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Neo Melanesian"Pidgin English" |
taim -- timeyiar - year |
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Links
You might want to take a look at the following site about New Guinea art: http://www.art-pacific.com/
Hi Tech Computers
A typing error in the text only version of the newsletter in the last edition meant that the URL for Hi Tech Computers was wrong. It should have been -- http://www.hightech.com.pg/ - the html version and the website version were both correct.
Interest Rates
Finance Corp -- http://www.fincorp.com.pg -- have advertised the following interest rates for amounts from K5,000 to K49,999
- 1 month - 7.75%
- 2 months - 8.00%
- 90 days - 10.00%
- 6 months - 10.00%
- 9 months - 9.50%
- 1 year -9.50%
Millennium Robbery
The coroner has released her report on the helicopter robbery of the PNG Banking Corporation Port Moresby Branch that took place in mid December 1999 (17 Dec). It states that the police were not prepared for a robbery of this magnitude and that they used excessive force to apprehend the criminals. The pilot of the getaway helicopter was the sole survivor of the crash whilst the five suspects all died despite the fact that one of them was seen running away from the scene. This survivor later died on the way to the hospital after allegedly being beaten by police.
Crashed Helicopter
The coroner went on to say that the millennium robbery was so complex that a new Coroners Act should be instituted to deal with such complex cases.
Superannuation
Changes to the superannuation fund regulations mean that funds will no longer be able to loan money on what the member has contributed for such things as home loans. It is also anticipated that a member will have to be retired for a minimum of a year before being able to access their funds. This has left many expatriates who now will find it compulsory to have a superannuation fund wondering if they will ever see their money once they have left the country. Many professional expats have their own fund for continuity whilst serving in many countries around the world.
Lae Priest
A priest stationed at Christ the King parish in Lae, Father Hubert Hofmans, has been killed by thugs. The priest, from the Netherlands had been in PNG for over 35 years was shot dead after thieves were not satisfied and thought he was carrying more than the K45 they had already stolen from him. Another priest was murdered in his sleep in August just outside Port Moresby.
Lae Squatters
Eighteen hours after the shooting of Father Hofmans eviction notices were served on several illegal squatters in an attempt to minimise Lae's increasing crime problem. the eviction is one of several measures embarked on to try and minimise the problem. A liquor ban is also being considered. The Lae Chamber of Commerce said that the death of Father Hofmans brought to the fore concerns about rising crime in Lae.
Goroka
Due to the theft of runway landing lights it is possible that the Air Niugini F28 service will not be able to operate to the Goroka airport for much longer. If the lighting is not fixed then the F28's will not be allowed to land for safety reasons.
Tax Cuts
The lowest paid workers in the country will receive some tax cuts. The tax-free threshold has risen from K5500 to K6000 per annum. It is estimated that this will affect 25 percent of the workforce.
Triplets
A mother has given birth to three boys at the Mount Hagen General Hospital. The weight of the triplets ranged from 1.4 kilograms to 2.1 kilograms. The delivery went without any problems.
Internet Service Providers
- Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
- Data Nets -- http://www.online.net.pg
- Datec -- http://www.datec.net.pg
- Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
Computer Companies in PNG
- Able Computing -- http://www.able.com.pg
- Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
- Data Nets -- http://www.datanets.com.pg
- Datec -- http://www.datec.com.pg
- HT PNG (formerly High Tech Industries) -- http://www.hightech.com.pg/
- Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
Stationery Suppliers
- Theodist -- http://www.theodist.com.pg
2002 Budget
The PNG Sports Commission has received an allocation of K917,700 under the 2002 National Budget.
For more 2002 Budget information please visit http://www.postcourier.com.pg or http://www.thenational.com.pg
Christmas Vouchers
Boroko Foodworld at Gordon's is advertising the perfect gift for Christmas -- food vouchers ranging from starting at K10 and going to K25 then K50 in value. For details contact geoffshearer@daltron.com.pg
Bread
One of the readers of this newsletter received more than what he bargained for when purchasing a loaf of multi-grain bread from one of the supermarkets in Port Moresby that bake their own. Mixed in amongst the many different grains was a matching earwig. Needless to say the reader now has decided to be less healthy and purchase white bread in the future.
Structural Adjustment Program
Part of this program more commonly referred to by many people as the politician's slush fund will be cut.
Each of the 89 open members of parliament is allocated K1 million in the form of a district support grant. There have always been concerns about the way this money is used, hence the term slush fund, and the resultant lack of development in the rural sector.
The K89 million will now go towards the agriculture and other government priority areas.
Hockey
Airlink won the Port Moresby men's hockey grand final in a nerve racking 3-2 penalty shootout against Bismarck after the scoreboard remained unchanged after several periods of extra time. This is the first grand final victory for Airlink.
In the grand final played by the women Bismarck won its fourth women's title when it beat rival Rockets 3-0
Kokoda Trail
After being closed for over a year the Kokoda Trail has been re-opened with a promise of safety for any people wishing to walk the track.
Opposition Leader
The PNG government now has a new but very experienced opposition leader to contend with. Bill Skate has stepped aside to allow the Chief (Sir Michael Somare) to take the reigns. It is now hoped that the opposition will not just oppose for the sake of opposing but also constructively oppose where necessary.
Translation
I have had a request via a reader who needs help to translate this into other PNG languages.
==== Quote
While in PNG my family and I learned this chorus in five languages (Pidgin, Dobu, Suau, Misima, and Trobiand). Please pardon the spelling. I doubt there would be any person who knows all those languages, although Dobu, Suau and Misima are related languages.
Can any one please help? Or, direct me "Joan Titus" <jtitus@mail.smcps.k12.md.us> to someone who can. The chorus goes like this.
Dispela de, dispela de,
God i bin wokim, God i bin wokim,
Yumi amamas, yumi amamas,
Yumi liptimapim nem b'long em.
Dispela dei God i bin wokim
Yumi liptimapim nem b'long em
Dispela de, dispela de,
God i bin wokim.==== End Quote
Okuk Highway
It has been proposed that the Okuk Highway through the highlands be upgraded into a four-lane highway beginning in 2003 with World Bank funding.
Australian Politics
Here is a bit of news about people who have lived in PNG. Michael Johnson (Liberal Party) won the seat in Ryan for the Australian parliament. His mum is from Hong Kong and his dad is a POM. He grew up in Angoram and Wewak where his folks had trade stores. His dad served in the first PNG pre-independence House of Assembly and still manages Boral Gas in Wewak.
National Housing
The National Housing Commission has recovered more than K1 Million in its debt recovery program in Port Moresby alone. The debt recovery program has also been successful in evicting 96 defaulters from housing around the national capital city.
Contribution
For anyone who thought the police were not the problem here is a report from an anonymous contributor. If you live in PNG does it sound familiar with your own observations or totally different?
=== Quote
In recent times a lot of stolen vehicles have been reported at night and therefore Police and security firms are on the lookout. A security vehicle, being driven by an expat manager, was travelling out near the back of Malahang recently in the pouring rain when a suspicious looking vehicle began closely following and beeping its horn. Needless to say, the security vehicle did not pull over as they were not armed, but tried to accelerate away and continue on towards town. The rear car was in fact a Police vehicle without markings, emergency lights, one broken headlight, and no siren, trying to stop the security car reportedly to check on the occupants. When the security car [unexpectedly?] tried to 'get away' it was reported as suspicious! Several minutes later, they were stopped at a makeshift Police roadblock where the Task Force opened fire on the security car causing extensive damage to the vehicle and narrowly missing the occupants. ONE BULLET, WHICH PASSED THROUGH THE REAR WINDOW, WAS STOPPED BY THE DRIVERS HEADREST!!!!! When the confusion ended, the question was raised about the possible level of intoxication of the Police in the 'chase' car, and to top it off a pair of boots in the security vehicle went missing when only Police were present. What is going on?
- The police are driving unmarked, unroadworthy vehicles.
- Their techniques and procedures are completely irrational and unprofessional
- They will open fire against unknown, unarmed people without provocation.
- Thieves amongst their ranks seize any opportunity to prey upon people who are already victims.
- They (allegedly) perform their duties under the influence of alcohol.
=== End Quote
The Drum
The famous Post Courier Column "The Drum" has finally caught up with the electronic age. For all of those people who are familiar with The Drum you can now email titbits of gossip to thedrum@spp.com.pg or you can still send a facsimile message to +675 320-1781. For those not familiar with The Drum then I suggest taking a look at the Post Courier website located at http://www.postcourier.com.pg.
Drum Article
Here is an article from a recent Drum article
=== Quote
Waigani Drive was the scene at 11:15am (recently) of a man being chased across the supermarket car park and over the busy road. But the chaser then drew a pistol and took pot shots at the fleeing one. No uniforms were seen so we don't know if it was hot pursuit with legal backing or not.
=== End Quote
Miss PNG Quest
The winner of the contest is Miss Courts, Olivia Wilson, with Miss Milne Bay Red Cross, Cecilia John taking out the title of Miss Charity Queen. A total of more than K150,000 was raised by the four contestants. It is hoped that more than four sponsor can be found for contestants next year. Courts have thrown out the challenge to all business house to help in the contest stating that they would sponsor two contestants next year. Courts sponsored last year's winner of the Miss PNG title Ephreddie Jubilee.
Christmas Star
Does any reader know when the first Christmas Star was put on Signal Hill at Murray Barracks?
An appeal has been started to obtain funding so that the star can once again shine from the hill over the festive period. The soldiers are hoping that they will be able to put the star up two weeks before Christmas if funding is found.
Provincial Grants
It has been admitted that the national government is in arrears to some provincial governments by as much as four years. The Prime Minister hopes to be able to clean the slate and start afresh with goals that are achievable. This will allow the provincial governments to budget for amounts that will be received rather than "pie in the sky" amounts that currently cannot be met.
PNGDF
The PNG Defence Force have been ordered to put 159 retrenched soldiers back on the payroll until their entitlements can be paid out. The fate of another 479 retrenched soldiers should be known soon as the court directed PNGDF lawyers and the lawyers representing the 479 to meet and come up with specifications on a decision.
The retrenched soldiers have not been paid any of their entitlements since being retrenched.
Cairns
The Cairns community including Lifeline, Brothers Leagues Club, Rotary and the Australian Federal Police have more than 80 boxes of clothes and toys bundled up and ready to be sent for the benefit of Papua New Guineans.
That's All
- In Tok Pisin - emtasol
- In Motu - dokona be inai - Thanks Rex and Daera
- In Motu - bamahuta - Thanks Lynette
- In English - The end (finish) or that's all
- In Milne Bay / Wedau - ikwa (finish) - Thanks Jean
- In Milne Bay / Wedau - Lamna ava (that's all) - Thanks Betty
- In East New Britain / Kuanua - i tar - Thanks Dinah
- In Wuvulu - na peluli - Thanks Eva
- In Takuu / Mortlock) - tena koi - Thanks Sione
- In Kove / West New Britain - nei-mau (That'finisheded) (Hanns)
- In Nara / kanawamo -- Thanks Scott
- In Rigo / mangam -- Thanks Scott
- In Misima - kaioni - Thanks Lynette
- In Suau - aoini - Thanks Lynette
- In Dobu - kaioni - Thanks Lynette
If you can add to the above list then please send email to PNG-News@png-gossip.com
PNG media related sites
- Post Courier Newspaper -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg
- The National Online Newspaper-- http://www.thenational.com.pg
- Chin H Meen (Music) -- http://www.chmsupersound.com
- EM TV (Television) -- http://www.emtv.com.pg
- Hitron (Cable TV) -- http://www.hitron.com.pg
- Pacific View Multimedia http://www.pvm.com.pg
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