Links
Kayak Voyage to PNG
Don't forget to follow the sea kayak voyage of the "Paluma" from
Townsville in Northern Queensland, Australia to Port Moresby (PNG) starting
on the 10th of August, 2003 by first vistinig the official website at --
http://www.users.bigpond.com/kayakkhan/Paluma_Voyage.html
Charlie's website
Check out Charlie's vanishing website at -- http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/cwh6/photos.html.
Out of the many photographs located at this site Charlie has photographs from
the Eastern highlands in PNG. Charlie is ready to graduate from Cornell and
he says his website will not be available once he has graduated so if you
want a look you better do it fast.
Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce website is located at -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
PNG Institute of Directors
The PNG Institute of Directors has revamped its website with the help of
an AESOP Volunteer, Peter Griffin. It is an excellent introduction to PNG
company law and related governance issues it can be found at -- http://www.pngid.org.pg
News Items
Subscription Probe
I have received reports that some people on the mailing list have not been
receiving their newsletters. Obviously, if you are receiving this, then you
do not have a problem. The only way I can determine who isn't is to do a "subscription
probe". I will be doing that later this week. I understand that many
of you, like myself, get heaps of email every day. I apologise in advance
for sending yet another piece of mail that really will not be of any value
to you.
Phone Calls
The cost of phone calls to PNG from Australia has recently ballooned. Even
regular customers such as Peter Goleby at South Pacific Exports <sp.exports@bigpond.com>
have been hit hard. It seems that there is no such thing as a preferred customer
anymore. The cost of the calls went from 85 cents a minute to AUD2.21 a minute.
There have been calls for the watchdog in PNG (Independent Consumer and Competition
Commission) to investigate the increase. The reason for the increase has been
given as -- PNG Telikom wants to build and increase the telephone network
in PNG.
TISOL
The International School Of Lae (TISOL) now has a luxury of refurbished library
with a new electronic-catalogue system. The library has historical significance
as it is named after Allan Hooper, a former principal who served the school
for 22 years. The library also stands on the old building foundations of the
former Bulae School. The cost of the double-storey library was K200,000 provided
by International Education Agency.
Defence Commander's Cup
Soldiers from Moem Barracks in Wewak have won the Commander's Cup. The second
section of the Second Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR) walked away with
the cup after a five-day competition that saw soldiers from the First Battalion
(1RPIR) at Taurama and Second Battalion (2RPIR) at Wewak pitted against each
other.
Visa Fees
The Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) has raised concerns that it appears
that PNG is the only country in the South Pacific that charges the people
of the South pacific a visa fee. Fiji, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands have gone
to the extent of waiving all migration restrictions whereas PNG has recently
increased visa fees. The TPA says that not only should the South Pacific countries
not pay visa fees but it should also be extended to all Commonwealth countries.
Japanese Flights
The Acting Tourism Minister and Labour and Industrial Relations Minister
Peter O'Neill has revealed that he has little understanding of the intricacies
of global aviation. Mr O'Neill has said that he would look into the possibility
of Air Niugini operating an extra weekly flight to Japan. Under the various
aviation rules and regulations Japan has the first choice of having the next
flight to and from Japan. Only when Japan has either rejected a possible flight
or was already operating one would Air Niugini be able to operate a second
flight for the airline.
Tourism
Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Tourism Chairman, Nick Kuman,
has said he is concerned that the various government departments, agencies
and authorities had no regard or concern for the culture and tourism industry
in the country. He also said that PNG culture is dying and not enough is done
to encourage and promote tourism.
Pharmaceutical Drugs
The High Commissioner of India to PNG has donated more than 200 boxes of
medical drugs to the National Department of Health. The outgoing Indian High
Commissioner presented the boxes of medicine to the Health minister Melchior
Pep recently.
Prostitution
Unfortunately because nothing is being done to address the issue of prostitution
it has become a major social issue for PNG. Due to the poor economy the number
of young girls taking part in prostitution is ever increasing simply because
it is an easy way to earn money.
Cancer in PNG
Recently this newsletter discussed issues on the Cancer Unit and the lack
of adequate affordable cancer treatment services available for the people
of Papua New Guinea.
A reader, Kaih Bomai, has offered the following --
The only Radiotherapy Department for the whole of the 5 million souls in
the country has been shut since the 17th of January 2000.
According to a feasibility report by a team of Cancer experts from Australia,
in their paper, Cancer - The Hidden burden, revealed an astonishing deaths
due to cancer stands at 15 000 souls per year. That figure could be under
reported as there is no Cancer registry in the country.
The country lacks an Oncologist - Cancer Doctor. There are four Radiation
therapists, but these positions would be now seen as near redundant.
The services needs to be upgraded and basic help could be restored back to
the people of this country.
Thanks Kaih. Makes you wonder where the priorities are when roads that were
in reasonable condition in Port Moresby were dug up and currently are being
replaced at a cost of millions of Kina? Why train Radiation Therapists and
have them sit around and do nothing?
PNG Boxing
The PNG Amateur Boxing Union is hosting a corporate gala night of amateur
boxing, in a tournament at the Airways Hotel on Saturday 7th June 2003.
The PNG Amateur Boxing Union is seeking sponsorship and is offering various
levels of sponsorship, from Major sponsorship of K5,000 or sponsorship of
each bout on the night (at K500 per bout - 9 bouts in total) and other donations
of cash or kind that can be used to raise money to send our athletes off to
the SP Games in June/July.
The purpose of the tournament is three fold:
I. Give international competition to the national team prior to the SP games
II. Raise funding to support the team
III. Give increased exposure of this Olympic sport across PNG.
The night starts at 7pm with meals served between bouts, entertainment and
boxing will make this a night not to be missed. Tickets are available at K100
per person or tables of ten at K1000.00. A 3-course meal and a complimentary
drink on arrival is included. Tickets are available from Salome Rihatta Ph:
3225525 email: <sari@chevrontexaco.com>
or Margaret Embahe 3031257 <membahe@datec.com.pg>
Goroka Water
The residents of Goroka have recently had a new water treatment plant commissioned
but this will not help them to get better water pressure. The new plant is
the same capacity as the one replaced. The Goroka Town Authority is looking
at ways of increasing the pressure. Goroka uses more than 10,000 cubic metres
of water a day.
Fly River Schools
Three schools around the Fly River in Western province are facing financial
problems. The three secondary schools, Awaba, Daru and Kiunga, are expected
to close soon. More than 1,800 students, including teachers, would be affected
by the closure. The three schools have been operating by collecting school
fees from parents that are salary earners, whilst parents from the rural villages
have been struggling to pay the school fees.
Highland Potatoes
Farmers from the Western Highlands of PNG are confident that after a trial
run on potato planting that potato blight can be controlled by chemicals.
More than 200 farmers along with interested and key players in the combat
against the blight visited the Kelta trial project outside Mt Hagen recently
and were pleased with the results they saw. The trial has shown them that
the potato industry could be managed and kept alive.
Highlands Tea
Waram Tea Plantation, a major tea plantation in the Western Highlands Province,
has been wiped out by rampaging villagers. The plantation was reduced to rubble
recently by locals disgruntled over royalty issues.
Morobe Province
The police in Morobe province have received five notebook computers thanks
to the kindness of Nestle PNG. The company has also donated computers to the
University of Technology in Lae and many other organisations.
Summer Institute of Linguistics
The Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) -- http://www.sil.org.pg
-- has recently celebrated 47 years of operation in PNG at Ukarrumpa in the
Eastern Highlands. -- http://www.ukarumpa.com
Manus Jail
The Manus Provincial Government plans to relocate the current jail in Lorengau
after interference from a certain landowner group in the operations of the
present jail. In the meantime all existing prisoners have been transferred
to the jail in Kavieng, New Ireland Province. Negotiations are underway with
another landowner group who have indicated that they would allow a jail to
be built on their land. Once negotiations are complete the government will
approach donor agencies to help fund the building of the new jail
Bougainville Autonomy
Progress is being made towards autonomy for Bougainville. Work, including
the establishment of the joint supervisory body to manage the implementation
of the agreed autonomy arrangements, is running ahead of time. People are
moving around more freely on the Island of Bougainville and Cocoa and copra
production is rising.
PNGDF
The PNG Defence Force is in the process of improving its information system
by updating to the latest technology. The new system is the first in the Pacific
and included a mobile satellite dish. The new system would let the PNGDF communicate
with other countries via e-mail or radio by bypassing the current PTC system
in times of emergency.
PNG Gas
Is there hope for PNG gas? As a result of a recent visit to Japan by Sir
Michael Somare, Mitsubishi will undertake to conduct a feasibility study on
the US$800 million processed gas project for the Japanese market. The Japanese
market would be capable of buying all the gas (methanol) produced by PNG if
the feasibility study was favourable.
United Nations Concert
The annual United Nations Concert held by Port Moresby International School
had to be cancelled due to rain in Moresby on Saturday the 24th of May. Many
truckloads of traditional dancers were seen wandering around lost near the
school on Saturday night. Lets hope that they are able to return next Saturday
(31st May).
Electoral Commission
The PNG Electoral Commission was cut off from the rest of PNG and the world
recently when their telephones were disconnected because they owe about K90,000
Telikom PNG. This is equal to about four months of unpaid telephone calls.
Mathias Kauage
Mathias Kauage, a self-taught world famous artist, has died aged 66. Mathias,
originally from Gugulme in Gembogl district, Chimbu Province, personally met
Queen Elizabeth in 1990. She has one of his paintings hanging in Buckingham
Palace in England
Gun Statistics
It has been reported that there is one licensed gun for every 180 people
in PNG. This figure does not take into account the number of illegal guns
in the country, which would number many more especially home made shotguns.
The Defence Force Commander, Brigadier-General Peter Ilau, has also confirmed
sometime year that over 300 military weapons, mostly from the Bougainville
crisis, are not unaccounted for. The number of licenced weapons does not include
police officers that do not have to be license holders to carry firearms while
on duty.
Moresby Rice
Residents of Kaugere in Port Moresby have been able to grow rice. The project
was initiated two years ago by Hope Worldwide who supplied garden tools to
the Kaugere community. Two other organisations, Don Bosco and Sivarai Namona
churches at Bomana, helped by donating rice seeds. Carol Kidu, The Parliamentary
Member for Moresby South has also encouraged the project.
Saint John Ambulance
The St. John Ambulance service in Port Moresby has had to close once again
due to financial problems brought on by the non-payment of a legal agreement
between the Department of Health and the Order of St John. The quarterly grant
of K75,000 is overdue by about six weeks.
IMR Goroka
The first component of the infrastructure and the capacity program, which
includes building and upgrading of the current Institute of Medical Research
complex in Goroka, is already off the ground. This includes the library extension,
a new 150-seat lecture theatre, operational research unit and the administration
office. -- http://www.pngimr.org.pg
Air Niugini
Air Niugini has re-introduced Fokker F28 flights to and from Hoskins in West
New Britain. The airport at Hoskins was closed due to the sudden eruption
of Mt Pago. It has been reopened to small aircraft for sometime but it is
now considered safe for jet aircraft. Air Niugini will also re-open F28 routes
between Hoskins and Rabaul, Lae, Kavieng and Madang and connecting services
to Wewak and Buka.
World Environment Day (WED)
The Eco Forestry Forum (EFF) in PNG has planned activities to celebrate World
Environment Day (WED) on the June 5, 2003.
Highlands Highway
The Highlands Highway was blocked in the Western Highlands by armed tribesmen
from Kutumb. Police from Mount Hagen have cleared the block at Tomba. The
tribesmen were protesting over the shooting of one of their clan recently.
PNG Power
Management of PNG Power have made a recommendation to place PNG Power in
temporary liquidation. The only supplier of electricity to PNG has been financially
crippled for many years. It was even rumoured that they could not get their
mainframe computer to be Y2K ready so they moved critical applications to
cheap personal computers. It is also rumoured that PNG Power buys electricity
from a private supplier for a higher cost than what it charges the consumers
of that power.
MilaMala Festival
The Trobriand Island MilaMala Committee has just confirmed the dates of Wednesday
the 30th of July, Thursday the 31st, and Friday the 1st of August for the
2003 Festival. The Festival will be held at the main island villages of Kiriwina.
The festival will involve 6 villages and will feature the following:
Day 1: yam carrying and all the activities associated with that stage and
dancing until about midnight.
Day 2: storing of the yams; awarding winners of gardening etc; Kula canoe
racing; and dancing
Day 3: All participating villages will take part in full cultural performances
and feasting.
Village livelihood skills will be demonstrated. Arts and Crafts available
for sale.
Every Tuesday and Saturday, the Airlines PNG services a route starting from
Port Moresby to Losuia to Gurney to Misima then traces the route back to Gurney
to Losuia to exit at Port Moresby.
Current one-way fares per person stand at K319 Gurney to Losuia and K505
POM to Losuia.
For the more adventurous traveller, cargo boats sail from Alotau and service
the islands for around K50 per person. Allow for up to 2 days travel as they
may call into either Esa'ala station or Gumwawana Island or some other islands
en route.
Accommodation is available at the following:-
Butia Lodge +675 6439003 have own transport
Kiriwina Lodge +675 6439001 or 6439009 - have own transport
Cindy's Guesthouse, VBA guesthouse through +675 6411510.
Village stays are most welcome and can be arranged through Serah Clark on
<konki@dg.com.pg>
Bicycle hire can also be arranged.
3rd PNG Film Festival
The third PNG International Film Festival is currently under way in Port
Moresby. (From the 23rd to the 25th at the Ela Beach School and from the 27th
to the to the 31st of May at the University of PNG - Waigani Campus). Films
from France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, United States, New Zealand, United Kingdom
and Australia will be shown during the festival.
The Festival will also tour various provincial towns.
Goroka -- 2nd to 4th of June
Madang -- 6th to 8th of June
Alotau -- 10th to 12th June
Lae -- 13th to 15th June
Wewak -- 13th to 15th June
Kokopo -- 17th June
Rabaul -- 19th June
Buka -- 20th to 22nd June
Movies including Tinpis Run from PNG, Crocodile Dundee, Priscilla Queen of
the Desert, Muriel's Wedding, The Dish, Young Frankenstein, Mrs Doubtfire,
Four Weddings And A Funeral, Carry On Cleo, and Tootsie, are to be shown.
For more information it is recommended to contact Pablo Ganguli <Pablo.Ganguli@lycos.co.uk>.
Red Cross
PNG Red Cross is appealing to business houses for sponsorship of at least
five young women who are eager to take part in the annual Miss PNG Quest.
Five girls are ready to start fund raising activities but need the help of
the business houses to get and keep the ball rolling.
PNG Media
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