Links
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 use the submission form by clicking here
External links - while PNG Gossip Newsletter will not sell your email address to others many links on this web site lead to other sites that may may not have the same policy regarding your valuable email address. Be careful when handing over your email address.
PNG in the News
Arthur Somare fights PNG misconduct charges -- http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201107/3277469.htm
WWII Airmen Missing Since '43 Coming Home -- http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/28695959/detail.html
Gender sensitisation workshop in the Diocese of Popondota: -- http://giaman.com/pg/?715654
PNG warned of 'African' politics -- http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201108/3283109.htm
British expat murdered in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f99554
IFC and PNG Courts Promote Mediation to Resolve Business Disputes -- http://giaman.com/pg/?cb5974
Scientist warns thousands of species may be affected by Ramu mine waste -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201107/s3278843.htm
PNG banks reject new gov't banking requirements -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201108/s3282889.htm
Warm welcome from a chilly highland town -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c19cb0
Bonga’s rude salute -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110804/news02.htm
Misc Links
Paradise High School, Port Moresby -- http://www.pngparadise.com
Sample of Tok Pisin Bible -- http://www.worldscriptures.org/pages/tokpisin.html
Goroka Lahanis -- http://lahanispng.com
Saving snake bite victims -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/19816
Kairuku Hiri Web Site -- http://www.kairukuhiri.gov.pg
PNG Industry News -- http://www.pngindustrynews.net
Heli Niugini -- http://www.heliniugini.com.pg
Helifix Investments -- http://www.helifix.com.pg
Pacific Helicopters -- http://www.pacifichelicopters.aero
Bita Paka War Cemetery -- http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=cr&CRid=2403836
Our Port Moresby -- http://ourportmoresby.co
Wali Hits - Beautiful Madang -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z9lyaDmz5A
PNG Images
Goroka -- http://trialx.com/i/2011/07/19/goroka-images-and-other-info
Kokopo -- http://www.alltravels.com/papua-new-guinea/east-new-britain/kokopo/videos-3876
Milne Bay -- http://www.aquaexposure.com/AquaExposure/Gallery_-_PNG_2011.html
Lahanis Image Gallery -- http://lahanispng.com/gallery.html
Lizard Fish -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4e6610
Madang Harley -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f08105
PNG Blogs
The only Harley in Madang -- http://giaman.com/pg/?680029
LNG Watch -- http://lngwatchpng.blogspot.com
Expat PNG -- http://www.expat-blog.com
Compound Mayhem -- http://compoundmayhem.blogspot.com
Big PNG Truck -- http://giaman.com/pg/?fd47d0
Posey's Path -- http://poseyspath.blogspot.com
Bulolo Live -- http://bulololive.blogspot.com
News Items
Anti Graft Pledge
Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI) says that PNG's 2007 ratification of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has had little impact on the country's fight against graft.
-- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=62194
New PM
PNG has a new prime minister after disgruntled government MPs joined forces with the opposition to have the office declared vacant due to the ongoing illness of political veteran Sir Michael Somare. The job has gone to former treasurer Peter O'Neill, who was elected on a vote of 70 to 24 after a number of government members joined the opposition in a parliamentary coup.
Sir Michael, 75, has been in politics for almost 50 years and became his country's first prime minister on independence in 1975. His family have said they made a decision for him to retire without consulting him as he was too ill.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?96d3ba -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1f4d32
-- http://foreign.peacefmonline.com/news/201108/60159.php
The new prime minister represents a constituency in the Southern Highlands, where ExxonMobil and the state are developing a multi billion kina liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, due to come on-stream in 2014.
Are There 2 PMs?
Does PNG have two PM's? Sam Abal, the man who lost his job on the 2nd of August, seems to think so. Abal delayed the swearing in of O'Neill at government house on Tuesday by announcing he would mount a court challenge against speaker Jeffery Nape's decision to declare the prime ministership vacant - the move that allowed the vote to install O'Neill to come to pass.
There is no doubt the decision will be challenged in the courts. - Abal: Two PMs now -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110803/news04.htm -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/21723
Amet loses bid to fight O’Neill -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/21815
Aussie Friendly Cabinet
The new PM is pulling together his cabinet and many of the faces appear to be an Australia-friendly line-up. The team includes former foreign minister Don Polye, who had supported the re-establishment of an asylum-seekers' assessment centre on Manus Island.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?9a0598
O’Neill names caretaker team -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/21775
Asylum Seeker Deal
PNG is seriously considering an asylum-seeker deal with Australia, with the government in Port Moresby likely to make a decision on the plan at cabinet level within weeks.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a1ea17
Cairns - Port Moresby Freight
A weekly cargo shipping service between Cairns and Port Moresby will be launched on the 19th of August. The first shipment to Port Moresby, to be carried by the MV Southern Tiare and capable of carrying 62 containers, will include fresh produce, building materials, machinery and project work equipment such as portable lighting systems. The back load to Cairns will include a helicopter, a crane and a flourmill being sent to Cairns for repairs, copra meal stockfeed and timber.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?b71b49
Milne Bay Tank
According to a news report in the Australian Canberra Times the Australian War Memorial is rebuilding one of the Type 95 Ha-Go Japanese tanks used during the battle of Milne Bay.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?c1d531
Wrecks of Taisyo Maru & Type C Ha-62-76 Midget Submarine -- http://giaman.com/pg/?fdef61
Ramu Mine
Landowners have secured another injunction preventing a mine from dumping millions of tonnes of waste into the sea -- http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201108/3282853.htm -- this is after the National Court of Madang refused to grant a permanent injunction against the deep-sea disposal plans and removed a previous temporary injunction. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b9f76c
Prior to the new injunction Reuters reported that Australian miner Highlands Pacific expected to start production at its minority held Ramu nickel and cobalt project by the end of 2011 after a court in PNG lifted a months long injunction. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?202ce6
New Zealander Recounts Attack
The New Zealander, who was recently shot with two arrows while bathing in a PNG river, has told of his attack. You can read about it by clicking on the link -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ae1843
Hiri Moale
Air Energi Pacifica Ltd (AEPL) has presented K15,000 in sponsorship towards the Hiri 2011 Moale Festival. The Hiri Moale Festival will be held from the 16th to the 18th of September in Port Moresby, National Capital District.
Dying Languages
Languages from the world's greatest linguistic reservoir are disappearing in a tide of indifference. It has been claimed New Guinea (PNG and Indonesian Papua) have over 1000 different languages with many having less than 1000 speakers. PNG alone claims over 800 languages. Many of the newer generation do not speak their traditional language preferring to use a language that they can communicate with people outside their village. Languages are dying out as the older generation dies. It is difficult to document some of the languages, as they are purely oral and not readily able to be documented.
-- http://michie.net/pnginfo/lostlanguages.html
-- http://www.sil.org/pacific/png/endangered.asp
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?50a37b
NASFUND Membership
The first half of the year has seen a boom in NASFUND membership. NASFUND active membership has increased over 8 per cent from 140,545 to 151,882. The increase of 11,337 members brings the total inactive and active membership of NASFUND to 346,667 members - The largest membership in PNG. Employer growth has also jumped dramatically by 5 per cent with an additional 92 employers joining NASFUND over the last six months bring to 2,035 contributing establishments.
Salim Moni Kwik
Post PNG's Salim Moni Kwik (SMK) service can now use mobile phone technology to send money. MobileSMK will remove the paper from the equation of sending money around the country. Post PNG's chief executive officer Peter Maiden said customers could transfer monies using their mobile phones anytime, anywhere. It is also cheaper and easy for customers to receive and send money.
The SMK service has been around for 40 years starting with being able to send postal money orders using fax machines, and in 2008 as an automated on-line point-of-sale system.
Aussies Visit Panguna
The Australian High Commissioner to PNG accompanied by the Head of AusAID in PNG and three other colleagues from the High Commission have visited the Panguna No Go Zone. This courtesy was extended to the Australian Government by General Chris Uma of the original government of Me'ekamui, the group that continues to man the checkpoint at the entrance to the zone.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110805/news11.htm
International Cricket
A mind-boggling tenth-wicket stand of 67 off 65 balls in the ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifier lifted the PNG Under-19s team to 204, a score they managed to defend easily against Kenya Under-19s at New Strabane Park, to register their second win in five games.
-- http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/525874.html
Compound Burnt
Police burnt down a compound belonging to the Central provincial government at 14-Mile, outside Port Moresby, because residents there were suspected of harbouring criminals.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/21601
Operation Open Heart
Operation Open Heart (OOH) has received Internet modems, five fixed wireless handsets and K100 worth of Rait top-up cards to assist the work of the team from Telikom PNG. The Australian co-ordinator for OOH said these gifts presented by Telikom would provide them with a service where they can call their loved ones back at home.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/21716
Qantas has donated 50 back-packs to Operation Open Heart (OOH) patients.
Aim is local cardic team -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110804/news10.htm
Food Shortage Funding
Money promised two years ago to help alleviate food shortages on the Trobriand Islands is still outstanding. Chief John Kasaipwalova, a member of the Trobriand Islands Council of Chiefs and also the program director for food security, has called on the Milne Bay Governor, John Luke Critin, to release the promised K1 million kina. Chief Kasaipwalova said the islanders would need at least 400 tonnes of yam seedlings to survive.
Coming Events
Note: please verify any date mentioned as dates change and events can sometimes get cancelled. Of course I may also put down a wrong date.
PNG Music Awards, Port Moresby Country Club - 6th August
Crocodile Festival, Ambunti - 9th & 10th August
Mount Hagen Cultural Show - 13th & 14th August -- http://giaman.com/pg/?f0b247 -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110802/hpost01.htm
Milne Bay Day - 20th of August 2011
Full Pacific Games - French president Nicolas Sarkozy is set to officially open the XIV Pacific Games in Noumea, New Caledonia, on the 27th of August.
Kokoda Race Challenge - 27th of August
2011 Garamut Festival in Wewak - 2nd & 3rd of September
Goroka Show, 16th - 18th September - see -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110426/hpost02.htm -- and -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg/viewservices/News.aspx?Pop=1&rqEventID=58
PNG Christian Music Festival, Port Moresby - 17th September
Morobe Show - 15th & 16th October
Canoe and Kundu Festival, Alotau: 4th - 6th November
Lae Game Fishing Club Billfish Tournament - 13th Nov
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012
2012 PNG Games - Kokopo, East New Britain
Olympic boxing qualifying tournament - April 2012
2012 Milne Bay Critter & Adventure Expeditions with Bob Halstead & Graham Abbott
Milne Bay-Critters-Milne Bay: 17th April 2012 to 29th April 2012
Milne Bay-Critters-Milne Bay: 1st May 2012 to 13th May 2012
Alotau-Adventure Diving-Kimbe Bay: 15th May 2012 to 30th May 2012
-- http://diving4images.com/trips/milne-bay-critter-cruises
Pacific Mini Games - Wallis and Futuna 2013
2013 Pacific Netball Series (hosted by Fiji)
Full Pacific Games - PNG 2015 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?081f78
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html
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 -- http://www.pnggossip.com/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