Links
PNG Weather
Here are a few sites that will give you an idea of what the weather is like
in some parts of PNG.
Port Moresby -- http://my.iwon.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=PPXX0004
Kerema -- http://my.iwon.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=PPXX0001
Kikori -- http://my.iwon.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=PPXX0002
Morobe -- http://my.iwon.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=PPXX0003
Samari -- http://my.iwon.com/weather/obs.jsp?id=PPXX0005
PNG Institute of Directors
The PNG Institute of Directors has revamped its website with the help of
an AESOP Volunteer, Peter Griffin. It is an excellent introduction to PNG
company law and related governance issues it can be found at -- http://www.pngid.org.pg
Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce website is located at -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
Miscellaneous Sites
Pacific Dream -- German Language Web Site -- http://www.pacificdream.de/index_ger.html
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research -- http://www.pngimr.org.pg
Daru Research -- http://fp.involved.com/methodsman/Daru%20research.htm
Tourism Sites
Air Niugini -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg
DIVErsion Dive -- http://www.diversionoz.com/en/png.htm
Lonely Planet Website -- http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/dest/aust/png.htm
Madang Diving -- http://www.madangdiving.org.pg
Melanesian Tourist Services -- http://www.meltours.com
MV Golden Dawn -- http://www.mvgoldendawn.com
Niugini Art -- http://www.global.net.pg/niugini-art
Niugini Diving -- http://www.niuginidiving.com
Tourism Promotion Authority -- http://www.paradiselive.org.pg
Trans Niugini Tours -- http://www.pngtours.com
Accommodation Sites
see the webpage at the PNG Business and Tourist Directory first -- http://www.pngbd.com/forum/f73s.html
-- and then try some of the links below.
East New Britain Accom
Hamamas Hotel -- http://www.OntheNet.com.au/~hamamas/index.html
Kaivuna Resort Hotel -- http://www.kaivunaresort.com
Kokopo Village Resort -- kvr[at]global.net.pg
Kulau Lodge -- http://www.global.net.pg/kulau
Takubar Beach Resort -- lomotaku[at]global.net.pg
The Beach Hut Lodge -- beachhut[at]daltron.com.pg
Vavagil Guest House -- vavagil[at]global.net.pg
West New Britain Accom
Walindi Resort -- http://www.walindi.com
Port Moresby Accom
Coral Sea Hotels -- http://www.coralseahotels.com.pg
Ela Beach Hotel -- http://www.elabeachhotel.com.pg
Golden Motel -- rbasix[at]daltron.com.pg
The Weigh Inn Hotel -- theweighinn[at]global.net.pg
Granville Hotel -- http://www.islandshotels.com.au
Magila Hotel and Backpackers -- http://www.magila.com
Night Owl Guest House -- nightowl[at]global.net.pg
Loloata Resort - 15 minutes from Port Moresby -- http://www.loloata.com
Pondorosea -- P.O.Box 6361, Boroko Fax - (675) 323 4555
Budget Inn -- budget-inn[@]dg.com.pg
Fax: +675 321 7396
Milne Bay Accom
Alotau International Hotel -- http://www.alotauinternational.com
The Milne Bay Tourist Bureau can be contacted on +675 641
1538 or fax +675 641 1641 (email - jnsowelu@online.net.pg
or info@milnebaytourism.gov.pg)
and the Milne Bay Tourism website can be found at -- http://www.milnebaytourism.gov.pg
Morobe Province Accom
Lae International Hotel -- http://www.laehotel.com.pg
Honale Guest House -- +675 472 7761 fax - 472 3702
West Sepik / Sandaun Accom
Sandaun Motel -- http://www.sandaunmotel.com.pg
Western Highlands Accom
Hagen Airport Hotel -- mmakap[at]online.net.pg
Haus Poroman Lodge -- http://www.hausporoman.com.pg
New Ireland Accom
Nusa Island Retreat -- http://www.nusaislandretreat.com.pg
Lissenung Island Resort -- http://www.lissenung.com
Tree House Village -- http://www.treehouse.com.pg
News Items
Australian Ball
The Australian High Commission is holding a ball on the 25th of October 2003 at
the Crowne Plaza Hotel ballroom. Tickets are on sale for K150 per head and
include a three-course meal, beer, wine and soft drinks. Entertainment on
the night will be by X-Tensions. There are some great lucky door prizes on
offer as well. The main prize is two return economy airfares to Auckland,
NZ (courtesy of Qantas), NZ$1000 worth of traveller's cheques (courtesy of
Bank South Pacific) and four days car hire (thanks to Avis). There are other
prizes such as a helicopter joy ride for five people. A donation will be made
to local charities from the fundraising raffles and ball ticket sales.
Morobe Show
The 43rd Morobe Show is ready to be held in Lae on the 11th and 12th of October
2003. Some stallholders have already begun their preparations in earnest for
the show. There are also a number of new exhibitors taking part this year.
Some of the groups taking part will come from the Agricultural, Mining, Cottage
Craft, Manufacturing, Government and Educational Sectors. There have been
a number of improvements to the Lae showgrounds recently and they include
a new public grandstand as well as the establishment of the Greg English Jnr
Didiman garden and village display area. Approximately 60 singsing groups
are set to take part in the show.
PNGDF Commander
It appears that the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) Commander Brigadier-General
Peter Ilau is to be reprimanded for a confrontation with Defence Minister
Kappa Yarka over what amounts to be misunderstanding of ranks. The confrontation
was over a misunderstanding in navy and infantry ranks. Brigadier-General
Peter Ilau wears the rank of Commodore that, it seems, is the equivalent of
Brigadier-General in the army. Both ranks are equal to a one-star general.
Brig-Gen Ilau took over his role as the PNGDF Commander from his position
in the navy. It is believed that some people within the PNGDF were mischievously
trying to tarnish Brig-Gen Ilau's good reputation.
Governor General Voting Probe
The Ombudsman Commission has referred the voting for the Governor General
to the Supreme Court. It has been alleged that some members of parliament
supported more than one candidate. Some members are supposed to have supported
one candidate and then supported another one later. In one instance someone
who was no longer a member of parliament may have signed a nomination form.
There are other discrepancies and this is why the Commission would like that
matter cleared up before the nomination is sent on to Buckingham Palace.
Telikom PNG
Telikom PNG is set to record profits just as the Telikom Union announce a
series of stop-work meetings. It is expected that Telikom will record a profit
of K90 million by the end of 2003. A Telikom Union has said that a series
of stop work meetings will see telecommunication services come to a standstill.
This will include all voice and data communications including the Internet
and mobile telephones services. During the stop work meeting Telikom technicians
will not be attending to any faults that may occur.
Telikom Cables
During the stop work meetings major telecommunication cables connecting PNG
to the rest of the world were sabotaged. Telikom workers have been working
24 hours non-stop to attempt to rectify the problem. Many local services were
also affected by the vandalism. The cables were sabotaged outside the Able
Computing store in Port Moresby and since the event the area has sprung up
to look like a tent city. There are four tents like structures and usually
about 20 motor vehicles parked outside. Several of these are security vehicles.
Computer Companies in PNG
Able Computing -- http://www.able.com.pg
Comserv Computer Centre -- http://www.comserv.com.pg
Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Data Nets -- http://www.datanets.com.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.net.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
Remington Technologies - http://www.remington.com.pg
Telikom Privatisation
The monopoly currently enjoyed by Telikom PNG may end when the company is
privatised. The Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare has said that there was
a strong possibility the government may allow one company to partially privatising
Telikom PNG and then allow three other companies to take up interests in the
development of PNG's telecommunications.
11 telecommunication companies from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, two
from America and Malaysia have bid for the 51 percent share in Telikom. It
is thought that four were likely to be short-listed. Out of that four short-listed
companies one would be selected to be a partner.
Gembogl
The people of Gembogl in the Chimbu Province are successfully growing barley
and oats. The crops are being used as stock feed for chicken. Barley is also
being fed to fresh water trout a common form of meat in the remote parts of
Chimbu. The Mt Willhelm area of Gembogl is classified as the fresh water trout
producer in the region. Bundi woman, Betty Higgins, has set up one of the
largest trout farms in the country.
NASFUND
The National Superannuation Fund (NASFUND) hopes to raise K600,000 from the
sale of vacant land it owns at Eight-Mile just outside Port Moresby. The area
has an approved residential, commercial and special purpose sub-division design
and planning proposal to accommodate a total of 236 allotments.
Modilon Hospital
The financial situation at the Modilon General Hospital in Madang has worsened
due to a lack of donor and provincial government funding. It has worsened
because the hospital has not received any funding from the Madang Provincial
Government and the Health Services Improvement Program (HSIP). The HSIP funding
for Madang had been suspended since 2001 because the provincial health office
and the administration officers managing the fund were not accounting for
its use.
East New Britain
The Bank South Pacific branch in Kokopo, East New Britain Province has suffered
from a bank system crash and a hold-up this week that saw the bank closing
its doors 30 minutes after it had opened for business. The computer system
stopped working due to the Telikom problems in Port Moresby.
The University of Goroka
The University of Goroka was established in 1965 by the Department of Education
as a Primary teachers college. In 1967, it became a secondary teachers college,
awarding 2-year Diploma in Secondary Teaching (DipST) to Grade 10 graduates
following successful completion of a one year Preliminary year.
In 1975 it was handed over to the University of Papua New Guinea to become
the Goroka Teachers College of the University of Papua New Guinea. It continued
to award a two-year DipST until 1989 when it started admitting Grade 12 graduates
for a three-year DipST. Other one-year teacher education programs were offered
from time to time; and an Advanced Diploma in Teaching, a Distance and Residential
program for holders of DipST to upgrade their teaching subject content knowledge
was offered from 1982 to 1996.
In 1992, it became a Campus of the University of Papua New Guinea and a degree
granting institution from 1995 when it admitted it's first batch of 4-year
B.Ed. degree Pre-Service and one to two-year B.Ed. In-service degree students.
A Bachelor of Education Honours (B.Ed. Hons) and Master of Education (M.Ed)
programs began in 1996.
In January 1997 the Government of Papua New Guinea declared the University
of Papua New Guinea-Goroka Campus as a fully-fledged University of Goroka.
Sepik Highway
The National Government is looking at various options to source funds to
maintain the Sepik Highway. This is because available funds have already been
exhausted.
Accidental Shooting
A shot fired at criminals by an expatriate man recently during a carjacking
attempt in Port Moresby hit a toddler resulting in his death. The two-year-old
child was hit in the back and died at the Port Moresby General Hospital. Four
men attempted to hijack a car at the Koki Big Rooster restaurant when an expatriate
man got out of a nearby parked car and fired a couple of shots at the gang
but failed to find the target instead a stray bullet hit the youngster sitting
in the back of his parent's utility.
Miss Morobe
As mentioned in an article above Lae is definitely in a show mood. A popular
section of the show is the Miss Morobe Queen contest, which has over the years
grown in popularity, attracting a large number of girls.
Freeway Buses
The Minister for Social Development and Welfare, Lady Carol Kidu has urged
transport authorities in Port Moresby to fix the woes of city bus commuters
in the nation's capital.
Lady Carol says there is an urgent need for an express bus service on the
Poreporena Freeway.
Graduate Jobs
The Education Department has made it known that is not responsible for the
fate of about 1000 university and tertiary students graduating at the end
of every year. The people of PNG should be aware that the education department
only provides the skills and knowledge to young PNG people and after they
leave at whatever level of education it's up to them to find employment.
Air Niugini
The appointment of Rod Nelson as the Chief Executive Office of the National
Airline (Air Niugini) is under investigation. The job was previously titled
Managing Director and when this was the case it had been localised so that
a national of PNG could only hold the position. Since the job title has been
changed to Chief Executive two Expatriate Officers have held the position.
The number of expatriates in general being employed by Air Niugini has also
been questioned as to whether they are all needed.
Civil Aviation
It has been rumoured that former Managing Director of Air Niugini, Andrew
Ogil, has been appointed to take up the position of the head of the Civil
Aviation Authority.
Vic Pasco
I have been advised that renowned PNG painter, Vic Pasco, has died in Madang
on the 1st of October just two days short of his 70th birthday.
Illegal Immigrants
It has been said that there could be as many as 10,000 illegal immigrants
in PNG. This has led to concern about jobs and businesses for Papua New Guineans
that are currently occupied by foreigners. An example was given of the RD
Tuna Cannery where over 600 expatriate workers are employed with many of then
allegedly doing work that should be done by locals that have the expertise.
People's Progress Party
Andrew Baing has been voted in as the leader of the People's Progress Party
(PPP). He is now hoping to be able to take up the position of Deputy Prime
Minister on top of his current Fisheries portfolio. Mr Baing assisted by Lands
and Physical Planning Minister, Michael Nali toppled the previous leader of
the PPP.
Ice Cream
The oldest manufacturer of dairy products in PNG has been taken over. Tanubada
Dairy Products has been sold to new owners Lae-based Laga Industries. This
means that the making ice cream in PNG has now become a monopoly. It is hoped
that the public will benefit by better efficiency in the industry and maybe
cheaper prices?
Air Link
The Madang based aviation company is set to receive ATR aircraft by December. It has recently upped the ante against Air Niugini by hiring many ex-Air Niugini expatriate employees. With the arrival of the ATR's the airline will be able to compete almost head on against the national airline (Air Niugini)
Marijuana
Police has intercepted a large shipment of marijuana at the Jackson's Airport,
Port Moresby. Two men from the Eastern Highlands province have been questioned
and arrested. The 19-kilogram of marijuana, packed inside two 10-kilogram
rice bags, was hidden amongst two larger bags of vegetables shipped down from
Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. This becomes the second biggest haul by
the police this year.
PNG Media
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