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PNG in the News
It's time we found the Montevideo Maru -- http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=668428
Landowner Dispute Threatens PNG's Lae Port Redevelopment -- http://giaman.com/pg/?382f63 -- and -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=43109
PNG’s capital goes through a cement shortage -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=43187
Thousands homeless in Oksapmin -- http://giaman.com/pg/?182c92
PNG budget boost for sport welcomed -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c96721
PNG court jails Indonesian intelligence officer -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=43219
Sir Paulias: Support youths in good works -- http://www.nnnforum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=141904
PNG Blogs
Madang - Ples Bilong Mi - Disgusted! by MadDog -- http://www.messersmith.name/wordpress/2008/11/17/disgusted
Yard Sale - PNG Style -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d1c185
Visit to a tribal village in the Finistere Mountains! -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d41047
Death of My Life by Linda -- http://hausmeri.blogspot.com/2008/11/death-of-my-life.html
My Home Country, PNG -- http://beautifulnewguinea.blogspot.com/
Links
http://www.airniugini.com.pg -- Air Niugini
http://www.apngbc.org.au -- Aust PNG Business Council
http://www.arthurstrachan.com.pg -- Arthur Strachan
http://www.brianbell.com.pg -- Brian Bell
http://www.bsp.com.pg -- Bank South Pacific
http://www.coralseahotels.com.pg -- Coral Sea Hotels
http://www.corpgroup.com.pg -- Corporate Transport Niugini
http://www.daltron.com.pg -- Daltron
http://www.elamotors.com.pg -- Ela Motors
http://www.kingston.com.pg -- KK Kingston
http://www.lawandjustice.gov.pg -- Law and Justice sector
http://www.lcci.org.pg -- Lae Chamber of Commerce
http://www.mra.gov.pg -- Mineral Resources Authority
http://www.oilsearch.com -- Oil Search
http://www.peil.com.pg -- Pacific Equities and Investments
http://www.petrominpng.com.pg -- Petromin PNG Holdings Limited
http://www.pomcci.org.pg -- Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry
http://www.steamships.com.pg -- Steamships
http://www.umw.com.pg -- UMW Niugini
More Links
http://www.apibuildings.com -- API Buildings
http://www.apng.com -- Airlines PNG
http://www.boroko-motors.com -- Boroko Motors
http://www.gfspng.com -- GFS Limited
http://www.gpo.gov.pg -- Government Printing Office
http://www.gtms.com.au -- Global Tyres Management Services
http://www.ip.com.pg -- Insurance Partners
http://www.ipigroup.com.pg -- IPI Transport
http://www.medevac.com.pg -- Medevac
http://www.nasfund.com.pg -- Superannuation
http://www.nisit.gov.pg -- National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology
http://www.pacificmmi.com -- Pacific MMI Insurance
http://www.pactech.com.pg - Pacific Technologies
http://www.pngpower.com.pg -- PNG Power
http://www.pomaritime.com -- P&O Maritime Services
http://www.steelindustries.com.pg -- Steel Industries
http://www.threadneedle.com.pg - Thread Needle Embroidery
http://www.tufi-experience.com.pg -- Tufi
Misc Links
The Battle for Milne Bay -- http://giaman.com/pg/?98d37b
PNG Preparing K10.8B Budget -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20081114/news01.htm
Illegal Chinese Workers at Ramu -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a5c22f -- see also -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e26873 -- and -- http://www.intellasia.net/news/articles/resources/111251814.shtml
Birdbrained in -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d2c1b7
News Items
Computer Give-away
Robert in Goroka has been lucky enough to have received 13 Gateway Laptop computers. The donation came from Vitalize Consulting Solutions -- http://www.getvitalized.com
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0c0c94 -- for full story.
Robert has asked the following question -- If there is anyone out there aware of any good software for blind folks that will run on Ubuntu - please let me know? I know of one Windows product called "Jaws" and will need to research equivalent for our mate Martin.
Women MPs
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu has said that there will be three women representatives nominated to Parliament in 2009. Appropriately the bill will be introduced by Minister for Community Development Dame Carol Kidu.
New Police
Seventy men and 21 women from an original group of 125 recruits have graduated from the Bomana Police Training College just outside the National Capital. The 91 recruits completed 24 weeks of basic training in elements of law, police and court procedures, community policing, report writing and physical skills, self-defence and weapons handling.
Rice Up
The price of petrol may have fallen but the cost of PNG's favourite staple - rice - has increased again. PNG's rice manufacturer, Trukai Industries, has increased the price by 8 per cent. The retail price for a kilogram of Trukai Rice and Roots Rice has risen to about K6 and K5 respectively.
Metered Taxis
The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) has set the fares that taxis will charge passengers starting next January. Meters will have to be installed in all taxis so as soon as you hire the taxi you will be charged a flag fall of K1.50 and then K2.00 for every kilometre travelled. Taxi meters are now selling at K900 from various authorised sellers who will also be responsible for servicing the units. All taxis will be required to have meters fitted by January. The taxi owners want the government to subsidise the cost of the meters.
What happened to the Jeepneys?
South Pacific Export
Consumers used to their South Pacific Export Lager will now have to look out for a new look can. SP Brewery has updated the look of the can while maintaining the same brewing technique and ingredients for the contents so it will still the taste the same and have the same quality that has won international beer awards for three consecutive years.
Media Awards
The Post Courier was awarded six awards at the recent 2008 PNG Media Council awards night. Despite being referred to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee by Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare over reports of allegations involving the reported conduct of Members of Parliament the paper still managed to gain the awards.
The night was marred by a fight between staff from the Post Courier and The National newspapers. The brawl required the intervention of security guards to pull apart scrapping guests.
see -- http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24662729-12335,00.html -- and -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/181108/nation13.php
Air Fares
A businessman from Lae agrees with the sentiments expressed in the last edition of this newsletter and says that Air Niugini should lower its airfares due to the drop in the price of oil.
Airlines PNG have offered seats from Port Moresby to Lae and Popondetta for K99.00.
Air Niugini have advertised a fare of K485 to Brisbane from Port Moresby. This was soon countered by a lower fare from the code share service offered by Pacific Blue and Airlines PNG. Air Niugini, not being a low cost carrier, are able to offer a full meal and drink service along with movies and an audio system on their overseas services. Low cost carrier Pacific Blue (Virgin Blue) do not and this has upset a few PNG travellers who are not familiar with the low cost model.
Extra Flights
Air Niugini has announced that it will have extra flights over the festive season. It has also improved the check in process at the Jackson's airport domestic counters in readiness for the traditional festive season rush. Overall it appears as if this year the travelling public may have a better experience than previous years but only time will tell. Remember that Air Niugini will most likely require some form of photo identification at check in or as you are about to enter the departure lounge. Although taking into account the fact that the majority of people in PNG especially teachers go on holidays at this time it is very difficult to make any order out of the chaos.
School Fears
Over 1,200 students from three schools in Morobe province have not been attending classes after a series of break-ins and disciplinary problems. The Post Courier newspaper reports that the incident may delay the marking of assessments and the graduation of year 12 students.
Road Loan
The Minister for Transport, Works and Civil Aviation, Don Polye, is confident that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will approve a loan of almost K1.5 billion to help rehabilitate the Highland Highway and other road projects in the country. The ADB will sit on the 11th of December to determine the outcome of the loan. Mr Polye said the loan would focus on the Highlands Highway, the region's core road network.
Play Grounds
After being away from Port Moresby for a while I am amazed at the changes that have taken place around the town. Powes Parkop, the Governor of the National Capital District, has started a campaign to resume all public parkland in Port Moresby that has been acquired whether by legal means or otherwise by business interests. The recovered land now boasts swings, slides, monkey bars, see saws and other playground equipment.
For pictures see -- http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2008/11/playgrounds-for-children-of-port.html
Disability Services
The Christian Brothers have announced the appointment of their former Western Australian leader, Br Kevin Ryan, as the new director of a national disability services network in PNG. He will head Callan Services for Disabled Persons and be based at its national coordinating unit in Wewak
Kina Withdrawn
The original 33mm diameter, one kina coin released in 1975 will be withdrawn from circulation on the 31st of December 2008 and will no longer be legal tender. A smaller coin (30mm diameter), of the same design and face value, was introduced in November 2005. The Bank of PNG is appealing to all businesses and the public to return the bigger K1 coin through the banking system for payment at face value.
Ramu Nickel
The Ramu nickel mine in the Madang province of the country will not start until a comprehensive assessment is made of the waste disposal system for the project. Local landowners and businesses have voiced deep concern at plans by the Ramu project's Chinese developers to dump mine tailings straight into the sea at Astrolabe Bay.
see also -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=43107
Digital TV
HiTron PNG is now marketing a digital service offering almost 100 channels to its customers. -- http://www.hitron.com.pg
Kokoda Track
A clinic at Efogi along the Kokoda Track has reopened after receiving aid from Australia. The health centre is the first to benefit under the $US15 million Kokoda Development Program initiated by the outgoing government of Prime Minister John Howard. The clinic has been closed for the past seven years due to inadequate funding from the PNG government. The clinic was officially reopened by a representative of the new Australian Government.
Sepik River Survey
Xstrata Copper will conduct a survey into the aquatic life and water quality of the Sepik River Catchment area as part of its evaluation of the Frieda River Copper-Gold project. The survey will be conducted in two stages. The first stage includes the Leonard Schultz River catchment, Sepik River mainstream and off-river water bodies in November and December. The second stage includes the Upper Sepik River, May River and Frieda River in January 2009.
Coming Events
World AIDS Day 2008 - 28th November - see -- http://www.baha.com.pg
Bilum Wear -- will be hosting a PNG Traditional and Cultural Show at the Gateway Hotel Poolside on Saturday the 6th of December 2008 from 3pm - 10pm -- For more information please contact the events coordinator - Sharon Sijam on 7199 4668 or email -- Sharon.sijam@oxpalm.com.pg
Anti Corruption Day - 9th December 2008
Inaugural Madang Golf Classic February 2009 sponsored by Airlines of PNG.
Symposium on Sea Turtles - to be held in Brisbane, Australia between the 17th and 19th of February 2009.
Oceania Snooker and Billiards titles in Port Moresby from the 20th to the 29th of March, 2009
34th Games Fishing Association PNG National Game Fishing Titles - Madang - from the 3rd of April to 13th of April 2009.
PNG Kick boxing Association has postponed its world title fight -- 25th APril 2009
Arafura Games - 9 to 17th of May 2009 -- http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au/
The International Cricket Council (ICC) East Asia Pacific (EAP) Under 19 Cricket Trophy tournament will be held from the 1st to the 7th of June 2009
5th National Tourism Conference -- June 2009 (date to be confirmed) - to be held at Madang Resort Hotel.
45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 1st to the 5th of September 2009
National Elections - June 2012
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.
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