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 due to very poor e-commerce infrastructure. 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.
If links in the newsletter do not work properly, copy and paste the URL into your browser and press Enter. Be sure to copy the entire link, as it may wrap to the next line. If this still does not work please send an email to the newsletter advising of the broken link.
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
Miscellaneous PNG
A sample of PNG web sites -
The Eastern Highlands of PNG -- http://www.easternhighlands.com.pg/
Is betel nut chewing all that bad? --
http://pacificfamilyhealth.wordpress.com/2007/02/15/is-betel-nut-chewing-all-that-bad/
Nissan -- http://www.nissan.com.pg
Ela Motors -- http://www.elamotors.com.pg
Taubmans Paints - http://www.taubmanspng.com
Law and Justice -- http://www.lawandjustice.gov.pg
A database of photographs, descriptions and locations of WWII wreckage remaining in Kavieng, New Ireland Province -- http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/png_kavieng.html
Scuba Ventures Kavieng -- http://www.scubakavieng.com/
PNGScape Komuniti Board -- http://www.pngscape.net/
Kumul Karai
Don't forget to take a look at the kumul karai web site -- http://www.karaibilongkumul.blogspot.com -- New content has been added since this site was last mentioned.
PNG in the News
Men and women argue differently...(no they don't... yes they do... no they don't... they damn well do!) -- http://tinyurl.com/2bwyyq
'Direct Strategies' Needed For Conservation -- http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/10/28/direct-strategies-needed-for-conservation-takesy-says
Sad news from PNG - Ian Saem Majnep died recently at home in the Kaironk Valley. There is a short obituary by Andrew Pawley in the Post-Courier. -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20071029/focus.htm
Grass-thatched hut replacement -- http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/10/27/education/dpt-newguinea27.txt
Canoe Festival -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/110207/WEEKENDER_3.htm
A man was killed in retaliation for the murder of a Watut man at a
settlement in Wau -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/110207/Nation%2012.htm
K430million in taxes from resources -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/110107/Nation%204.htm
Court acquits Siune of charges -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/102507/Nation%202.htm
PNG Blogs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kahunapulej/1393146175/ -- Cell phones for sale
http://maaikeisweg.blogspot.com/2007/09/em-tasol.html -- Goroka Trip
http://knowitornot.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-men-and-women-argue-differently.html -- In Gapun, a remote village on the Sepik River, the women take a robust approach to arguing
http://whitemeri.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!485C19FEE8E75867!1192.entry -- Life in Vanimo
http://galaidediaries.blogspot.com/2007/11/alotau-papua-new-guinea.html -- Alotau PNG.
News Items
Telephone Numbering
PANGTEL, the PNG Radio communications and telecommunications Technical Authority is implementing a new numbering plan for the PNG network. For example mobile phone numbers will now start with 7 and be 8 digits long. Digicel has already implemented the numbering plan and its mobile phones are eight digits long and start with seven.
Landlines around the country will also change although it looks like they will stay at 7 digits in length.
Momase Region (Madang, Wewak) - change 1st digit currently 8 to a 4
Southern (Central, Gulf, Western, Oro) - change 1st digit currently 3 to a 6
Highlands (Chimbu, Eastern) - change 1st digit currently 7 to a 5
New Guinea Islands (Manus) - change 1st digit currently 4 to a 9
The international access code presently 05 will now change to 00 making it easier for someone to accidentally add an extra zero and call emergency services.
PNG News Feed
News Feed - for some of the latest headlines from around the world visit the PNG Gossip newsletter RSS News Feed located at -- http://pnggossip.com/news/pngrss.php -- At the moment this uses Yahoo and Google but it seems they pick up on the same news stories so there is not much difference between the two feeds and some of the links remain on the feed for days at a time.
Automatic Tellers
Several new ANZ ATM's have been seen around Port Moresby. I have seen one at the International terminal at Jackson's airport, one in the lobby at the Holiday and another at the Crowne Plaza. Bank South Pacific has opened a new ATM lobby to the public at Mosa - New Britain Palm Oil Headquarters. This is one of 20 new ATM's around the country and just one of 33 new ones to be installed early next year. After this there will be over 1450 BSP ATM's around the country.
Drunken Flyers
Two drunken rugby league supporters on the way back from Singapore refused to comply with directions by flight attendants and in the ensuing scuffle an arm rest was torn from one of the aircraft seats. The two were handed over to police on arrival at Jackson's Airport. It has been alleged that they drunk a bottle of Jack Daniels while aboard the aircraft. The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating the incident which scared other passengers onboard the Air Niugini flight.
A 20-year old rugby union player has been charged with drunken behaviour and damaging a seat while on board the recent flight from Singapore to Port Moresby
Asylum Seekers
Three Burmese men waiting in Vanimo, PNG after fleeing their country's military regime hope they will be granted asylum in Australia. The trio illegally crossed into PNG from Indonesian Papua by boat in April after years living on the edge in Thailand and Malaysia. see -- http://tinyurl.com/2uvpmr -- for full story.
The UNHCR's representative in PNG, Wallaya Pura, said the three men's desire to be settled in a third country such as Australia would only be considered if PNG did not accept them.
National Games
The National Games are to be staged in Lae between the 16th and the 24th of November. The National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) will embark on comprehensive radio coverage of the Papua New Guinea National Games.
Air Niugini
The National Airline quietly celebrated its 34th birthday on the 1st of November. The only event I am aware of was a reunion of staff held in Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. Apart from that it was business as usual and no special birthday fares.
Impounded Cargo
Customs officers from the Internal Revenue Commission have impounded a cargo vessel for allegedly failing to declare all the goods on board. It is believed the undeclared items included fishing gear and 80,000 boxes of frozen sardines belonging to a fishing company based in Manus. The company also has an office in Port Moresby.
Telikom Graduation
251 students have recently graduated with certificates and diplomas from the Telikom Training College in Lae. As with all telecommunication training centres around the world many of the Telikom graduates will find jobs at rival companies in years to come. The graduation was the 20th from the college. Training workers in house allows Telikom to tailor courses to suit any new equipment being introduced.
New Road
A new 1.8 km section of road being built at a cost of K36 million has been designed without bus stops despite going through heavily populated suburbs. The National Road Safety Council has expressed its concern at the lack of suitable stops for passengers along the six-lane road. The Safety Authority knows that given the attitude of many bus drivers that they will simply stop wherever they want causing congestion and possible accidents. A National Capital District worker said one lane will be used by the buses and signs will be put up once the road is complete.
Kokoda Track
Exploration company, Frontier Resources, have been told by landowners that part of the Kokoda Track will have to be rerouted when the landowners begin mining the Kodu hill and surrounding areas on Mount Bini at Koiari in Central province. About 10 per cent of the track passes through the area and the landowners maintain that it is heir right to improve the lives of the people through mining.
The Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) is considering re-opening some unused parts of the 96km Kokoda Track between Oro and Central province. This is an effort to ensure the people living along the track can also benefit from both tourism and the mining industry.
Moti Report
The PNG Defence Minister, Bob Dadae, has rejected the Moti report recommending Prime Minister Michael Somare be charged for allegedly helping wanted Australian lawyer Julian Moti escape to the Solomon Islands. The report found Somare ordered a clandestine PNG military flight to take Moti to the Solomons in October last year despite a request by Australian authorities to have him extradited to face child sex charges. see -- http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=432340
Justice Gibbs Salika has said to leave the interpretation of the law to the judiciary when asked to comment about the remark by the Defence Minister.
Miss PNG 2007
Miss Goroka 2007, Heather Launa, will contest the Miss PNG Red Cross title for 2007. Miss PNG Red Cross is currently Genevieve Roberts, employed by Goroka Grammar, who was Miss Coffee.
Previous Miss PNG title holders -
- 1974 - Eva Ani
- 1975 - Eau Suve
- 1976 - Sayah Karukuru
- 1977 - no title
- 1978 - Angeline Tukana
- 1979 - Milly Misbut
- 1980 - Mispah Alwyn
- 1981 - Jennifer Abaijah
- 1982 - Moi Eli
- 1983 - Shannel Bray
- 1984 - Patricia Mirisa
- 1985 - Carmel Vagi
- 1986 - Anna Wild
- 1987 - Harriette Warren
- 1988 - Erue Taunao
- 1989 - Joycelyn Leahy
- 1990 - Nellie Ben
- 1991 - Marcia Muir
- 1992 - Jennifer Lemeki
- 1993 - Sharon Onsa
- 1994 - Tania Doyle
- 1995 - Imanakone Sioa
- 1996 - Rita Stegman
- 1997 - Lisa Linibi
- 1998 - Helai Oala
- 1999 - Roberta Ali
- 2000 - Ephreddie Jubilee
- 2001 - Olivia Wilson
- 2002 - Yaku Ninich
- 2003 - Cynthia Asi
- 2004 - Ashwin Samson
- 2005 - Michelle Pala
- 2006 - Genevieve Roberts
Polygamy
Vocal women leader Betty Benson from Asaro in the Daulo district has called for polygamy to be outlawed and done away with once and for all during a training workshop for first women magistrates in Goroka. Speaking on behalf of other concerned women in the province and eight districts, Mrs Benson said given the increasing cases of family violence triggered by husbands they want polygamy practice to be outlawed.
Polygamy is still considered an acceptable customary practice in the highlands of PNG.
Cable Thefts
More Telikom Vandalism -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/110207/Nation%2025.htm
Radio link communication is one of two practical solutions that Telikom is seriously considering to adopt in response to the constant sabotaging of its main communication links to the Gerehu Earth station.
It is not only PNG that has had to suffer the theft of cable in recent times. Residents of Melbourne have suffered at one railway crossing twice this year where copper cable has been stolen. The most recent theft only yesterday (5 Nov) cause the railway crossing boom gates to operate and cause traffic to be diverted for many hours through the peak period. Luckily it was the day before the Melbourne Cup so many people had taken the day off to make a four day weekend. Australia and most of PNG stop for the running of the Melbourne Cup.
Free Education
Sir Michael Somare has said that free education for all children given the current economic situation of the country is out of the reach any government. Sir Michael said a promise of free education by political parties and candidates was a total lie as it was impossible for any government to fund education for all children.
PNG FAQ's
When was the Kavieng Wharf Massacre?
It may have been on the 18th February 1944 but the 18th February was the one associated with the false story of the ship Kowa Maru and when the missing prisoners of war were allegedly put on board. It was subsequently sunk with great loss of life, 30 miles west of New Hanover on the 21st of February 1944. It was the date the men went missing, presumed dead, and used by the Australian Government on the Certificates of Death issued after the war. It may have been one day in March 1944 most likely the 14th. This date was stated by the 3 most senior Japanese officers as the date of the massacre in their appeal petition dated 2 December 1947.
Home Brew
Police in Kundiawa, Simbu province have reported that the production of home brew is increasing in the town, the provincial capital.
New Ireland Province
New Ireland Governor, Sir Julius Chan, has proposed the construction of a gold smelting factory in the province during a meeting with three mining companies in Kavieng recently. Lihir Gold Ltd, Nautilus Minerals Ltd and Allied Gold are all investing in the province. At the meeting, Sir Julius said he would set up a committee to look into the viability of a gold smelting factory in the province and asked the companies to give a briefing on their activities and plans.
Port Moresby Hospital
The Port Moresby General Hospital has celebrated its 50th birthday. The hospital provides services to Port Moresby, Central and the whole of PNG.
Kundiawa General Hospital does not have enough personnel to meet the growing number of patients. See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/110107/Nation%2023.htm
Coming Events
National Games to be staged in Lae between the 16th and 24th of November
Christmas Day -- 24th December
New Year's Day -- 1st January
Medical Symposium - September 2008
40th anniversary of the PNG Institute of Medical Research - between the 18th and 22nd of June 2008 in Goroka
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
PNG Media
If a friend has given or sent you a copy of this newsletter and you would like to keep receiving free copies then please visit -- ../news/index.html - for instructions on how to join the list.
Articles for this Newsletter
If you think you have a PNG page worth mentioning then please click here and use the submission form
To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter queue please click here and use the submission form.
.gif)
.jpg)
View PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive