Links
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
Takuu Island
Takuu Island, once known as the Mortlock Islands, is part of PNG and
200 kilometres north-east of Bougainville, the atoll is made up of
13 islets with a combined land area of less than a square kilometre
- none of it now more than one metre above mean sea level. The island
is under threat of being submerged not by a Tsunami but by one big
wave. The big tides, which occur around twice a year, sometimes see
a low tide up to two metres below normal and -- ominously -- a high
tide 1.5 metres higher than normal. A film is being made about the
island and there is also a blog that can be read -- http://www.takuufilm.blogspot.com/
Primary School Reunion
International Primary Schools Reunion -- BANZ - GOROKA - KUNDIAWA
- MINJ - MT HAGEN
Date: Saturday 15th September 2007
Where: The Queensland Irish Club, Brisbane
Tickets: $50/Adult & $30/Child
RSVP
Banz & Mt Hagen - Jean Martin: dirwaghi@hotmail.com.au and Lola
Collins: lola.collins@defence.gov.au
Goroka - Lisa Adams: gipsreunion07@hotmail.com
Minj - Ilma Leahy: TBA
Kundiawa - Carla C: TBA
If you are unable to attend the reunion but would still like to catch
up with old friends, email us!
Goroka Grammar School
Goroka Grammar has a web site located at -- http://www.gorokagrammarschool.ac.pg -- visit the site to find out more about the school.
Tasman Building Company
The Tasman Building Company has a web site located at -- http://www.tasmanbuilders.com/
Way Back Machine
The way back machine shows that the first issue of the PNG Gossip
Newsletter using the domain name of -- http://www.png-gossip.com --
was in 2001. -- http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://png-gossip.com -- prior to that issues were sponsored by -- michie.net.
The wayback machine doesn't always get it right. The Air Niugini site,
for example, doesn't render correctly. Take a look at the couple of
sites I have listed below but have fun and look up your own favourite
sites to see what they used to look like.
Airlines of PNG (MBA) -- http://web.archive.org/web/20000816112823/http://www.apng.com/
DataNets -- http://web.archive.org/web/19981205025852/http://www.online.net.pg/
Datec PNG -- http://web.archive.org/web/19981202074402/www.datec.com.pg/datec/datec2.nsf
http://archive.bibalex.org,
-- the Internet archive at the New Library of Alexandria, Egypt, mirrors
the Wayback Machine. Try your search there if you have trouble connecting
to the Wayback servers.
Kavieng Diving
Kavieng based dive company Scuba Ventures has launched an exciting
new website that showcases the very best of New Ireland Province. --
http://www.scubakavieng.com -- provides a central guide for tourists
visiting Kavieng by providing accommodation details, flight routes,
local guides, maps, prices and links to other useful websites. Director
of Scuba Ventures Cara Kopman says its more than just scuba diving
because it tries to promote Kavieng as a complete holiday destination
where visitors can undertake a variety of recreational activities such
as surfing, village tours, cycling, hiking, swimming, canoeing, fishing
and historical tours. The website was built by Jason Kovacs from Melbourne. "I
lived in PNG for two years, so I knew how beautiful and vibrant the
country is and we had to capture that on the website," he said.
Scuba Ventures has been Kavieng's premier dedicated dive operator for
over 6 years and owners Dorian and Cara who have a combined 28 years
experience in diving tropical waters are fully accredited NAUI and
PADI instructors.
Kokoda Track
Field Guide to the KOKODA Track -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=8&t=576&st=0#entry3779
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
Lands Dept Site
The Department of Lands and Physical Planning have a new website that
can be found at -- http://www.lands.gov.pg -- Lands Department management
hope that the site will enhance the department's efforts to inform
investors, government institutions and the general public of the roles,
responsibilities, procedures, processes and the overall working of
the department.
Yahoo PNG 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 PNG Web Sites
Official web site of the PNG National Olympic Committee -- http://www.oceaniasport.com/png/
Inside Papua New Guinea -- http://www.insideoceania.com/html/papua_new_guinea.html -- this site has links to current news and stories about Papua New
Guinea usually from sources outside PNG.
PNG Forest Conservation News -- http://forests.org/png
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
Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group -- http://www.rhpng.com.pg/
UMW heavy equipment supplier -- http://www.umw.com.pg/
Atlas Steel PNG -- http://www.atlassteel.kenmore.com.pg/
News Items
Commodore Ilau Reinstated
Suspended PNG Defence Force commander, Commodore Peter Ilau, has been
reinstated by the National Court. The presiding judge, Justice David
Cannings quashed the National Executive Council's decision made on
the 11th of November 2006. The court also ordered that all costs should
be paid for by the State.
Mobile Telephones
Telikom PNG have reportedly blocked the allocation of two mobile telephone
licences that are needed to get the two other companies up and running
by the 1st of April. Caribbean company, Digicel, and Indonesian firm
Dawamiba successfully tendered to enter the PNG in an international
tender conducted by the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission
between March and September 2006. Telikom PNG has a licence that gives
them exclusive control over mobile telephones within PNG until later
this year.
Telikom Cable Damage
Telikom PNG is still facing vandalism of cables. Hundreds of telephone
subscribers in Port Moresby have lost their telephone service due to
cables being cut by vandals and thieves. Recently a 400 pair cable
serving the Bomana area just outside Port Moresby was cut in three
places affecting almost 100 telephone users in the area. Telikom have
declared some areas of Port Moresby as "no-go" zones for
Telikom technicians who no longer replace services because of repeated
damage and also because of threats to its workers attempting to fix
the damage. Partly as a result of many people not having access to
landlines the mobile telephone system saw 600,000 successful calls
being made through the system on the last Friday of 2006. It is expected
that this figure will reach the one million mark sometime this year.
Top Cop
PNG residents may not have a local soap opera on television to watch
every day but they have the "Top Cop" and the "Moti" saga
to keep them up to date with a local dose of opera and with the elections
just around the corner I am sure there will be more drama reported
in the local press.
Police Headquarters had to be shut down the other day when the appointed
top cop, Gari Baki, moved in to take up his position. The acting Internal
Security Minister, John Hickey, issued a letter to Mr. Baki stating
that he should not take up office in light of what was happening.
Three senior police officers have filed a challenge in the National
Court at Waigani to challenge the National Executive Council decision
made on the 11th of November 2006 to appoint Mr Baki as the Commissioner
of Police. The National Court has confirmed Mr Baki's appointment to
the position.
The Defence Force Moti enquiry was closed to the public and then reopened.
The worrying point about this is that the enquiry was closed while
the Defence Minister was sought to find out if he wanted the enquiry
open or not but he could not be found. Another worrying point is a
key witness could not be found yet it was reported that he was in close
proximity to where the enquiry was being held. Heaven help PNG if it
ever gets invaded by a foreign force - the people responsible for making
decisions on the PNG side will not be able to be found and worse still
the enemy will be next door without the police or defence force being
able to hunt them down.
Ninth Passenger on Moti Flight
After several weeks of enquiry it has been revealed to the Defence
Force Moti enquiry that a ninth passenger was aboard the aircraft that
flew Julian Moti to Munda in the Solomon Islands. Two Defence Force
personnel who had earlier testified that there were eight people aboard
the aircraft are now claiming that there was a ninth person who was
onboard. The identity of the person is not known as it was claimed
he was the son of a senior government officer except that person does
not have a son.
Lae Settlement Torched
The acting divisional commander for the Mamose region was attacked
by armed criminals in the early hours of Saturday morning at Voco Point
Beach Lae. In retaliation for the attack on Giossi Labi it has been
reported that 22 houses in the nearby Keks Settlement, at the back
of PNG Forest Products, were burnt to the ground. It is believed the
people who attacked the policeman were from this settlement.
Cruise Ship Impact
The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) is currently undertaking
a study to fully appreciate the economic impact the cruise tourism
sector has on the country. The study to be completed in Dec 2007 will
target tourists, cruise ship owners, tour operators and locals - carvers,
painters, artefact sellers. The study will also identify issues considered
impediments to the development of cruise tourism in PNG with a view
to removing them. It will cover the main sea ports of Port Moresby,
Rabaul, Alotau and Madang. PNG TPA is seeking the support of key stakeholders
from PNG Ports Corporation, Customs and Immigration to make this study
a success.
PNG Soccer
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Congress was originally set
to be held in Kimbe, West New Britain province, but this has now been
changed to Port Moresby. FIFA president, Sepp Blatter and his delegation,
including FIFA General Secretary, Urs Linsi will also attend the OFC
Congress to witness the election of the new OFC executive committee.
Gerehu Clinic
The St John Ambulance has taken over the running of the Gerehu Clinic
the largest clinic in Port Moresby. The Gerehu Urban Health Centre
serves a population of 46,000 people will now be known as the St John
Health Centre under an agreement between the Department of Health and
St John Ambulance signed last year on the 13tyh of December. St John's
will soon celebrate 50 years of service to PNG.
NCDC Amendments
Amendments to the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) Act
made by the National Government have been described as laughable by
Ombudsman Peter Masi. Masi claims there was a major error in the new
Act causing NCDC member Wari Vele to claim the position of Chairman
when the section of the law was in fact, actually displacing Mr Vele
out of the position. The Ombudsman Commission has warned that it will
not hesitate to seek a Supreme Court interpretation of the new act
if Parliament fail to adhere to the Commission's advice to remedy the
defects in the law.
PNG FAQ's
Are there any florists in PNG?
Not sure about PNG but there are three florists in Port Moresby however
I only have e-mail addresses for two.
Linden Blossom is the longest established florist in town and is owned
by a Dutch couple who have been here over 30 years. Their e-mail address
is -- lindenblossom@global.net.pg
The other one is called "The Flower Shop" an arm of the
National Capital Botanical Gardens and their address is -- ncbg@orchidspng.com -- You should address your mail to Mary Ume who is the manageress of
the shop.
The third one is an arm of the PNG Gardener company however I do not
have an e-mail address for them.
2007 National Elections
The elections are coming. To keep track of them then I suggest bookmarking
the Electoral Commission web site and visiting occasionally -- http://www.pngec.gov.pg
Coming Events in PNG
National Surfing Titles in Vanimo in mid-February 2007.
32nd Gaming Fishing Association of PNG titles will be held from the
1st to the 4th April 2007
May Coffee Festival 2007 - cancelled due to 2007 National Elections.
Tufi Cultural Show, Oro Province -- 9th to the 11th June
National Mask Festival, Kokopo - East New Britain Province -- 12th
to the 15th of July
International Orchid Spectacular -- 5th and 6th of August
Lukim PNG NAU Tourism Expo -- 9th to the 11th September
National Tourism Conference -- 12th September
Hiri Moale Festival, Port Moresby - National Capital District -- 15th
to 18th of September
PNG 30th Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
Morobe Show, Lae -- 4th to 5th of November
The Milne Bay Canoe and Kundu (drum) festival is to be in November.
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
PNG Media
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