Links
Warning:
PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that it costs
money to host a web site and there is not much return on the outlay
to most businesses in PNG. If you do click on a link and use the services
or even have some comments to make then please contact the people at
the relevant web site and let them know so they at least know that someone
has gained some value from their efforts. If you are so inclined them
mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG
Gossip Newsletter.
Mention
of a website or service does not necessarily mean that this newsletter
endorses the website or service
Museum Links
PNG National Museum and Art Gallery
-- http://www.ncdc.gov.pg/citiinfo/sitresandscenes/
-- http://www.pacificwrecks.com/restore/png_museum.html
-- and
-- http://www.pngbd.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/4424/sort/1/size/medium/cat/631/page/1
Rabaul - Kokopo Military Museum -- http://www.milart.com.au/rabaul/AAKokopoMuseum.htm
Photographs of PNG
As always if you want to see photographs of PNG I recommend the PNGBD
website and the following sites will also be of some help
http://ebible.org/mpj/gallery/index.htm
-- 17 pages of photographs.
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/papua_new_guinea.htm
-- Many pages of PNG related photographs
New FIA Site
PNG Forest Industries Association -- http://www.fiapng.com
-- This site is designed and implemented by Wolfgang and is a CyberMasta
Web Site -- http://www.cybermasta.com/portfolio.htm
Stories About PNG
http://www.pngaa.net/Articles/articles_A_Family_Matter.htm
-- A FAMILY MATTER by Chips Mackellar -- just on of many articles that
can be found at -- http://www.pngaa.net
Unofficial Sites
Royal PNG Constabulary
web site -- http://www.skillresearch.com/rpngc/index.html
The RPNGC has an official site located at -- http://www.police.gov.pg/
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
News Items
Police Donation List
Here is another report from a reader ... The list grows
We had a great night and were driving happily home, when we came
to a police roadblock. No sweat, I had my licence and the car is roadworthy,
so I pulled over and started to get my licence out. The cop said "No
need for that. Do you have a smoke?" I said no and he leaned a
little closer and said, "Do you have some coins so I can buy some?"
So I got my wallet and pulled out a note and gave it to him. Ten b!@#$y
Kina gone just to get a fat cop out of my face!! I hate to think what
would have happened if I had said no. Probably I would suddenly had
a smashed headlight, or taillight and been hauled off to jail.
Here is another one... Does it surprise anyone?
I was stopped at a roadblock last week at the bottom of Lawes Rd.,
I had an expired rego sticker as my vehicle had been it the Panel beaters
for three months and only picked up that afternoon, the new one was
at work, the policeman said that he should give me a spot fine of K200.00
but he did not have his receipt book !! If I paid him K30.00 he would
forget the matter. K30.00 changed hands and went straight into the Policeman's
pocket.
Here is yet another one from a recent visitor to the country from Germany
-
Quote
Hi!
Yes can confirm, too PNG police has started early this year.
About 10 days ago I was stopped at a roadblock.
He didn't like my German drivers licence ( which is of course an international
licence ) , in PNG one need a PNG licence ( ????? ) , and he claimed
that he had observed that my passengers were not strapped in when approaching
the roadblock .........
Both "offences" would be worth 200 PGK , but he has no receipt
book ....... Starting to exchange different views on the situation we
were just about to be taken to the next police station ( where ever
this would have been ..)
So generously I relinquished on a receipt .... and 200 PGK later ....
off we went ....
End Quote
From some of the other stories I have heard it would appear that the
police only have one receipt book and one traffic infringement notice
book for the whole force. Well that is their story.
University Troubles
Disgruntled students at the University of Papua New Guinea have burned
two cars, a motorbike and a bicycle in protest against several things.
One of the issues is the conversion of the University Chapel into a
lecture theatre (mentioned in the last issue of The Gossip) and the
major concern is the perceived downgrading of marks by the university
administration specifically the Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor
was one of the unfortunate people to have his vehicle set ablaze earlier
this week. It would appear that the students have been given an ultimatum
to either go back to school by this Monday or repeat a full year next
year, that is if their sponsors are willing to pay or can afford to
pay for the extra year. The students want the Vice Chancellor to resign.
The Chapel was originally paid for by donations from various churches
and church bodies and it was intended to be used as a place of worship
for the University students and staff.
HIV Positive
Sir Mekere Morauta has claimed that there are more than 100,000 People
in PNG who are HIV Positive. He said that it is a factor that is threatening
our greatest asset, our people, and our human resources. The head of
the United Nations AIDS Agency has said that PNG is at risk of an African
level HIV/AIDS epidemic.
North Star Cruises
Australia's North Star Cruises (NSC) will start operating its "Papua
New Guinea - New Adventures in Paradise' cruises starting on the 9th
of November 2005. These will include back-to-back cruises between Alotau
to Rabaul. NSC director and partner Craig Howson was in PNG mid-June
accompanied by shipmaster Brad Benbow and business friend Rob Malcolm.
They were accompanied to Tufi and the magical islands of Milne Bay by
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority marketing and promotions manager to
confirm logistics and other ground work and were impressed with what
they saw. The team also visited Rabaul and its outer islands as well
as the Eastern Highlands provincial capital of Goroka. North Star promises
its clients that the adventure will be one never to be forgotten. For
more info visit -- http://www.northstarcruises.com.au
Bougainville Copper Taxes
The tax office (Internal Revenue Commission) is still attempting to
recover back taxes owed by Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL). The Internal
Revenue Commission has claimed that BCL has sent K89 million overseas
to avoid paying the correct tax on the money.
Tumbuna Taim Show
PNG has a new cultural spectacle - The Tumbuna Taim Show. Sponsored
by confectionary manufacturer Nestle PNG Limited under its Nescafe brand,
it will be staged at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby on
the 30th of July. An initiative of the National Cultural Commission
of PNG, it will be staged annually and will feature PNG's rich cultural
diversity in song and dance and feasting rituals. For more info email
-- culture@daltron.com.pg
-- or telephone: +675 323 5111. Don't forget to mention the PNG Gossip
Newsletter when contacting anyone mentioned in this newsletter.
Japanese Cleanup
Port Moresby's Ela Beach saw a contingent of Japanese volunteers from
the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) cleaning up some
of the mess along the beachfront. The JICA volunteers were in the National
Capital for a meeting and took the opportunity to help clean a bit of
Moresby. Members of the Japanese Embassy and other Japanese workers
helped the volunteers.
Cost of Living
The official Cost of Living indicator has risen by a mere 1.6 percent.
The National Statistician has said that the Consumer Price Index rose
by that amount due to increases in electricity, fuel, local government
and rental charges. The increase in the cost of food was only marginally
ahead of the CPI figure at 1.8 percent.
Budget Surplus
From a predicted budget deficit of K137.7 million the Government estimates
that there will be a K29.1 million surplus this year. Government revenue
is up this year because of better collection of money owing to it as
well as increases in mining and oil taxes, company tax, divided income
and dividend withholding income.
Gulf Immunisation
The Supplementary Immunisation Programme has commenced in the Gulf
province and is being sponsored by the World Health Organisation and
the Japanese International Co-operation Agency. . The immunisation groups
are targeting all children 11 and under. The programme is an initiative
of the National Department of Health and aims to combat measles in the
province.
Arrivals
The international visitor arrivals to Papua New Guinea in May increased
by 24 percent compared to the corresponding period in 2004. A total
of almost 6,000 (5,988) visitors were recorded in 2005 while there were
4,838 visitors in 2004. Of the total to visit this year, 78 percent
came for business, while holiday and leisure recorded only 22 percent.
This is a decrease from the month of April, which recorded an increase
in travel and leisure at 24 percent. Despite the decrease in holiday
visitors in May, the Japan market continued to record a positive growth
of 39 percent. Overall, PNG continues to record positive growth in every
month since the beginning of this year.
Air Niugini Pilots
A couple of young girls undergoing pilot training with Air Niugini
have returned to PNG for a two-week break. The girls are doing very
well and have achieved 100% on their CASA (Australian Civil Aviation
Authority) Commercial Pilots Licence theory exams.
Royal Visit
It has been announced that Prince Anne will visit PNG to represent
Queen Elizabeth II during the 30th PNG Independence celebrations.
Bank New South Wales Mess
The Bank of New South Wales Men's Mess in Lawes Road, Port Moresby,
has been burnt to the ground. The bank, now known as Westpac, sold the
premises several years ago and the new owner converted them to a lodge
- Sunset Lodge. Apparently a fire started in one of the rooms and the
fire brigade was unable to contain the fire. Unfortunately one body,
believed to the son of the new owner was found in the burnt out remains
of the building.
Sorcery in PNG
Here is a quote from a recent Jane's Oceania Home Page Newsletter --
http://www.janesoceania.com
The sorcerer, of course, does not fail to take advantage of his opportunities.
Extortion and victimization are parts of his recognized armoury. He
rules by fear, and against that fear the arguments and assurances of
Europeans are powerless. -- http://www.janesoceania.com/png_sorcery/index.htm
Air Niugini Troubles
Air Niugini is in trouble for flying aircraft that do not meet the
appropriate PNG Civil Aviation Regulations. As from the 1st of July
all aircraft capable of carrying more than 30 passengers in PNG are
supposed to have an enhanced ground proximity warning system fitted
to the aircraft. This is the same equipment that has stopped the airline
from flying the Fokker F100 to Cairns mentioned in the last newsletter.
Air Niugini and two other airlines were originally given an exemption
but this was revoked on the 8th of July after complaints from another
airline based in PNG. The rule was introduced by the International Civil
Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and becomes mandatory for all airlines
by 2007 but Australia and other countries in the Pacific brought the
date forward. The equipment is designed to give early warning of when
an aircraft is coming close to the ground.
One reader commented that it is sad that aviation in PNG has been reduced
to such a state where one airline can dictate whether another airline
can fly or not especially when the old saying of the pot can't call
the kettle black can be applied to this other airline. Of course other
contributors to this newsletter have mentioned that the Department of
Civil Aviation has so much equipment on mountaintops that is not working
that it is hardly in a position to dictate mandatory safety rules for
aircraft.
Prices in PNG
Occasionally in the past in this newsletter typical prices for goods
have been advertised. this has not been done for a while so here are
some prices. Of course, be warned, they can only be used as a guideline
especially since many manufacturers produce very similar models that
sell at different prices.
Mobile Phones
- Motorola T191 -- K350
- Nokia 1100 -- K358
- Nokia 3200 -- K655
- Nokia 6230 -- K1386
- Nokia 6260 -- K1425
Printers
- HP LaserJet 1020 -- K 790
- HP LaserJet 1022 -- K1100
- HP LaserJet 2420 -- K3168
- HP LaserJet 3015 -- K1210
- HP LaserJet 3020 -- K1595
- HP LaserJet 3030 -- K2090
- Canon MF3110 -- K1295
- Canon MF5630 -- K1495
- Canon MF5650 -- K1795
- Lexmark E230 Laser -- K770
- Lexmark E232 Laser -- K1200
- Lexmark E330 Laser -- K2200
- Lexmark C510 Colour Laser -- K1980
Notebooks
- Toshiba Tecra A3 -- K5660 plus extras such as Carry Case, Epson
C45 printer, extra 256MB Ram (total of 768Mb)
- Acer 2304LC -- K3995
Second-hand Motor Vehicles
- Toyota Prado 1996 -- K45000
- Nissan Patrol Y60 -- K12000
- Nissan Patrol Y61 -- K92000
- Musso Ssang Yong 1996 -- K12000
- Mazda T35 Truck -- K54,990
- Mitsubishi Pajero -- K38990
- Isuzu NPR 3.5 tonne truck K42250
New Motor Vehicles
- Hyundai Sonata -- K79990 driveaway
- Ford Ranger 4x4 Single Cab -- K58990 driveaway
- Ford Ranger 4x4 Super Cab -- K69990 driveaway
Miscellaneous
- Contex Digital DVD player -- K339
- ARC Welder K795
- Akira, 110-litre deep freezer -- K968.00
- Fujitsu Air conditioner 9000 BTU -- K1244.50
- Fujitsu Air conditioner 24000 BTU -- K2935.50
- Truck Battery -- N100 K130.60, N200 -- K255.00
- Butterfly Kerosene Stove -- Single -- K89, Double -- K129
Telikom Troubles
Telikom workers are up in arms over the appointment of Rod Mitchell
of the NASFund to the board of Telikom. They are also unhappy at the
high fees that KPMG is getting as a strategic adviser to Telikom. The
workers claim that no valid tender process was followed to appoint KPMG
even though the amount of money falls within the guidelines for having
to go through the tender process.
National Provident Fund
Another person has been arrested in connection with the National Provident
Fund (Now NASFund) financial scandal. Ex Ombudsman and Engan businessman,
Ango Wangatau has been charged with allegedly misappropriating more
than K87,000 belonging to the superannuation fund in early 1999. At
the time of the alleged offence Mr Wangatau was a partner of Rams Business
Consultants. Another partner Rex Paki has also been charged with misappropriating
the same amount.
Coming Events
Mount Hagen Show, Western Highlands Province -- around the 20th of
August 2005.
Squash - The K50,000 Steel Industries PNG Squash International has
been set to be held between the 16th and 21st of August in Port Moresby.
The event is part of the official Men's World Tour and is being run
under the supervision of the Professional Squash Association - the world
governing body for Men's Squash. The main event will be held at the
Holiday Inn Sports Plus Club at Waigani.
PNG 30th Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September 2005
Hiri Moale Festival -- 15th to 18th of September 2005
Goroka Show -- Independence Weekend (17th - 19th September)
Tufi Cultural Show -- 17th - 19th September
Morobe Show, Lae -- 15th and 16th of October 2005
The Milne Bay Canoe and Kundu (drum) festival is to be held 4th - 6th
of November.
2006 - 8th to the 16th of April -- National Game Fishing Titles
PNG Media
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