Links
Warning: PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that it costs money to host a web site (try -- http://pngwebhost.com -- for an excellent, reliable but cheap deal) 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 then mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.
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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
Research
http://www.rcf.org.pg -- Research and Conservation Foundation. RCF works with landowners, related government departments and local and international organisations to conserve the unique biodiversity and related cultural history of the Crater Mountain Wildlife management Area.
http://www.pngimr.org.pg -- Institute of Medical Research has its headquarters in the Eastern Highlands Province and also in the Eastern Highlands is the Melanesian Institute -- http://www.mi.org.pg
Swamp Ghost
The Swamp Ghost has been the centre of much controversy over the attempted movement of the old World War II Boeing B17E Bomber from what should have been its final resting place to overseas. Read about the history of the aircraft by visiting -- http://theswampghost.com/
Steel Industries
Check out the Steel Industries web site located at -- http://www.steelindustries.com.pg/
Tourism Promotion
The tourism promotion site specifically designed to help tourists find out more about PNG has received a hammering in the Post Courier's "The Drum" column for containing incorrect information. Some of the factually incorrect information ambiguously implies that in PNG cars drive on the right side of the road or did they mean to say that the steering wheel is on the right hand side of the car?
Video Link
If you have the bandwidth then I recommend viewing the video located on the Air Niugini Japanese site -- http://www.air-niugini.co.jp/vtr/index.html-- produced by the Tourism Promotion Authority.
Nick & Paula
Pictures and stories from Mt Hagen by Nick and Paula -- http://nick-paula.blogspot.com/2006/11/our-house.html
see also -- http://jennigoestoywam.blogspot.com/2006/11/team-png.html
PNG Aviation
http://aviation-safety.net/database/country/country.php?id=P2
http://www.airlink.com.pg
http://www.airniugini.com.pg
http://www.apng.com
http://www.balus.gov.pg
http://www.billpurc.com/aviation.htm
http://www.maf.org.au
http://www.helifix.com.pg
http://www.michie.net/balus
Kokoda Trail Map
Charlie Lynn of Adventure Kokoda Pty Ltd in Australia is offering for sale at AUD$149.50 including GST and postage within Australia Poster size (800 x 300 mm) maps of the Kokoda Trail. You can order the map from the web site located at -- http://www.adventurekokoda.com.au
News Items
2007 Budget
The government has handed down a budget of over K6 billion for 2007 with two supplementary budgets adding another K1.1 billion to that figure. It is anticipated that just over K4 billion of the total budget will be funded by the taxpayer with no new taxes being introduced. Top marginal tax rate cut to 42 per cent making PNG tax system more internationally competitive and attractive for skilled workers.
A lecturer in Economics at the University of PNG, Dr Billy Manoka, has said the budget is flawed. He also mentions that under the Public Finances Management Act 90 percent of any budget surplus must be allocated to debt servicing. He has calculated that only 9 percent of an expected K1.1 billion windfall has been allocated to servicing debt. He went on to say that overall the 2007 budget is a good budget.
The PNG Sports Commission received an increase of about K1.5 million in the 2007 Budget.
Human Development
The United Nations has rated PNG 139 out of 177 countries in its 2006 "Human Development Report". The report takes an in depth look at the issue of access to water and the influence it has on human potential and progress towards the millennium development goals (MDG).
Rent Increase
The politicians have proved yet again that they are like all other politicians in the world and have lost touch with reality. The PNG ones have just granted themselves a hefty 100 percent increase in their accommodation allowance. The voters receive very little assistance with their accommodation and some even have to live in squalid conditions often described as not fit for humans.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20061110/frhome.htm
The 100 percent increase was supposedly based on a 40 percent increase in rental accommodation. It would seem that politicians the world over are all the same. As soon as a politician or a family member gets sick they are evacuated to Australia for treatment whereas a normal citizen has to suffer long queues and a lack of medicine often waiting many days for treatment.
It is expected that workers will push for a similar increase in housing allowances. The Public Employees Association has vowed to push for the increase in response to the action taken by politicians -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/111406/nation4.htm
MV Milne Bay
After only a few trips in PNG Waters the MV Milne Bay has headed back to its home base in the Philippines. It would seem that with the recently reported problems of not being able to dock and refuel at suitable times the bank has not been able to extend credit for long enough. 120 people employed by the company have been sent home and it is planned to increase this number even further. -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/111406/nation7.htm -- and -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20061113/news03.htm -- also -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20061110/news03.htm
Moti's Escape
It is believed that the escape of Julian Moti, from PNG to the Solomon Islands in a Defence Force plane, has seen the indefinite suspension of the Commander of the PNG Defence Force - Peter Ilau, the Chief Secretary - Joshua Kalinoe and the acting Police Commander - Tom Kulunga.
Dishonest Public Servants
http://www.thenational.com.pg/111406/nation6.htm -- Justice Bernard Sakora has said that PNG is riddled with dishonest politicians and public servants, who instead of serving and upholding the legitimate laws of the State, are manipulating the system greedily for more money.
2007 Coffee Festival
The 2007 Coffee Festival has become the first casualty of the 2007 National Elections. The organisers have decided to cancel the 2007 event and plan for a bigger and better event in 2008.
Gas Find
Test by InterOil Limited have returned positive results for the Elk-1 exploration well in the Gulf province's Eastern Papuan Basin. It has been estimated that there may be gas reserves of several trillion cubic feet in the test area.
PNG Web Hosting
Interested in creating your own PNG Web Site or any web site for that matter? Worried about the cost? It may be cheaper than you think. Take a look at pricing offered at the PNG Web Hosting site -- http://www.pngwebhost.com -- Sites with space for 15,000 MB of data, 300 GB transfer per month and 24 hours a day / 7 day a week ticket / phone support for less than US$5.00 per month. The larger web-hosting plan at US$9.75 per month offers 25,000MB of disk space, 400GB transfers and the ability to host up to 10 domains and 32 sub domains on this one package. All sites come with a web site builder to make web site making easy! As an added bonus several PHP and MySQL options are available. The best way is to visit the web site and see for yourself. Oh, and by the way, DOT COM Domain Names are as little as US$9.00 per year.
Remember there is no need to spend hours and hours learning HTML code or graphics editing. No need to worry about details with PNG Web Hosting. Let the tools such as the Joomla! or Mambo Content Management System, help you on your way. If that seems too much effort then there is also a "fill in the gaps" html web site builder available free of charge. So if you are looking for a permanent home for even just your email address then take a look at -- http://pngwebhost.com
Karkar Island
The Baha'i mothers of Mom village on Karkar Island have completed a new medical aid post on the island. They have now decided to create a water supply system for the village.
Fully Story -- http://news.bahai.org/story/490
Police Commissioner
The job of selecting the new Commissioner of Police has had many twists with, unfortunately, politics getting involved. The person recommended a few weeks ago has now been replaced by an Assistant Commissioner brought in from the provinces. The police union has become frustrated with all the politics involved and has threatened strike action. In yet another twist the new person has been suspended by his colleagues over charges of misconduct in office. -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/111406/nation1.htm -- and -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20061114/news01.htm
World Bank
In its latest economic review on the East Asia and Pacific region the World Bank has forecast a bright future for PNG. The Bank said the country's economy had been improving due to high commodity prices over the first three quarters of the year, macro-stability and the appreciation of the kina against the US dollar.
Literacy Rate
PNG has been rated as having a literacy rate of only 43 percent compared to other countries in the Pacific region.
See also -- "Lift literacy rate to fight HIV/AIDS" in the Post Courier -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20061110/news04.htm
Import Tariffs
The 2007 Budget has placed a temporary increase on the importation of products as a revenue raising measure. An increase of 20 per cent tariff was imposed on canned dark tuna from 15 per cent while tariff on carbonated soft drinks increased from 15 per cent to 25 per cent and canned baked bean tariff was increased from zero to 25 per cent. The Government removed the tariff on the importation of raw beans intended to be processed. One supermarket has recently introduced Coca Cola and other soft drinks from Asia mush to the abhorrence of the local Coca Cola bottler. The tariff increase on carbonated drinks will benefit the local manufacturer and the government but not the consumer.
Gun Exchange
Young people from Lae's Four Mile settlement have exchanged their weapons for bibles. The weapons including home-made guns, live ammunition, sling shots, bush knives and pieces of iron used by the youths for armed-hold ups and road blocks was handed over to the Salvation Army.
City Hall
The troubles at Port Moresby's city hall continues with former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta walking out of a meeting of the board of the National Capital District Commission in protest at the alleged flouting of directions from the Minister for Inter-government Relations, Sam Abal. Sir Mekere said the minister had sent "at least three letters" to board chairman Wari Vele, saying that two newly appointed members were illegally on the board and that he should exclude those two from any meetings. It is believed that the two "illegal" members took part in the meeting chaired by Mr Vele.
Sirinumu Threat
Landowners at Sirinumu, the dam that feeds water to Port Moresby and generates power via hydro electricity, have threatened to shut down the power station within 24 hours. The Landowners made this threat after Government and PNG Power representatives failed to attend the grand opening of the Wanowari Cage Culture Fishery Project in Sirinumu after they were invited.
Chinese Influx
It has been claimed that a government coalition partner is heavily involved in bringing the mainland Chinese businessmen into the country. The political party was alleged to have facilitated an influx of Chinese coming into the country to conduct business in the last couple of years. Many people say that Asians where taking over businesses which could be operated by local PNG people.
Forged Certificates
Coming up to the end of the school year when many ex-students will be out and about looking for work school authorities have said to check school certificates closely to ensure that they are not forged documents. They also said that a photocopy of a certificate should never be accepted as genuine. Details of Grade 10 and 12 results should always be crosschecked with the Education Department's Measurement Services Unit (MSU) database. Certain features are incorporated into recent certificates. Since 1995, all genuine certificates have had a raised embossed Department of Education seal on the bottom right hand corner while in 2002 the seal also had the year on it. Further the genuine certificates have the word "Original" in faint large letters printed on the back.
Coming Events
Miss PNG Red Cross Traditional Judging. -- The judging of the Miss Traditional segment of the Miss PNG Red Cross Charity Quest 2006 will be held on the 19th of November at the Port Moresby Country Club from 1pm to 6pm.
The 2006 Miss PNG Red Cross Charity Quest Crowning Ball is being held on the 2nd of December at the Crowne Plaza downtown Port Moresby from 7pm.
32nd Gaming Fishing Association of PNG titles will be held from the 7th to the 16th of April, 2007
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
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