Links
Warning: PNG web sites 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 use the submission form located at -- http://pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html
Bill's Web Site
Bill has spent many years flying around PNG for various airlines read his view at -- http://users.bigpond.net.au/billsview/png.htm
Olympic News Items
Dika Toua finished 8th in her division in weightlifting -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ffc57d
Ryan Pini finished 8th in the final of the Men's 100m Butterfly in a time of 51.86 seconds. The winner, Michael Phelps, swam 50.58. See the results at -- http://au.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/sports/results/-/swimming/day/8 -- and search for Pini.
For the all of the PNG team use -- http://au.sports.yahoo.com/olympics/athletes?l=&c=PNG&s=&x=13&y=10 -- as a starting point.
Team PNG is expected back in the country today and a welcome reception is expected to be organised for their arrival.
Blogs About PNG
Recently updated and well worth a read -- http://www.karaibilongkumul.blogspot.com/
http://achoate.blogspot.com/2008/08/week-in-review-2.html
http://achoate.blogspot.com/2008/08/alotau-papua-new-guinea.html
Walking backwards into the future one mans anger -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e71d05
Dive holiday to make differance -- http://giaman.com/pg/?295d77
Pardon Mr Somare you are being watched sir -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b9fe88
Baby Kevin and hermaphrodite goats -- http://giaman.com/pg/?694132
http://bighig08adventure.blogspot.com/2008/08/betel-nut.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/peace-on-earth_org/sets/72157606865221620/
http://rockstarpete.blogspot.com/2008/08/pacific-island-journal-pt-3.html
http://bighig08adventure.blogspot.com/2008/08/betel-nut.html
How to win friends and influence people PNG Style -- http://steveinpng.blogspot.com/
PNG in the News
Nusa Island Retreat is the perfect spot to enjoy -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a1b1d3
Air Niugini Set for Million Passenger Milestone -- http://asia.news.yahoo.com/080820/4/3nw5o.html
PNG tourism body calls on Air Niugini to improve service -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41433 -- see also -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41441
PNG's opposition leader surprised at PM's announcement -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=41525
PX cuts seats to carry extra fuel -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080822/business01.htm
Agents rewarded for finding out about everywhere they've never been -- http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=81256&nav=82
Planning Underway For Growth In PNG's Bulolo Region -- http://giaman.com/pg/?bcab77
Misc Links
Milne Bay Cruises -- http://www.marlin1charters.com.au/
Tawali Resort -- http://www.tawali.com
Alotau International Hotel -- http://www.alotauinternationalhotel.com.pg/
Royal Thai Consulate -- http://www.thaiconsulate.org.pg/
National AIDS Council -- http://staging.nacs.org.pg/www/html/7-home-page.asp
National Statistical Office of Papua New Guinea website -- http://nso.gov.pg/
Manufacturing Council of PNG -- http://www.pngmade.org.pg
Rotary Club of Port Moresby -- http://www.pomrotary.org.pg/
PNG Electoral Commission -- http://www.pngec.gov.pg
PNG Power location at Hohola -- http://www.wikimapia.org/5929067/PNG-Power
PNG Radiocommunications and Telecommunications Technical Authority (PANGTEL) -- http://www.pangtel.gov.pg
Hidden Valley Project -- http://www.harmony.co.za/b/ops_png.asp
Madang Golf Course -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/peace-on-earth_org/2787840993/
White Pages - Telephone Directory -- http://www.telikompng.com.pg/WhitePages.aspx
Henaos Lawyers -- http://www.henaos.com.pg/
News Items
Aussie Warning
The Aussie agriculture minister, Tony Burke, has warned Papua New Guineans to stay clear of con artists purporting to offer placements in the seasonal worker scheme in return for money. There have been reports in both dailies saying that people are going around offering their services to process visa applications for the pilot seasonal worker scheme. Mr Burke said it would not be until about mid-next year that the scheme's first visas would be issued to work on Australian farms.
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday thanked the Australian Government for including PNG in the "pilot" program for a guest worker scheme.
see -- http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24236258-1702,00.html
Lihir Expansion
Lihir gold mine is planning a major plant expansion over the next four years at a cost of K8.8 billion. The upgrade will increase annual gold production from between 200,000 and 300,000 ounces to one million ounces per year from 2011. Lihir Gold pays royalties to the government so this will boost the PNG economy.
Exchange Rates
Approximate exchange rates against the PNG Kina
US $ 0.3710
Aust $ 0.4202
NZ $ 0.5127
UK Pound Stg 0.1873
Japan Yen 40.05
Sing $ 0.5194
Euro 0.2484
HK $ 2.8882
Can $ 0.3869
Swiss fr 0.4010
Forestry Corruption
A Greenpeace spokesman, Sam Moko, says a full and transparent investigation must be held into the alleged forty million US dollars skimmed off logging deals since 2002 and being held in an MP's secret bank account in Singapore. A study earlier this year revealed more than half of PNG's tropical rainforest, said to be the world's third largest, could be lost or badly damaged by 2021 because of "wasteful" logging and population growth.
Money Recovered
K129,500 in cash has been recovered by police. The money, with seals from the Madang BSP bank still intact, was hidden in a suitcase buried in the back yard of a house in Lae.
Two suspects, believed to be the heavily involved in the Madang BSP bank robbery have been granted bail by the National Court in Lae. A third is already out on bail in Lae.
The robbery case involving William Kapis Nanua and nine others has been adjourned until the 25th of September for mention, while the 32 others charged with knowingly aiding and abetting Kapis has been scheduled to the 18th of September.
PNG Power
Power problems for Port Moresby should soon be a distant memory according to PNG Power who say they will soon switch on two machines capable of supplying and extra 16MW of power to the city. Another generator has recently been upgraded from 6MW to 8MW.
Transparency International
The Chairman of Transparency International PNG has collapsed and died of a heart attack aged 65. Leading anti-corruption campaigner, Mike Manning, collapsed while walking in Rabaul in PNG's East New Britain province. Mr Manning originally from Australia was a naturalised PNG Citizen.
see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?000208
Miss PNG Red Cross
Another young lady has entered the Miss PNG Red Cross quest. Antonnia Singut, a journalism student at the University of PNG, will be under pressure as she takes on the quest and also the second semester of her studies for the year. Miss Singut of East Sepik and East New Britain parentage described her reasons for agreeing to enter the quest organised by the PNG Red Cross Society as one of its major fund raising activities for humanitarian work in the country.
Soaring Profits
Oil Search Ltd has produced a massive leap in first half profit, driven by record high oil prices and stable operating costs. Net profit for the first six months of calendar 2008 was $US264.4 million (K713.6 million), up almost five-fold from $US46.9 million (K126.5 million) in the previous corresponding period.
Lihir Gold Limited's net profit for its first half year has increased by 78 per cent to $US36.5 million (K98.5 million) despite a drop in its gold production compared to the preceding six months. Its total gold production for the half year was 316,000 ounces, a drop of 9000 ounces compared to 325,000 ounces in the previous six months.
Fraud Arrest
A former Southern Highlands MP has been arrested on two counts of misappropriation of more than K6 million belonging to the State. He is awaiting a date to appear in court. The investigations were part of the work of the National Anti-Corruption Alliance (NACA) consisting of nine Government agencies that are working together to expose corrupt financial practices in Government departments and organisations in the Southern Highlands provincial government.
The police fraud squad in Port Moresby have arrested and charged former Southern Highlands governor Hami Yawari with five counts of allegedly misappropriating project grants totalling more than K2,242,200 million and one count of conspiracy to defraud the State.
Police to prepare for Yawari case -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080825/news07.htm
USNS Mercy
US naval hospital ship USNS Mercy has completed its two-week humanitarian and civic assistance mission in PNG. A total of 25,179 patients were treated and 346 medical procedures performed. Along with treating patients sailors from Naval mobile construction battalion 133, of Gulfport, Mississippi and naval amphibious construction battalion one, San Diego, California, completed nine repairs and construction projects in Popondetta and Port Moresby.
The USNS Mercy also donated 41 pallets, containing assorted items like sewing machines, health foods, medical supplies and a variety of tools and assorted goods to the people. The ship's chaplain, Mark Hughes, said the pallets were huge and contained a lot of essential items which were donated by 'Project Handclasp' - a navy organisation that provides donated goods on behalf of American citizens to assist various non-governmental organisations around the world.
Quick Compensation
Relatives of a grade nine student from Kerowagi Secondary High School have been compensated for the death of the student shot by police in self defence less than a week after the incident. Three government departments, the police, provincial affairs and the Kerowagi Secondary High School, who were the main players in the trouble which disrupted life in the district, paid a total compensation of K26,000 and 31 pigs on Saturday to the relatives of the student.
see -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080825/news09.htm
Migrate to Australia?
http://business-visas-australia.com/ -- If you are thinking of migrating to Australia then I can highly recommend this web site run by an extremely professional PNG woman who offers professional guidance through the Australian Business Visa Maze. If you have ever dealt with the Aussie High Comm in Port Moresby then you know how difficult navigating through all the forms and procedures can be.
Million Passengers
Air Niugini will handle one million international and domestic passengers by the end of this year, marking a significant milestone in the 35-year history of the airline. Air Niugini's domestic passenger traffic grew by 15 per cent in 2006 and by 10 per cent in 2007.
Taiwan Scandal
The attempt by Taiwan to "buy" official PNG recognition has claimed a high-ranking scalp in Taipei. Taiwan's Vice Premier Chiou I-jen is under investigation for his alleged involvement in a bid to win PNG's favour and has announced he will resign from the ruling party. Earlier this year, two Taiwanese men were implicated in the attempt to pay PNG government leaders millions of dollars to get diplomatic recognition. Taiwan is considered by Beijing to be a province of China, but the island of Taiwan maintains a campaign to win recognition as a separate and independent country.
Kainantu
The schools and government offices in the tiny town of Kainantu have been closed recently following a tribal fight in the middle of the town. Police have come from Goroka and Mt Hagen to restore peace after fighting broke out between the Kamano No.2 clan and the Agarabi clan - traditional owners of the Kainantu town land. It is believed but not confirmed that one man has died from injuries sustained in the latest confrontation.
School Peace Ceremony
It is believed that the recent signing of a peace accord between De La Salle and Gordon Secondary schools may be a first. A symbolic "bow and arrow breaking" was the highlight of the ceremony which also saw choir singing by both schools and two performances by the De La Salle boys live band. As reported in the last edition "war" had broken out between boys at the two schools. -- http://pnggossip.com/news/g080816.html#isf
Coming Events
30th August, Casino Night at the Aviat Club in Port Moresby.
Medical Symposium. The symposium will be held at Vudal University from the 1st to the 5th of September. -- http://www.medsymp.org.pg
Showcase PNG, an event combining entertainment with a trade fair, will be staged in Port Moresby from the 5th to the 7th of September. The event is organised by the Total Event Company (TEC) along with partners Coca-cola, Nestle and the National Capital District Commission (NCDC).
Goroka Show held on the 13th and 14th of September 2008. See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ff9344
PNG Tourism Expo -- September
Hiri Moale Festival -- September
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
NBC to launch its National TV Station -- 16th September
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. -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg
Milne Bay Canoe Festival -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab7f63 -- always held during the first weekend in November.
2008 Kokoda Reunion Dinner - Friday, 7 November 2008 - Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Anti Corruption Day - 9th December 2008
Arafura Games - 9 to 17th of May 2009 -- http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au/
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - use the submission form located at -- http://pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html.
PNG Media
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