Links
Missionary Aviation Web Site
Here is a message from MAF -- Thanks for the link to the MAF Australia/PNG
website in a recent PNG Gossip newsletter.
I thought I'd let you know, for your future reference, that we have just
put in a new website with a new look and are in the process of updating our
content. So for now, you may want to just link to the top-level of our site
@ http://www.maf.org.au.
The direct link to the new PNG info page is: http://www.maf.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=125
(we haven't got search-engine friendly URLs working yet!)
However, the old link that you published still works for now.
Anyway, hope this helps. Keep up the great work with the newsletter.
Regards,
Glenn Rice,
MAF Australia.
Nancy Sullivan Tours
Nancy Sullivan Tours is located at -- http://www.nancysullivan.org
-- The following paragraph is reproduced from the web site --
It's easy to skim the surface of PNG. It's so colourful, so varied. However,
skimming the surface can be like watching a foreign film with no subtitles.
It's a long way from anywhere to come and get only half the story, only that
which is visible, which remains as exotic up close as it did in the travel
brochure. I like my tours to infuse impressions with meaning. To fill a brief
experience with the history, the anthropology, the gossip and feel of a place.
Tok Pisin Links
Here are a few links to sites dealing with Tok Pisin - one of the three official
languages of PNG.
The other official languages are English and Motu.
The University of New England (Australia) -- http://www.une.edu.au/langnet/tokpisin.htm
Wiki Books links -- http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Tok_Pisin
Robert Eklund's Tok Pisin Page -- http://www.ida.liu.se/~g-robek/PNG-TokPisin.htm
Tok Pisin - English Dictionary -- http://www.calibercreations.com/pisin/searchall.asp
The Google Directory of Tok Pisin Sites -- http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Social_Sciences/Linguistics/Languages/Natural/Pidgins_and_Creoles/English_Based/Tok_Pisin/
Languages of New Guinea - Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin -- http://www.langcen.cam.ac.uk/resources/lang-no/lang_no.php?c=4
Bill Purcell's Web Site pages about Tok Pisin -- http://www.billpurc.com/billsview/tokpisin.htm
Robert Eklund's Pages
Robert Eklund's pages about PNG can be found at -- http://www.ida.liu.se/~g-robek/PNG-Top.htm
-- also take a look at his link about Tok Pisin -- http://www.ida.liu.se/~g-robek/PNG-TokPisin.htm
Do you have a web site or link to a PNG related area on the WWW? If so do
you want it mentioned here? Then send an email to -- pngnewsqueue
@ pnggossip.com
News Items
Petrochemical Plant
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company and Itochu Corporation have selected Port
Moresby to build a US$500 million petrochemical plant. The two companies had
earlier assessed two sites in the Gulf Province and an area alongside the
Napa Napa oil refinery as prospective sit4es. Oil Search have indicated that
they would be able to supply 86 petajoules of gas a year over a 20-year period.
The government has been able obtain finance with the Japan Bank for International
Cooperation for its 22.5 percent stake in the PNG-Queensland gas pipeline.
The Japanese bank will provide a concessional loan of up to about K1.5 billion.
Cricketing Champions
A young team of PNG youngsters defeated Vanuatu to be crowned champions of
the inaugural International Cricket Council East Asia-Pacific Under-15 cricket
8s in Melbourne, Australia recently. PNG won six matches out of seven including
the decider. Vanuatu was the only country to beat PNG in a preliminary match
but PNG turned the tables when it mattered to continue the PNG dominance in
the region at the Under-15, Under-19 and senior levels.
Hutjena - Buka
The Hutjena Secondary School in chaos after the theft of computers and other
equipment. The theft followed a successful meeting between the Bougainville
administration, the education division and members of a local village group
to allow classes to begin this week. The school had not reopened for the 2005
year because members of the "home guard" from Hangan village took
over the premises three weeks ago and refused entry to students unless the
Government paid them for their part in returning peace to the island during
the Bougainville crisis.
Literacy
It has been revealed that about 56 percent of the people of PNG are illiterate.
At this time of year many parents have children who have headed off to remote
boarding schools and they do not have the ability to send letters to these
sons or daughters and they certainly do not have the ability to read any received
letters.
Abau - Central Province
Of all the 89 districts within PNG Abau is seen as a model for the rest of
the districts to follow. This is because the development plan for the district
was widely consulted and the plan had taken heed of the National Government's
priority aligning itself with the Medium Term Development Strategy. The plan
sets out clearly the priorities of Abau District, the Central Province and
that of the National Government of where we the district is headed in the
next five years
A treasury office has been opened in the Rigo district at Kwikila. This will
allow villagers to cash government cheques. At the moment villagers have to
travel to Port Moresby for even the moist basic of services.
Coming / Current Events
The Education board is meeting in Madang from the 14th to the 18th of February.
The board meets four times annually; usually the first conference is in a
provincial centre while the other three are held in Port Moresby.
The National Council of Women's convention will be held in March. The national
convention is the highest authority in the National Council.
UNICEF Visit
The United Nation Children Fund's East Asia and Pacific regional director,
Anupama Rao Singh, is visiting PNG. The regional director will be visiting
the Chimbu and the Eastern Highlands provinces where UNICEF programs are currently
being carried out.
Correctional Service
The Correctional Service is facing a severe shortage of manpower because
there has not been any recruitment for the past ten years. Most of the serving
officers within the service were old and reaching retirement age. In some
areas there are as little as 3 people to guard 300 prisoners. There are now
over 100 detainees at large in the country and this is a major threat to the
community that will not go away until the correctional services can build
up staff numbers again.
More Escapes
33 remanded prisoners have escaped from Baisu jail in the Western Highlands.
One of the fleeing prisoners was shot dead and four others were seriously
wounded as correctional officers attempted to recapture the escapees. One
of the escapees pretended to be shot and later escaped from hospital although
other reports indicate that two of the escapees at eh hospital simply walked
out because there were no guards around. The 33 prisoners attacked a lone
guard as most of the correctional services officers were attending the opening
of the legal year in Mt. Hagen. 32 prisoners have also escaped from the Buiyebei
prison in the neighbouring Southern Highlands.
Manan Island Resettlement
The resettlement of Manam Islanders continues to be a problem due to contentious
land issues. Recently the Lands Minister, Dr Puka Temu, accompanied by his
departmental head and lands officers met with villagers who have traditional
claims to the three plantations that were purchased for resettlement of the
Manam people. the meeting was held to discuss the immediate needs of the Manam
people and ultimately a solution to the land issues taking into consideration
the traditional landowners bid to acquire title to the plantations purchased
by the state in 1995.
Illegal Fishing
Milne Bay has claimed that the province has captured 20 fishing vessels catching
fish illegally in Milne bay Waters. The 20 fishing boats vessels measuring
from 26 to 28 metre have been sailed to Alotau, the provincial capital, This
follows a report that they were fishing within the 12-mile territorial and
archipelagic waters at Panasia Island, 80km south-west of Bwagoia, the main
town of Misima. A total of 14 policemen and government officials were involved
in the exercise that began with a surveillance sweep and the eventual arrest
of the vessels. Indications from the National Fisheries Authority say that
the boats could be from a recently licensed trial PNG/Chinese trawling venture.
PMGH Woes
Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) is hoping that the Port Moresby community
will once again come to help the country's largest hospital, survive through
this year. The Government has only budgeted K16 million this year for the
hospital but management claims that the hospital needs a minimum of K30 million
to fully run the hospital. Twelve million kina has already been committed
to staff salaries, leaving a mere K4 million for operational costs at the
hospital. It has been reported that the hospital owes K4 million for services
rendered over the years for electricity, water and telephone.
Australian Police
Another Australian Assisting Police (AAP) officer is being investigated for
allegedly using offensive language towards PNG police. The AAP officer, part
of the Enhanced Co-operation Program was attached as a trainer at the Bomana
Training College where the PNG police have been receiving training as part
of the Australia and PNG agreement. A PNG police officer has claimed that
the AAP officer was training some PNG police on the use of force and during
the training sessions would use offensive language such as "cannibals"
and other words that have upset the PNG officers. Police have confirmed the
incident and an investigation currently underway.
Former Attorney General
The former Attorney General - Francis Damen has been arrested and charged
over the assault of a member of the Public Service Ministry. Another former
Attorney General is being investigated for his involvement in a pornographic
movie.
Another Budget Approved
The Treasurer, Bart Philemon, has approved the East Sepik provincial budget.
The budget targets infrastructure development.
Port Moresby Sewerage
The government of Japan has agreed to provide about K300 million in a concessional
loan to help fund the upgrade of the Port Moresby sewerage system. The upgrade
will see the old system built about 30 years ago replaced by a more modern
and environmentally system. The loan repayment period will be over a period
of 40 years.
Police Hold-up
A policeman in Lae has lost his gun when criminals held him up recently.
The senior officer was robbed of his .38 police issued pistol with six rounds
of ammunition when four men armed with home made guns held him at Lae's Voco
point at midday. The criminals also took his bag, police uniform, car tools
and civilian trousers before escaping on foot.
PNG Currency
The Westpac Bank has said that the kina held steady against almost all currencies
last week except for the Australian dollar that had been boosted by increased
interest rate hike expectations.
National Capital Province
The opposition leader has revealed plans to introduce laws to make Sir William
Skate the governor of National Capital District, and to severely restrict
gambling and alcohol trading in the country. The plans would bring the National
Capital District into line with the country's 19 provincial governments. Sir
Peter Barter has said that the idea is flawed due to the nature of the National
Capital District. It is unique in PNG and is not really suited to the laws
proposed by the opposition leader.
Education Web Sites
http://www.ibs.com.pg -- International
Business Institute
http://www.iea.ac.pg -- International Education
Agency
http://www.iti.com.pg -- PNG International
Training Institute
http://www.pngmc.ac.pg -- PNG Maritime
College
http://www.pta.com.pg -- Pacific Training
Academy
http://www.unitech.ac.pg -- PNG University
of Technology (Lae)
http://www.uog.ac.pg -- University of Goroka
http://www.upng.ac.pg -- University of
PNG
http://www.workersmutual.com.pg
-- Computer Training
PNG Bowls Association
Sir Brian Bell, a prominent businessman in PNG, has come to the aid of the
PNG Bowls Association by donating a brand new lawn mower to keep the greens
in tiptop condition. Sir Brian, through his company Brian Bell Stores, is
also supporting the Takuru Fours, a national event held every year on the
PNG Bowls Association calendar.
Outrigger Canoe
Cairns based sisters Mary Holland and Iva Wright will lead the PNG outrigger
canoe team in the forthcoming Mini South Pacific Games in Palau later on this
year. Two visiting coaches from Australia have selected a team of nine women
and six men. Fiona Speedy has been picked as the team manageress.
Tsunami Scare
After a 6.0 earthquake hit the New Guinea Islands region of the country villagers
in low lying areas around Port Moresby were scared into thinking that a tsunami
was on the way after a lower than low tide caused much of the usually covered
ocean bed to be exposed. Thousands of villagers and settlers vacated their
homes from 2 - 3 am onwards recently and headed for higher ground around the
capital. Several hundred ended up as far away from Moresby as the Sogeri plateau.
A rumour spread by a local preacher added fuel to the concerns of the villagers
by predicating that a tsunami was about to happen. Computed tidal predictions
indicated that an extra low tide of 0.03 metre at 2.55am was to be followed
by a high tide of 2.89 metre at 9.42am. This prediction made by the Australia's
National Tidal Centre Bureau of Meteorology was based on historical and scientific
data several months ago.
Port Moresby police have described the rumours of a tsunami as a hoax perpetrated
by people with criminal intent. National Capital District / Central police
commander Tony Wagambie said that he believed there were unscrupulous people
who were waiting to raid empty homes left behind by people fleeing as a result
of the tsunami hoax.
Coffee Industry Corporation
The government, powerless to do anything about the running of the Coffee
Industry Corporation (CIC), has said that it will cancel the licence of the
CIC to trade and regulate the industry if the CIC doesn't shape up. The Government
has no power to sack and appoint CIC directors and chief executive officers
but it can withdraw the CIC licence to operate if the government felt the
interest of the country's two million coffee growers was at stake.
PNG / Aussie Unions
Public Employees Association president Michael Malabag has said that union
members from the private and public sectors in Australian and PNG have agreed
to work together in resolving issues. Eleven union officials from the Australia
including Australian Labour Party officials arrived in Port Moresby on Monday.
Nursing Review
The PNG and Australian nurses' unions will meet next month to review the
2000 awards for nurses in PNG. The Australians will be helping the PNG officials
in areas of policy and assisting in other areas that concern the local nurses.
PNG Media
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