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
ICCC Web Site
The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has officially
launched their new web site. The website will hopefully help the ICCC
carryout a greater awareness of consumer rights and business responsibilities
under the provisions of the ICCC Act and other relevant legislation.
The website can be found at -- http://www.iccc.gov.pg
-- Consumers will now be able to lodge complaints online.
Real Estate Agents
Arthur Strachan (Lae) -- http://www.arthurstrachan.com.pg
Century 21 -- http://www.century21.com.pg
-- and -- http://www.siule.com.pg
Kohoy Real Estate -- http://kohoyrealestates.tripod.com
L.J Hooker -- http://www.ljhooker.com
Ray White Real Estate -- monian@online.net.pg
Strickland RE -- http://www.sre.com.pg
The Professionals -- http://www.theprofessionals.com.pg
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
PNG / Australia Sites
The Australia-Papua New Guinea Society has a web site located at --
http://www.apng.org.au
and the Australia Papua New Guinea Business council has a web site located
at -- http://www.apngbc.org.au
Other Links
Bishop Brothers Engineering has a web site at -- http://www.bishopbros.com.pg
Curtain Brothers a major civil construction company has a web site at
-- http://www.curtainbros.com.pg
A single page for Lohberger Engineering can be found at -- http://www.lohberger.com.pg
The Markham Group of Companies have a web site located at -- http://www.markham.com.pg
Education Web Sites
Ela Murray International School -- http://www.elamurray.ac.pg
Institute of Banking and Business Management -- http://www.ibbm.com.pg/main.html
Institute of Business Studies -- http://www.ibs.com.pg
International Business Institute -- http://www.ibs.com.pg
International Education Agency -- http://www.iea.ac.pg
Korobosea and Boroko East School -- http://www.koroboro.ac.pg
Pacific Training Academy -- http://www.pta.com.pg
PNG Basic Education Development Program (BEDP) -- http://www.bedp.sagric.com
PNG Curriculum Reform Implementation Project -- http://www.pngcurriculumreform.ac.pg
PNG International Training Institute -- http://www.iti.com.pg
PNG Maritime College -- http://www.pngmc.ac.pg
PNG University of Technology (Lae) -- http://www.unitech.ac.pg
POM Institute of Matriculation Studies -- http://www.pims.ac.pg
Tabubil International Education Agency School -- http://www.tis.ac.pg
The International School of Lae -- http://www.tisol.ac.pg
University of Goroka, Eastern Highlands -- http://www.uog.ac.pg
University of PNG -- http://www.upng.ac.pg
News Items
Aviat Club - Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest 2005 will be held at the Aviat Club in Port Moresby on
the 30th of October from 12:00pm to 6:00pm.
Graffiti
Police have warned that they will fine first time graffiti offenders
K50 and order them to clean up their mess. Failure to pay the fine and
clean up the mess will result in a six-month jail term for the offenders.
Vanimo Fishery Project
A groundbreaking ceremony has been held for the multi million Kina
Sandaun Province fishery project It was originally targeted for Kavieng
and / or Lae but due to problems with landowners releasing land it was
moved to Sandaun Province. Vanimo, the capital of Sandaun, is in an
ideal location for the project but it is lacking much-needed infrastructure
and utilities such as water, sanitarian and an adequate power supply.
It is hoped that all these can be improved upon now that a company is
prepared to start a major development in the province.
Night Club Laws
It has been reported that there is no specific law that regulates the
activities Nightclub "entertainment" in PNG. A team made up
of officers from the National Aids Council, National Capital District
Commission, National Gaming Board, National Research Institute, State
Solicitors office, and the Department of Community Development are currently
conducting a survey into the nightclub industry in PNG. The team will
submit the survey and its report to Parliament so that Parliament can
decide if a law would need to be enacted to regulate activities at the
various clubs.
Daltron Raid
Six staff of Pangtel, the PNG Radiocommunication and Telecommunication
Technical Authority backed by an elite squad of ten policemen recently
raided computer company and Internet Service Provider - Daltron and seized a satellite dish and related
equipment. The raid was part of a plan to prevent companies from jumping
the gun on pending approvals of applications by 48 companies to install
their own data transmission networks.
Bougainville Copper
Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) has been ordered by the Supreme Court
to pay K7.9 million into a court trust account that will be invested
in an interest bearing account by the court. BCL was further ordered
to pay to the Chief Collector of Taxes the costs of the court proceedings
incurred by the Chief Collector of Taxes and the Internal Revenue Commission
(IRC). The IRC and the Chief Collector of Taxes claim the BCL owe K27
million in taxes arising from dividends received on investments in 1999,
2000 and 2001.
Police ECP II
The proposed reincarnation of the police component of the Enhanced
Cooperation Program will see approximately 40 Australian Assisting Police
attached to various administrative areas within the Royal Papua New
Guinea Constabulary. The Australians will be placed in management areas
within the force under the charge of the relevant PNG provincial police
commander. The deal will cost Australia about K90 million. There will
be no foot patrols being conducted by the Australian police.
Public Accounts Committee
It is believed that the Public Accounts Committee has issued another
set of directives to the Air Niugini management for additional information
to assist them in their investigations into the airline. One of concern
to the Committee is the dual salary for expatriate and local pilots
Copra Problems
Copra growers are upset that money collected from them in the past
year has gone towards "research levies". The Growers Association,
East New Britain branch, says the money has not been remitted to the
intended target, the Coconut and Cocoa Institute. Instead, the money,
almost K3 million, has gone directly to the Kokonas Industri Koporesen
(KIK). According to the KIK Act of 2002 the money should go direct to
Coconut and Cocoa Institute and not KIK.
Baby Bottles
Another warning has gone out to shops and street sellers stating that
it is illegal to sell baby bottles, baby cups and dummies. The Health
Secretary, Nicholas Mann, has said that many babies who are fed using
bottles and cups are prone to getting diarrhoea. The Baby Food Supply
Act introduced in 1977 and with amendments in 1984 states that these
items must only be sold under the orders of a doctors' prescription.
When the act was first introduced there was a dramatic decrease in the
number of babies with diarrhoea and malnutrition. Many shops around
the country are still selling theses items along with antibiotics without
a prescription.
Road To Recovery
The PNG PM, Sir Michael Somare has said at the Australian National
Press Club in Canberra that PNG is on the road to recovery after going
through five years of a plummeting economy and a general decline in
the delivery of services.
Credit Unions
A recent audit of the many Savings and Loans Societies in PNG has revealed
that little has changed over the years. These organisations, usually
set up to help the "little people", are still being relieved
of funds by the people put in place to run them. For example more than
K150,000 belonging to rural farmers and villagers at the East New Britain
Savings and Loans Society has gone missing. The Chairman has said that
it was not a case of stealing but more a case of transferring money
from one ledger to another. The Post Courier has reported that it has
been reliably informed that the society was buying and selling copra
in an effort to recoup the lost money.
Pacific Islands Summit
The summit meeting for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders has begun
in Port Moresby. Dignitaries such as John Howard, PM of Australia and
Helen Clark PM of New Zealand are in Port Moresby for the summit although
they have flown to Madang today for a retreat and are back in Port Moresby
tomorrow to wrap up the summit on Friday.
Autonomy
Bougainville has it and now at the special Governors' Conference in
Mt Hagen the governors have agreed to allow and support autonomous governments
in regions and provinces prepared to take up the challenge. Many of
the governors are concerned that although they raise huge amounts of
money it is all siphoned off to the National Government with very little
being given back to the province that raised it in the first place.
NCDC Break-In
Police have arrested and charged a man with the recent break and enter
at the National Capital District Commission offices in Port Moresby.
Police have also rounded up four other men in relation to the break-in
that saw electrical equipment and computers stolen. Police have also
been able to recover a motor vehicle that was stolen at City Hall on
the same morning as the break-in.
UK Working Holidays
Young PNG citizens who are planning to visit the United Kingdom and
stay for more than 12 months can now seek employment for up to two years.
The announcement was made by the Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister,
Sir Rabbie Namaliu, before the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit. This
has rekindled hopes that Australia may agree to a similar arrangement.
The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has shown a willingness
to discuss the seasonal labour issue for PNG and other island nations.
She also admitted that she was concerned that many may stay on as illegal
immigrants.
Police Accident
A police vehicle has been damaged in an accident at Teramanda, Enga
Province. It has been reported that a senior officer was involved in
the accident that saw a ten-seater police vehicle filled with more than
ten civilians allegedly on a drinking spree run off the road at 2am
in the morning.
Walk for Life
The PriceWaterhouseCoopers Corporate Challenge was held on the 23rd
of October 2005. The challenge helped raise money for the Sir Buri Kudu
Heart Foundation. The course started at the Ela Beach School and travelled
along Ela Beach until climbing up and over Lawes road passing Sir Hubert
Murray Stadium eventually coming back into town past Steamships and
St Mary's Catholic Church before returning to the school and the finish
line.
Lae Pollution
It has been claimed that pollution in Lae is worse than ever by the
former environment minister and Huon Gulf MP Sasa Zibe. He claimed that
many industries in Lae were dumping their industrial waste into the
rivers and marine systems. He said that in many cases the relevant authorities
did not have the capacity to monitor and enforce environmental legislation.
He also said that many multi-national and foreign companies did not
really care about the environment and the people.
English Super League
The English Super League champions Bradford Bulls are set to take on
two PNG players. Stanley Gene and Marcus Bai have both been signed for
next year. Gene has been signed for two years and Bai for one year.
Both PNG players are familiar with the Super League in fact Marcus Bai's
most recent effort was in the team that lost to the Bradford Bulls in
the recent Super League grand final.
PNG Adventures
From time to time the Kokoda Trail pops up in one-way or another. It
seems to be the one thing along with the Highland Shows, Madang and
Rabaul that are mentioned frequently by tourists wishing to come to
PNG. The trail or track is well known for its part in the fight between
the Allies and the Japanese in the Second World War but nowadays it
has become "the" walk to do in PNG. There are plenty of other
walks that are possibly better but perhaps the Kokoda walk is the benchmark
for physical endurance. Many operators offer the Kokoda Trail complete
with carriers to help with the necessary food and camping equipment.
Here are some of the operators starting with my favourite, -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au
-- run by Gail Thomas at PNG Business and Tourism Directory -- http://www.pngbd.com
-- of course it is up to the reader to make their own choice when choosing
any tour company.
+- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au
+- http://www.pngtrekking.com.pg
+- http://www.kokodaspirit.com.pg
+- http://www.kokodatreks.com
+- http://www.nghols.com
Not sure what to expect and want to sample a bit of The Trail? I know
that Nikki and Pam at PNG Trekking and Adventures offer a short weekend
familiarisation of a tiny segment of the trail to people. This will
let you or maybe your body know what to expect without having the pain
of trying to complete a full walk across the trail. Not sure if the
others offer this or not but I recommend that you ask.
All of the above operators, although specialising in the Kokoda Trail,
offer other tours around the country so it is recommended to look at
the relevant websites and ask questions.
I mentioned above the Highland Shows, Madang and Rabaul as places that
are mentioned by tourists but there is also a walk up Mt Wilhelm, at
just a little over 4500 metres it is higher than Mt Kosciusko the highest
mountain in Australia. Of course places like the fjords of Tufi, the
Black Cat Trail, the walk from Alotau to Dogura -- http://michie.net/pnginfo/wamira.html
-- all spring to mind.
Illegal Guns
The son of a prominent couple has been caught with a stolen police
weapon (a police-issue AR-15 assault rifle). The couple and the son
have all been charged with illegal possession. It has been reported
that the gun in question was stolen from a policeman who was disarmed
in a gang attack at the Waigani shopping centre recently and ended up
with the son.
Coming Events
Rotary Melbourne Cup Day Fund Raising Luncheon -- 1st November 2005
The Milne Bay Canoe and Kundu (drum) festival will be held between
the 4th and 6th of November this year.
Miss PNG Crowning night -- the 3rd of December at the Crowne Plaza
in downtown Port Moresby. For more information about the 2005 Miss PNG
Red Cross Society Charity Quest or your intention to support the Quest
please call the Quest Coordinator Ms. Aiva Tamate at the PNG Red Cross
on telephone 325 7016 or 325 8577 or fax 325 9714.
Air Niugini Ball - 1st December 2005 at the Crowne Plaza in downtown
Port Moresby.
Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games -- March 2006.
2006 - April 8th to the 16th -- National Game Fishing Titles
PNG 31st Independence Anniversary - 16 September 2006
PNG Media
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