P.N.G. Gossip Newsletter - 6 Aug 2004

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PNG Gossip Newsletter Meri Milne Bay

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Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"
Tok Pisin English
haus / long haus home
haus building / house / hut
haus bilong king palace
haus bilong pisin nest
haus bilong tumbuna pasin museum
haus bilong wasim klos laundry
haus kuk / hauskuk / kisen kitchen
haus lain long house (Highlands)
haus lotu temple / church
haus lotu bilong ol mahomet mosque
haus luluai bilong longwe ples embassy
haus moni bank
haus marasin pharmacy
haus marit married quarters
haus pamuk brothel
haus pater monastery

 

 

Remember that this mailing list is mainly meant for people who have an interest and already know a little bit about the people and geography of Papua New Guinea. The PNG Kina, which is mentioned from time to time in this newsletter, is currently worth around 29.75 - 30.25 United States cents but varies on a daily basis.

If you are really keen on finding out what the Kina is worth a currency converter for most world currencies can be located at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/moni.html

Want to find out more about Papua New Guinea? Try searching at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo and http://www.michie.net/png_faqs. The PNG Business and Tourism Directory located at http://www.pngbd.com is also an excellent place to look for PNG information.

For those who are not so familiar with the geography of Papua New Guinea I suggest taking a look http://maps.expedia.com and then click on the find a map option. Go to this link for a quick start to a link to a map of Port Moresby. http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/pom-map.html

Also remember that the accuracy of the information in this newsletter should not be relied upon - it is, after all, a gossip newsletter.



Links

Squash



If you are interested in squash then you can find the report and results of the Trukai PNG Squash International held from the 15th to the 18th of July 2004 in Port Moresby at -- http://www.squashplayer.co.uk/psa-png-2004.htm


The Lae Open will be held between the 13th and the 15th of August 2004. The Open will be held at the Venue: Lae Chinese Sports Club - if anyone is interested they can contact -- gfs.huonelect@global.net.pg -- for more details.



PNG Coffee



Kongo Coffee from Goroka advertises premium quality, freshly roasted coffee. For enquires you can contact them at Kundiawa on +675 735 8304 Fax 735 1130 and at Goroka on 732 3069 Fax 732 3068 or email them on -- kongo@global.net.pg



Living Water Mission



http://www.livingwatermission.org/About_Papua_New_Guinea.htm -- The Living Water Mission is based in Sewetaitai Bay on Normanby Island, Milne Bay Province.



Yahoo Groups



If you want to find a Yahoo group that deals with Papua New Guinea then I recommend that you visit this link -- http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=papua+new+guinea&submit=Search -- with any luck you will find a whole list of groups that may interest you.

The Yahoo regional directory on PNG is located at -- http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Papua_New_Guinea/



Miscellaneous Sites



Surfing information for PNG can be found at the Surfing Association of PNG website located at -- http://www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg/home.htm and -- http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/papua_ng.htm -- The Tourism Promotion Authority December 2003 Newsletter also had an article on surfing PNG at -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg/news/newsletters/newsletterdec.htm

The unofficial Port Moresby High School site is located at -- http://www.maipng.com/pomhi/

The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce website can be found at -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg

The Web Site for the PNG Institute of Directors gives an excellent introduction to PNG company law and related governance issues it can be found at -- http://www.pngid.org.pg

Papua New Guinea Institute of Accountants -- http://www.pngia.org.pg

Rotary Club of Boroko and Papua New Guinea -- http://www.rotary.org.pg

Friends of the Disabled Association -- http://www.foda.org.pg

Frontier Travel - for all your travel needs -- http://www.frontiertravelpng.com.pg -- There are many travel agents in PNG but I am having trouble locating web site links for them. Does any one know what are the links for the other travel companies?

Grafitti Signs -- grafitti@datec.net.pg

The Lonely Planet Guide to PNG is located at -- http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/australasia/papua_new_guinea/



Jane's PNG



Jane's Papua New Guinea web site -- A pictorial insight with comments on Papua New Guinea traditional culture, art and history. Contains a series of excellent photographs and can be located at -- http://www.janeresture.com/png_home/



Superannuation Funds



The Association of Superannuation Funds PNG (ASFPNG) has a website located at -- http://www.asfpng.org.pg -- ASFPNG is an industry body established in 2002 by interested industry participants with the common goal to protect superannuants retirement savings within a regulated environment whilst fostering a competitive industry.



Real Estate Agents Association



The PNG Real Estate Agents Association, a non-profit making organisation operation under the laws of Papua New Guinea has a site located at -- http://www.reaa.org.pg/news.htm


 

News Items

FAQ's -- PNG Infant Death Rate



What is the infant death rate (IDR) in PNG?.

In 1971 the IDR was 174 per 1000 and now in 2004 it is down to 64 per 1000. The IDR in 1980 was 72 per thousand. The child mortality rate for children under five years old is down to 24 per 1000 compared to 91 children in 1971. The International Conference on Population and Development has a goal of 35 deaths per 1000 for IDR and the less than five mortality rate to be less than 45 per thousand.



FAQ's Provinces



How many provinces are there in PNG?

There are 20 provinces and they are



Australian Aid



The PNG Parliament has given a green light for the deployment of some 230 Australian policemen to assist the PNG police to curb law and order problems in the country as well as 50 other Australians to assist in key government positions. The K2 billion package known as the Enhanced Co-operation Program Act was passed on voices with minor amendments limiting Australian lawyers' involvement to the duration of the program. The bill now needs to be certified by the Speaker of Parliament.



Police Numbers



The ratio of police to citizens is far too low when compared with other countries. The figure currently has been quoted as one policeman for 1000 citizens. The number should be around one policeman for every 600 citizens. Under the recently signed Enhanced Co-operation Program funding another 400 recruits have been allowed for. To make way for the new recruits the police force plans to retrench 150 long serving policemen freeing up jobs and accommodation for the recruits.



Police Uniforms



The police force has secured funding for just over K3 million worth of uniforms. Several serving policemen have complained that the present uniforms are fading and torn and do not present a good image of the police force.



Antibiotic Resistance



Due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in developing countries, including PNG, there has been an increase in the resistance to the effectiveness of antibiotic.



Mystery Illness



The mystery illness in the Kagua / Erave district of the Southern Highlands continues to claim lives. It is believed that as many as 90 people have now died from the unidentified disease but authorities can not confirm this. It is believed that the disease first struck in April this year (2004)



AIDS Cure



People have been warned to be sceptical about a treatment claiming to be a 100 percent cure for HIV/AIDS. The medical profession the highlands have issued the warning after a third year medical student from the highlands claimed to have made the discovery. People have been warned that if the treatment was proven every pharmaceutical company in the world would be on the doorstep attempting to buy the rights to the treatment. The people advertising the treatment are charging K1000 for the medicine.

The Executive Dean of Medicine and Health Sciences, who is also the chairman of the PNG Medical Board, has said that the person is no longer a student at the University and that he was a pharmacy student not a medical student. The Executive Dean also said that the ex-student may be mentally unstable and should seek medical help.

Medical authorities in Mt Hagen have said that they would use the law to deal with claims by the ex-student. There have been no laboratory tests / investigations and therefore there is no proof that the discovery is a valid treatment.



Twin Otter Tragedy



A Twin Otter aircraft operated by Airlines of PNG has crashed in Central Province killing the pilot and first officer. The only other passenger on board, the load master of the flight, survived the flight and is in Port Moresby Hospital recovering. Airlines of PNG have conveyed their deepest sympathy to the families of the pilot, Captain Philip Wiseman and First Officer Rachael Kaltia. This newsletter expresses the same sympathy and condolences to all associated with the two aviators.



Kokoda Trail



The Kokoda Trail may be closed to people from PNG, with the exception of local villagers, until further notice after the murder of a person from one of the villages along the trail by a group of PNG people walking the trail. The Trail is a shortcut between Port Moresby in the National Capital District and Popondetta in Oro (Northern) province. Currently people from overseas are charged a fee to walk the trail and until a fee system is introduced for locals the trail will remain out of bounds.



West New Britain - Bridges



Thanks to help from the Australian Aid organisation AusAID West New Britain province has had access to K5.5 million to help build six new bridges in the province. The bridges are along the Bialla to Kimbe section of the New Britain Highway. Travellers will now be able to travel the road even during the wet season.



West New Britain - Homeless



58 people in West New Britain were recently left homeless after strong, gale force wind destroyed their homes. Strong wind hit part of Wasum village at Kaporvo on the south east coast of Kandrian District recently destroying the houses and food crops. The villagers have sought shelter with neighbouring villagers.



Miss PNG Red Cross



So far seven young ladies have entered for the 2004 Miss PNG Red Cross contest. The seven are -

  1. Marle Boromu - Miss Vanimo Beach Hotel
  2. Ashwin Samson - Miss Warehouse Nightclub
  3. Priscilla Daniels - Miss Western Highlands Red Cross branch
  4. Sheryn Bernard - Miss Manus Red Cross
  5. Dani Doura - Miss Sogeri
  6. Linda Natera - Miss Friends That Care
  7. Julie Joseph - Miss Rabaul Travelodge



Mt Hagen Show



Air Niugini has put on extra F28 flights over the Mount Hagen Show weekend as follows:

Friday the 13th of August 2004
PX4180 -- departs Port Moresby 1140, arrive Mt. Hagen 1240
PX4181 -- departs Mt. Hagen 1305, arrives Port Moresby 1405

Sunday the 15th August 2004
PX4188 -- departs Port Moresby 1410, arrive Mt. Hagen 1510
PX4189 -- departs Mt. Hagen 1535, arrive Port Moresby 1635



Sogeri School



Land owners demanding compensation for the land the school is built on have closed the Sogeri National High School just outside Port Moresby. Over 300 grade 12 students are affected by the demands. The students are due to sit for their grade 12 national expression paper on the 16th of August.



Telikom Payrise



Telikom PNG has agreed to improve the salary and working condition of workers to the tune of K1.26 million over three years. This means that the workers will receive a 4 percent pay rise beginning from July 2005. Other benefits include ex-gratia payments for some workers, increased clothing allowances, and increased risk allowances along with other benefits.



Jungle Chemist Shop



An academic at the University of Technology in Lae has said that the jungles of PNG could hold the cure for many medical conditions. A large number of novel compounds with anti-fungal properties have already been reported in PNG. Many of these could provide leads for the development of newer antifungal antibiotics. In the last five or so years over 55 papers have been published in international journals dealing with the medicinal use of plants in PNG. Traditional healers use most of these plants.



Traditional Medicine Database



The Health Secretary has launched a traditional medicine database. The database, stored electronically, will contain information about the different types of plants used in traditional medicine around the country. The database will be owned by the government and will be used to help the people of PNG have access to information about the different plant types and their uses to cure medical problems.



Madang Donation



The Rotary Clubs of Tasmania, in Australia, have donated a 25 cubic metre container filled with school supplies to schools in Madang. The container contained 260 boxes of books, 250 boxes of stationary supplies, 120 chairs, 809 desks, 30 tables, filing cabinets and other school goods. The container weighed over one tonne.



Coming Events



Daffodil Corporate Golf Challenge -- 30th August 2004 in aid of the Port Moresby Cancer Relief Society.

Mount Hagen Show -- 13th to 15th of August 2003.

The PriceWaterhouseCoopers 2004 Walk for Life Corporate Challenge is on again -- Sunday, 29th August 2004

Kiwi Ball -- 4th of September 2004 - Held in Port Moresby



PNG Economy



The Bank of PNG governor is expecting the PNG economy to grow by as much as 2.8 percent this year. High external loan repayments have impacted on this figure even though PNG now holds financial reserves of almost US$540 million (K1.7 billion). The 2.8 percent figure is higher than government estimates.



St John's Ambulance



Two ambulances previously used by the Queensland Ambulance Service to serve patients in the rugged outback country of Western Queensland, Australia, have been refurbished and shipped to Port Moresby. The two ambulances and the associated equipment, decommissioned from the Queensland Service, will be a welcome boost to the work of the St John's Ambulance Service in Port Moresby.



Birth Registrations



23 people including three children have received birth certificates in Lae, Morobe province at a small ceremony conducted by the Minister for Social Development, Lady Carol Kidu. These were the first people to be issued with certificates at the launch of the Birth Registration Program in the province. The Morobe Administrator and the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG were amongst the first group of people. The free registration program began on the 23rd of June and is going for six months. Lady Carol said that they are aiming to have 20 percent of the children in the province registered by the end of 2005.



Teak Exports



It would appear that the export of teak in unprocessed form is still going on. Forestry officials claim that the export of teak in log form is illegal. According to reports some operators are making the logs look like processed sawn timber so that it can be exported.



Operation Open Heart



Airlines of PNG have helped the Operation Open Heart program by presenting a cheque for K15,000 to the Port Moresby General Hospital Chairman. Airlines of PNG are a regular donor to the program that is conducted by volunteer doctors and nurses from Australia every year. The Doctors and nurses donate their time and expertise to operate on mainly children with heart defects. The money will be used to meet the cost of the medicine needed for the program.



Public Smoking



It has been proposed to ban smoking in public places. It is also hoped that the sale of tobacco products on the streets of towns will also be banned. Many developed countries have seen a reduction in diseases that have been associated with smoking but this is not the case in developing countries.



Basketball



PNG basketball player Illiwa Baldwin, just over 2 metres tall, may possibly get a long tern professional contract with the Brisbane Bullets. Baldwin will join the Bullets development squad where he will get a chance to break into the senior team if he performs well.



Port Moresby By-Election



Residents of Port Moresby are again being blasted with election propaganda from candidates standing in the by-elections and this was on the day the nominations opened for the vacant Moresby Northeast seat. What will it be like closer to the actual election date?



Solomon Islands



PNG has offered to help with the restoration process in the Solomon Islands. Sir Michael Somare has said that PNG will drop its "mere spectator" status to provide technical assistance to its Melanesian neighbours.



Morobe Aid Posts



Aid post orderlies, at some locations in Morobe province, have abandoned their posts and headed to the provincial capital of Lae to follow up on their overdue entitlements. Many of the sick people in the areas affected are walking two or three hours to the next closest aid post for treatment. Some that are unable to walk have resorted to traditional herbal remedies for treatment.






PNG Media


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-- THE END --

Some of the ways of saying "that's all" are courtesy of Liz and her friends at the University of Technology in Lae. http://www.unitech.ac.pg

If you can add to this list then please send email to PNG-News@pnggossip.com

 






Created 6 Aug 2004
Updated 16 Aug 2004

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