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.
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
Misc Links
Living Water Mission -- http://www.livingwatermission.org
Morobe Show -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg
Port Moresby Rotary -- http://www.pomrotary.org.pg
PNG Department of Health -- http://www.health.gov.pg
Rotary Against Malaria -- http://www.ram.com.pg/adopt.htm
Magic Moments Photo Blog -- http://magicphotoblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/papua-new-guinea.html
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce web site is located at -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
The PNG Institute of Directors has a website located at -- http://www.pngid.org.pg
An Introduction to Morobe Province -- http://www.angelfire.com/jlaew/morobe/ -- and -- http://www.answers.com/topic/morobe-province?cat=travel
PNG History
If you are looking for the history of PNG then a good place to start is the Wikipedia free encyclopaedia as well as the other links below.
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Papua_New_Guinea
-- http://sg.travel.yahoo.com/guide/papua-new-guinea#society
-- http://www.world66.com/asia/southeastasia/papuanewguinea/history
-- http://www.michie.net/balus/px-history.html (Air Niugini - not complete)
-- http://www.michie.net/balus/cg-history.html (Airlines of PNG - very incomplete!)
If anyone can add to the Air Niugini or the Airlines of PNG (Milne Bay Air) history please send an email to this newsletter and I will pass it on. Does anyone have a picture of the MBA Grumman Goose?
PNG in the News
Top cop to stand trial over assault -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/021808/nation40.htm
Around the world in 102 days -- http://undersail.blogstream.com/v1/pid/290845.html
Sir Julius warns donors against interference -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/021808/nation_4.htm
Porn saga results to be presented to chief censor -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/021808/nation_10.htm -- see also -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s2159963.htm
Visa processing poor -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/022208/letter8.htm
PNG official warns donors against interference -- http://www.mvariety.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=7193&format=html
NAQIA challenged to be wary of farm pests -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/022508/nation7.htm
Blogs about PNG
http://volcanolive.blogspot.com/2008/02/rabaul-volcano-papua-new-guinea-john.html
http://volcanoworld.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/rabaul-papua-new-guinea-3/
http://travel-ismo.blogspot.com/2008/02/surface-of-new-britain.html
The round the worlders -- http://duaneandarleen.blogspot.com/2008/02/rabaul-papua-new-guinea.html
Long way from home -- http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2008/02/long-way-from-home.html
http://undersail.blogstream.com/v1/pid/290694_In-Rabaul-new-hot-spot-of-the-world-not.html#TP
Photos from along the Kokoda Trail -- http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2008/02/kokoda-day-1.html
One of the most desperate battles in Australian history was fought at Isurava between 26 and 30 August 1942. The signs of the ferocity here are still present, weapons' pits originally used by the Australians at Isurava are still evident -- http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2008/02/kokoda-last-day.html
Yet another report from Rabaul -- http://francesolson.livejournal.com/4394.html
Copra, products of the archipelago, Coffee, tea, derris root -- http://tinyurl.com/2tm8xa
http://nancysullivan.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/02/cure-yourself-a.html
The topography of New Guinea -- http://travel-ismo.blogspot.com/2008/02/topography-of-new-guinea.html
The Obregon Family Blog Site - Kokopo East -- http://tinyurl.com/2r8x2w
News Items
Australian PM
Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, is to visit Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands next month. The Rudd government, elected in November 2007, says it needs to repair relations with the South Pacific, after what it calls 'the bullying' of the previous Howard government. In Port Moresby, Mr Rudd will build on the talks he had with the PNG prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, at the UN Climate Conference in Bali.
MV Doulos
The floating library the MV Doulos is in Rabaul. -- http://shipsbecks.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/ash-wednesday-thursday-and-friday/ -- and -- http://www.mvdoulos.org/ -- It is schedule to depart on the 4th of March.
Its PNG schedule is
Rabaul - Feb 21st, 2008 Mar 4th, 2008
Kavieng - Mar 5th, 2008 Mar 18th, 2008
Alotau - Mar 21st, 2008 Mar 26th, 2008
Port Moresby - Mar 28th, 2008 Apr 17th, 2008
From Port Moresby the MV Doulos will sail to Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Orion Expedition Cruises
Orion Expedition Cruises, a frequent visitor to PNG, has been included in the current edition of the US travel magazine Islandsinaugural Blue List of the top 100 tourism products from around the world that best represent responsible tourism. See -- http://www.etravelblackboard.com/index.asp?id=74721&nav=5
Karkar Party
A party on Karkar Island has seen four families left homeless and three trade stores looted of thousands of kina worth of store goods in a clash between two villages. The incident happened when a community leader of the Koal village was allegedly assaulted by a man from the neighbouring Korpak village during a party with family and friends.
Highlands Highway Fraud
Police in the Highlands have revealed that corrupt Government officials and villagers have conspired to inflate the value of property being reclaimed for highway widening and defrauded the State of about K34 million. It is claimed that police have received documentation and evidence sufficient to prosecute at least 200 people involved in the claims.
Tuna Investment
PNG officials have been in the Philippines attempting to lure Filipino investment for the PNG fishing industry. There are currently two tuna industry players-RD Tuna Canners (PNG) Ltd., a subsidiary of Filipino business empire RD Group of Companies, and Frabelle (PNG) Ltd. of Frabelle Fishing Corp. are operating tuna canneries in PNG.
See -- http://tinyurl.com/2ustug
U19 World Cup Cricket
PNG has had the opportunity to play against India in the Under-19 World Cup. Millions of children play cricket in India whereas only a few thousand play the game in PNG, primarily because the facilities are minimal and the equipment too expensive. To make matters worse many of the team have not had an opportunity to play on turf because there isn't a single turf facility in PNG. Only Arua Dikana, Colin Amini, Lua Nou, Willie Gavera and Tony Ura have had some experience on turf.
See associated news item -- http://www.nationnews.com/story/295343054753659.php
For a real insight into PNG Cricket here is a link to a recent interview with PNG Cricket General Manager Andrew Knott -- http://tinyurl.com/3xgwh3
Bulolo Airport
The newly upgraded Bulolo airport has opened with the arrival of an Airlines of PNG Dash 8 aircraft on the 13th of February. The plane was welcomed by traditional dancers from East Sepik and Morobe as well as being hosed down by the PNG Forest Products fire fighters.
Buka Court House
A new local court house has been opened in Buka after the previous one was burnt down in August 2002. Now that the new court house has been completed, court services in the region should return to normal operations.
Malaria
Byron Chan, member for Namatanai and shadow Minister for Internal Affairs, Culture and Tourism, says that malaria remains the No.1 killer disease in New Ireland and other parts of the country but more money and manpower are instead being put into HIV/AIDS with limited success. Mr Chan said this reflects a disservice in the administration of the foreign aid programme.
Tourist Arrivals
Culture and Tourism Minister Charles Abel has announced that tourist arrivals exceeded 100,000 for the first time in 2007. A total of 102,400 arrivals represented an increase of 32%, or 25,000 additional visitors, compared to 77,730 visitors in 2006.
Based on these figures the goal for 2008 is expected to increase to 120,000 visitors.
Mobile Phone Interconnect
Digicel and Telikom hope to be able to turn on the interconnect facility between their networks in early March. Sources have said that because the competing mobile phone networks have different call costs and with millions of calls being made everyday both companies want to ensure that they get it right.
Mass Burial
Five unclaimed bodies at the Mt Hagen general hospital will be mass buried at the public cemetery by the hospital staff if no relatives own up to claim those bodies.
See full story at -- http://www.missionandjustice.org/mass-burial-for-unclaimed-bodies-png/
and -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38169
Regional Aviation Academy
The Regional Aviation Academy - officially recognised by the PNG National Training Council - began operations in 2001 and offers aircraft maintenance courses and imparts training through lessons where students sit for Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)-prepared examinations. Over 100 students have passed through the Academy and are now working all over the aviation industry in PNG as well as overseas.
Sepik Ironman Event
The fifth Sepik Ironman will be held on Sunday, June 8 - the Queens Birthday weekend. The Solomon Island Triathlon Association (SITA) will send four athletes to the event. The Solomon Islanders competed in the 2006 Commonwealth Games Triathlon held in Melbourne, Australia. They have also recently competed in the Noosa Ironman challenge in Queensland, Australia.
Kokoda Track Graves
Over recent months there have been concerns that a mining company wishes to mine along the Kokoda Track. The Kokoda Track is considered a sacred war grave site as described by Kokoda Track War Historian and author of Field Guide to the Kokoda Track, Bill James and Soc Kienzle (son of the late Kokoda Campaign Angau Officer Bert Kienzle of Mamba Estate in Kokoda). Most Australian bodies were recovered and re-interred at Bomana War Cemetery whilst the Japanese and Papuan remains were left buried where they died or often in mass graves. It will be interesting to see how this difficult situation between history and a mining company is resolved.
PNG Power
After the loss of over K2.5 million worth of cable drums of conductors PNG Power has warned the general public that it would use the police to track down people vandalising its equipment. Police arrested 20 villagers in connection with the robbery and five of these people have been let out while the rest are still in jail in Banz and Minj.
UNESCO Visit
The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation's (UNESCO) director-general has stopped over in PNG from his regional visit covering eight countries. During his two-day stay, Koichiro Matsuura, paid courtesy calls on the Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu yesterday and had an audience with Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane, Education Minister Michael Laimo and Minister for Higher Education Michael Ogio.
Agricultural Development
The National Government has committed K100 million per year over the next 10 years to help develop agriculture within the country. The money will be used by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock through its national agriculture development plan (NADP) under the government's medium term development strategy (MTDS).
Marijuana Seizure
Police carrying out random cargo checks at Port Moresby's Jackson's Airport have seized about 4kgs of dried marijuana at a street value of up to K4,000 off a chartered flight from Tapini. The marijuana was concealed in amongst bags of peanuts.
Coming Events
Kokoda Reunion Dinner: Parliament House, Melbourne - Friday 28 March 2008
March -- Canadian Indian chief to visit Eastern Highlands to start cultural exchange programme.
Coffee Festival, Goroka, Eastern Highlands -- May
Australia PNG Trade Expo - 4th to 6th of May
2008 Sepik Ironman -- Queen's birthday weekend (8th of June)
40th anniversary of the PNG Institute of Medical Research - between the 18th and 22nd of June 2008 in Goroka
Tolai Warwagira Cultural Festival - July 9 - 15 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
14th National Mask Festival - July 16 - 19 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
PNG Tourism Expo -- September
Hiri Moale Festival -- September
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
Medical Symposium -- September 2008
Morobe Show -- 18th and 19th of October -- the Show is held on the weekend closest to the full moon in the month of October each year in Lae, Morobe Province.
Milne Bay Canoe Festival -- always held during the first weekend in November.
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
PNG Media
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