oil Search
It has been reported that Oil Search Limited will buy Chevron Niugini Limited
for US$96.6 million. Chevron Niugini is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron
Texaco. Oil Search plans to fund the purchase from existing cash reserves
and new debt, presently being negotiated as part of a refinancing program.
Genetics Lab
The University of PNG has opened a molecular genetic laboratory. The laboratory,
costing K2 million, was officially opened by the Japanese Ambassador to Papua
New Guinea Katsuo Yamashita. The Japanese Government helped to fund the project.
Chief Justice
The first National Judge of PNG, Justice Sir Mari Kapi, will become the next
Chief Justice of PNG. The term of the current Chief Justice expires on the
15th of August 2003. The name of the next Governor General is being hotly
debated amongst many people in high places. This assumes that the current
Governor General doesn't nominate for a second term. Under the PNG Constitution
a Governor General can only hold the office for a maximum of two terms.
One of the candidates mentioned is the current Chief Justice Sir Arnold Amet.
Sports Planning
Lady Carol Kidu has warned all athletes that they must plan ahead for all
sporting competitions. She said the PNG Sports Federation and national federations
must map out programs for their teams now and work toward implementing them.
Port Moresby Roads
The National Capital District Commission has admitted that it has been forced
to concentrate on the completion of the roads in Port Moresby to the detriment
of other areas such as health, education, law and order etc. The commission
is hopeful that a balanced allocation will be possible from next year, as
it is anticipated that all major road projects in Moresby will be completed.
Kundiawa
The Kundiawa police station was nearly blown up recently. Criminals broke
into the station and wired up 16 sticks of dynamite, but the tiny township
had a lucky escape when the sticks did not ignite. Five policemen, who were
rostered for duty on that night, have been suspended without pay. The sticks
of dynamite were recently confiscated at a roadblock and kept at the station
as possible exhibit in court.
Paradise Magazine
What has happened to the Air Niugini in-flight Paradise Magazine? Is there
any truth in the rumours that a non PNG company has won the quote to print
the mag but the previous people are reluctant to give the job away?
Mendi
Air Niugini has advised that the Mendi runway will be closed to their aircraft
(Dash-8) for approximately eight weeks starting on the 27th of July. This
is to allow for runway maintenance and repairs to be performed by the Civil
Aviation Authority.
The normal Air Niugini flight to Mendi will only operate from Port Moresby
to Tari and return during this eight-week period. Please contact Air Niugini
for further updates.
F28 Incident
Passengers on an Air Niugini Fokker F28 aircraft were put through an emergency
landing procedure recently when a warning light indicated (falsely) that there
was an engine fire. The pilot in command of the aircraft followed standard
operating procedure and activated the engine fire extinguisher bottles as
a precautionary measure and shut the engine down. On landing safely at Jackson's
International Airport the plane was met by fire trucks as a precautionary
measure. Pilots undergoing refresher training practice the landing of any
aircraft with only one engine frequently.
Air Niugini is currently looking at replacement aircraft for the aging Fokker
fleet.
Jackson's Airport
An K8 million upgrade of the radar display at Port Moresby's Jackson's International
Airport will bring a new dimension to air traffic control in PNG with the
use of the latest in radar display technology. The new system will enable
radar controllers to have full control and situational awareness of both domestic
and international aircraft operating within 250 nautical miles from the Jackson's
International Airport. This will help to improve air safety at the airport.
Cairns
Another announcement from Air Niugini -- Effective from the 27th of July
to the 9th of December 2003 Air Niugini is introducing a "wantok"
fare from Port Moresby to Cairns. The return wantok fare is advertised as
from K1094 but as usual please check with your travel agent for more details
and to find out what conditions apply.
Measles
The Government has announced a K6 million nation-wide special immunisation
program concentrating on measles to start at the end 2003. The Health Department
will look after the implementation of the program by regions.
Port Moresby Crash
The driver of a police vehicle and six security guards died as a result of
an accident on the Poreporena highway the other night. It is alleged that
a police vehicle clipped the curb and bounced into the air landing on top
of a 3 tonne truck carrying security men in the opposite direction. Many others
were injured but thanks to the speedy treatment at Port Moresby Hospital managed
to survive the ordeal. My condolences goes out to the families of the men
as well as the company who has lost many good workers.
Lae
The residents of Lae have had to suffer days and days of rain. Many people
have had to use the same clothes without washing to go to work whilst others
have given up and taken a day or two off. Other residents have found their
gardens underwater and some of the smaller markets have been flooded.
United Church
260 women delegates from 24 circuits of the East Papua Mainland Region of
the United Church are converging on Saroa village in the Rigo District for
a six-day fellowship and workshop. The delegates are attending from Delena
in Central Province to Suau in the Milne Bay Province.
Solomon Islands
Any PNG soldiers deployed to the Australian-led regional intervention force
to curb lawlessness in Solomon Islands will be immune from prosecutions. The
immunity, passed by the Solomon Islands Parliament after two days of debate,
is provided under the Facilitation of International Assistance Bill of 2003.
The man most likely to be the special coordinator of the force will be Australian
diplomat Nick Warner. Mr Warner was formerly the Australian High Commissioner
to PNG. It was initially announced that policemen would accompany the soldiers
but it has now been announced that only soldiers will participate.
Jimmy Maladina
After many years Jimmy Maladina, the man at the heart of the controversial
National Provident Fund (now NASFUND) enquiry, has come back to Moresby. He
was arrested and interviewed on his arrival back into the country and allowed
out on K10,000 bail. Mr Maladina, in a statement sent by a facsimile machine
belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock headed by his brother,
said he was innocent of the allegations made against him and he would disprove
each of them. He said the NPF inquiry was a "political stunt and a witch
hunt" against him and the inquiry had nothing to do with getting the
truth behind the management of the NPF.
He has been told that he cannot leave the country without obtaining court
approval.
NasFund
The NasFund is on target to achieve its 2003 forecasted profit of K28 million
despite a less than expected half-yearly result. PNG's largest superannuation
fund recently reported a six-month unaudited profit of K12.799 million, down
from the forecasted K16 million. It is expected that the results will improve
in the second half of the year with strong performances from Bank South Pacific,
government securities and Nasfund subsidiary Tower Ltd.
Water Payments
Settlement dwellers in Port Moresby now have to pay for the supply of water.
This is part of the government's user pays policy for services. The company
responsible for supplying water in Port Moresby (Eda Ranu) has been conducting
an awareness campaign in the settlements so that the residents understand
the reasons why they are being asked to pay.
Markham Valley
Two groups of landowners in the upper Markham Valley have agreed to resolve
their differences. The people on the border of Morobe Province and the Eastern
Highlands Province have agreed to work together in the name of development
for the area.
Longest Email Address?
Is this one of the longest legitimate email addresses for a PNG company?
It came from an email received from the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby announcing
that they had transferred all food and beverage promotions to come under one
email address: food_beveragehappenings@holidayinnportmoresby.com.pg
-- I hope I spelt that right and didn't add too many letters. The Crowne Plaza
hotel is just as bad with email addresses in the following -- reservations@crowneplazaportmoresby.com.pg
Remembrance Day
A parade was held to remember those who died or fought in the various wars
and conflicts. It was hosted by the acting Commander of the PNG Defence Force,
Captain Ur Tom, and witnessed by the Governor-General Sir Silas Atopare, the
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Allan Marat and other dignitaries.
Tomaringa Barracks
The Tomaringa police barracks are in ruins. A report by the Post
Courier says a visit to the barracks has revealed broken fences, falling
buildings, exposed live electrical wires, leaking toilets and kitchens, no
power and water to a lot of the houses and broken house posts only to name
a few of the problems. Policemen say that despite their problems they have
continued to do their work.
Red Cross
The Red Cross has recently opened a two-storey, K115,000, office in the Western
Highlands at Mount Hagen. Funds for the new building came mainly from the
fundraising efforts of two Miss PNG Charity Quest entrants and the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.. The building will be
the focus for the Red Cross activities such as raising HIV/AIDS awareness
in the future.
Kokopo
The Kokopo Secondary School has set up a self-reliance project to generate
income for the school. They have started on three separate projects - guesthouses,
furniture-making and balsa timber. In fact the guesthouse is already bringing
in some income for the school. The two self- contained duplex guesthouses
renting at K40 per night - has already earned K5000 within the first six months
of this year.
Quote
Nobby has the following comment to make on the quote below.
>
> Thanks to Mark Wilson I can say that the following quote can be
> attributed to Douglas Casey (1992) -- "Foreign aid might be defined
> as a transfer from poor people in rich countries to rich people in
> poor countries".
hi,
considering the well-described boomerang effect with tied aid (which is the
bulk of what "PNG" "gets" from Australia, AusAID is basically
"a transfer from poor people to rich people in RICH countries, with the
poor country playing only the role of a catalyst." confer AID/WATCH @
http://www.aidwatch.org.au/
cheers, Nobby Tobby.
PNG Defence Force
The HMPNGS Tarangau and HMPNGS Basilisk are both representing PNG in a Royal
Australian Navy seven-nation maritime exercise off the northern coast of Australia.
Exercise Kakadu is being conducted from the 20th of July 20 until the 1st
of August 2003. It is hoped that the exercise will provide valuable operational
experience for the two ships and their crew and will further enhance the skills
that the PNGDF maritime element already employ in monitoring PNG's maritime
borders and fisheries protection zones.
Moresby Costs
Some prices recently advertised as special in the local papers
Pork Mince - K16.50 per kilogram
Pork Shoulder Chops - K 13.70 per kilogram
Flora Margarine 1Kg - K11.95
Melanesian Brothers
The Melanesian Brother held by rebels on Solomon Islands is safe, according
to our High Commissioner to Solomon Island Parai Tamei. Brother Robin Lindsay
was well according to reports the High Commissioner had received from Weathercoast
where Solomon Island's rebel Harold Keke is holding him and other Melanesian
Brothers hostage.
Robin Lindsay is from Oro Province and is the regional head of the Anglican
Church's Melanesian Brothers.
Tolukuma Gold Mine
The Tolukuma Gold Mine is confident of reaching the 22,000-ounce of gold
mark in the last quarter of this year. The mine's gold production reached
an all-time high of 21,217 ounces during the June quarter.
PNG Media
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