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PNG in the News
The archbishop who walked Kokoda -- http://giaman.com/pg/?efc4e2
10 best places for wall diving - PNG came in 8th -- http://www.dailyscubadiving.com/carusel/10-best-places-for-wall-diving/
Montevideo Maru Memorial -- http://giaman.com/pg/?38a6c1
PNG women take control -- http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/04/15/69751_miranda.html
PNG Blogs
Bitapaka War Cemetery -- http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2009/04/bitapaka-war-cemetery.html
Lae War Cemetery -- http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2009/04/lae-war-cemetery.html
A new church or a new jail? -- http://www.trupela.com/2009/04/16/jehova-witnesses-church-west-goroka/
Paitim -- http://skyeball.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/paitim/
My journey: PNG: Goroka: Pacific Gardens Hotel -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7f50de
PNG Fords: From Dolphins to Sweatshirts -- http://pngfords.blogspot.com/2009/04/from-dolphins-to-sweatshirts.html
Matt in PNG - Kantel Village -- http://mattinpng.com/2009/04/19/kantel/
Misc PNG Links
Richard Kendal Photography -- http://www.richvisuals.com.au/ -- and then click on the PNG link.
United Nation's International Children's Fund web site -- http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/papuang.html
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
The PNG Institute of Directors -- http://www.pngid.org.pg
Jane's PNG web site -- A pictorial insight with comments on PNG traditional culture, art and history. Contains a series of excellent photographs and can be located at -- http://www.janeresture.com/png_home/
If you are thinking of coming to PNG in the highly recommend reading the following information on the PNGBD website -- http://www.pngbd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2549
The Association of Superannuation Funds PNG (ASFPNG) has a website located at -- http://www.asfpng.org.pg -- ASFPNG is an industry body established in 2002 by interested industry participants with the common goal to protect superannuants retirement savings within a regulated environment whilst fostering a competitive industry.
PNG Medical Society -- http://www.mspng.org/
University Links
University of PNG -- http://www.upng.ac.pg
University of Technology -- http://www.unitech.ac.pg
Lutheran University of PNG (expects to open in 2010) -- http://lupng.org/
Divine Word University -- http://www.dwu.ac.pg
Pacific Adventist -- http://www.pau.ac.pg
Goroka University -- http://www.uog.ac.pg
Vudal University - not yet on line -- http://www.uov.ac.pg -- http://universityofvudal.blogspot.com/
News Items
Yule Island Help Required
Ross Eastgate is trying to recall the name of the French missionary on Yule Island who left when World War I broke out to return to France, where he became a high-scoring fighter pilot. Tasol, mi lusim ting tim. Husat ianp long halipim mi?
PM Meets Chinese President
Chinese President Hu Jintao has met Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing on Mr Somare's recent visit to China. Hu said bilateral relations have made significant progress since both countries forged diplomatic ties in 1976, citing frequent high-level visits, deep political trust and fruitful cooperation in all fields.
Port of Buka
The Buka Port reopened for business on the 16th of April. PNG Ports Corporation's Chief Executive Officer Mr. Brian Riches made the decision to re-open the port after agreement with authorities and the Autonomous Bougainville Administration. PNG Ports Corporation has had difficulties in identifying the legitimate landowner group for the port. Mr. Riches has asked that the landowners sort out their internal issues and identify the legitimate landowner group or establish a single body for further negotiations with their claims.
Buka Burglaries
Buka was hit by a high number of break-ins and robberies over the Easter period. Residents have appealed to police to come down hard on all criminal activities.
Jiwaka Border
The proposed boundary for the new Jiwaka province has caused concern for people of Anglimp district. Under the proposal some of the Anglimp tribes would find themselves in the new Jiwaka province while others remained in the Western Highlands province once the new boundary was drawn up. It has been reported that people wanted to continue their cultural activities as one people in one province.
Lae Building
Nambawan Super Limited has contracted Pacific Architects Consortium (PNG) Limited to design a six-storey building to be constructed in Second Street, Lae, Morobe province. It is anticipated that there will be over 1,000 square metres of ground floor retail area with four floors of commercial space at 750 square metres per level. The top two floors will be residential accommodation.
Unagi Oval
The National Capital District Governor has officially turned on the lights to illuminate the Unagi oval in Port Moresby. The oval will now be able to be used both day and night.
The lights are part of a facelift which the National Capital District Commission is giving to the city of Port Moresby, with further projects still pending for the area which includes an amphitheatre which will be constructed by PNG Gardener and a playground which will be donated by Nestle.
2008 PNG Budget
The 2008 visit by the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to Port Moresby and Goroka added to the PNG budget blow out by an extra K3.2 million (AUD$1.6 million). The PNG government spent this on the three-day official visit, as the nation's 2008 budget blew out from a surplus of K202.3 million to a deficit of almost K478.5 million.
Also reported - PNG spent 12 million kina ($6m) on the purchase of a residence in Canberra and 2.9 million kina ($A1.5m) for the PNG Chancellery Building in Tokyo, Japan.
The 2008 Final Budget Outcome (FBO) Report can be found here -- http://giaman.com/pg/?52fe4b -- The line concerning the Aussie PM's visit is on page 27 of the report.
Opposition tells Govt to stop defending blow-out -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/042209/nation2.php
Chinese Telecommunications
China's leading telecommunications company, Huawei Technologies, has made a decision to enter into a partnership with Telikom PNG. Huawei has signed a three-year arrangement with Telikom PNG worth around US$3 million (about K10 million) to improve the microwave transmission system in the country. Huawei will also help develop PNG's integrated Government information system (IGIS). IGIS or e-government would involve the online linking and integration of Government services that include passport and visa application, tax and medical rebates, vehicle registration and public transport co-ordination.
Public Servants
The Governor General, Sir Paulias Matane, has said he is totally disappointed and sickened by the work attitudes and inefficiency of PNG public servants. He said: "Every public servant should be at work no later than 7.45am and begin their normal duty at 8am, working until 4.06 in the afternoon from Monday to Friday."
See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/042009/nation3.php
Grand Chiefs
3 more people have been awarded the highest award in the PNG Honours system - Chief of the Grand Companion of the Order of Logohu - or simply Grand Chief.
Sir Rabbie Namaliu - Former Prime Minister
Bob Hawke - Former Australian Prime Minister
Karl Hesse - Catholic Archbishop of Rabaul
More Grand Chiefs -- http://michie.net/pnginfo/logohugrandchiefs.html
See also -- http://deberigny.wordpress.com/category/grand-companion-of-the-order-of-logohu-gcl/
Cocoa Virus
The multi-million Kina cocoa industry in Bougainville is threatened by the deadly cocoa pod borer disease. The disease has already destroyed East New Britain's cocoa industry. Autonomous Bougainville Government acting President Joseph Watawi called on Bougainvilleans travelling out of East New Britain into Bougainville to refrain from collecting any flowers of seedlings as this might attract the insects that destruct the cocoa pods. Bougainville relies very heavily on the cocoa industry as a cash crop.
See also -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090423/news08.htm
Goroka Eye Unit
In 2008 the Edmund Rice Eye and Ear Clinic in Goroka performed an astounding 2,917 eye surgeries of which 2,577 were cataract surgeries in an outreach program at Goroka Hospital. The eye unit has also been involved in the training of national registrar ophthalmologists.
Tufi Primary School
An appeal has been started by a former expatriate teacher to help the school towards building a double-classroom and repairing three of the classrooms. The school was built in 1947 and has five teachers for Grades Three to Eight.
Gogodala Canoe Festival
The Gogodala canoe festival will be held in Balimo, Western province on the 30th of April and the 1st of May. The festival has received K18,500 from sponsors to host the event. The major sponsors of the festival include Rimbunan Hijau with K10,000, National Cultural Commission with K5,000 and PNG FM with K3,500.
Training Courses
Veniba Training Services are offering training courses in May. Visit their web site for further details.
-- http://www.veniba.com/images/UpcomingCourses.pdf
POM Highway
A reader (Stephen) makes the following comment about proposed road changes in Port Moresby (POM).
The Parliament wants to spend billions of kina on a new highway in Port Moresby because the traffic is congested. How about spending some money to purchase a new standby generator for the Yonki Power station and a lot some money to repair the generators that continue to cause problems.
Many others say money must be spent on upgrading schools, hospitals and other basic infrastructure first.
WIP Criticises Jet
PNG Women in Politics (PNGWIP) president Maria Hayes and the organisation's founder, Dorothy Tekwie, have requested the Government drop plans to utilise an expensive Falcon jet. They also asked that the Government rescind Parliament's call for massive increases in housing and vehicle allowances for all national politicians.
Executive Jet
Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Wasantha Kumarasiri, has said the decision to buy the French-made Falcon regional jet was a commercial opportunity to provide the Government with an executive jet charter service of the highest standard.
Pulitzer Prize Winner Sued
A best-selling author and winner of a US National Science Medal and the MacArthur Foundation's "genius award" is being sued for US$10 million (K31.25 million) for allegedly portraying a PNG man and his tribesmen as "murderers, thieves and rapists".
Jared Diamond described blood feuds that have raged for decades among tribes in the Highlands.
See -- http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/21/new-yorker-jared-diamond-business-media-new-yorker.html -- or a shorter link to the same article -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0bb113
See also - Diamond's factual collapse -- http://www.stinkyjournalism.org/latest-journalism-news-updates-149.php
Morobe Schools
Information and Communication Technology development in Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions in Morobe Province.
Visit -- http://ictmorobeschools.blogspot.com
Coming Events
Gogodala canoe festival in Balimo, Western province -- 30th of April and the 1st of May.
Arafura Games - 9th to 17th of May -- http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au/ -- Arafura Games 2009 has an exciting line up of events across 26 sporting disciplines. For the first time at Arafura Games will include the sports of Darts and Muaythai.
Operation Open Heart - 21st of May - Port Moresby General Hospital
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.
Walk against corruption -- 14th of June.
5th National Tourism Conference - June (date to be confirmed) - to be held at Madang Resort Hotel.
Tolai Warwagira from 8th to 14th July and Mask Festival from 15th to 18th July at Kokopo East New Britain.
Trukai Olympic Fun Run - 12th of July.
PNG Remembrance Day - 23rd of July.
45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 30th of Aug to the 4th of September.
31st October and the 1st of November - Morobe Show - see -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg/ -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2f4583
25th April 2010 - World Malaria Day. Malaria affects 90 per cent of the PNG population.
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012.
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