P.N.G. Gossip Newsletter - 26 Mar 2004

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PNG Gossip Newsletter Meri Milne Bay

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Papua New Guinea Gossip Newsletter


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PNG Gossip Blog

 

 

 

Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"
Tok Pisin English
belo kaikai
noon
kaikai
food / meal
kaikai long belo
dinner
kaikai long moning
breakfast
kaikaim
bite / eat
kaukau
sweet potato
limonad / muliwara / loliwara
lemonade
muli
lemonade
muliwara
lime juice / lemon drink
mumu
cooking pit / ground oven
sutim kaikai
dish up / serve food
switmuli
orange
switpela kaikai
dessert
taim bilong kaikai
meal time
wok kaikai
work for board and keep

 

 

Remember that this mailing list is mainly meant for people who have an interest and already know a little bit about the people and geography of Papua New Guinea. The PNG Kina, which is mentioned from time to time in this newsletter, is currently worth around 29 - 29.5 United States cents but varies on a daily basis.

If you are really keen on finding out what the Kina is worth a currency converter for most world currencies can be located at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/moni.html

Want to find out more about Papua New Guinea? Try searching at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo and http://www.michie.net/png_faqs. The PNG Business and Tourism Directory located at http://www.pngbd.com is also an excellent place to look for PNG information.

For those who are not so familiar with the geography of Papua New Guinea I suggest taking a look http://maps.expedia.com and then click on the find a map option. Go to this link for a quick start to a link to a map of Port Moresby. http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/pom-map.html

Also remember that the accuracy of the information in this newsletter should not be relied upon - it is, after all, a gossip newsletter.



Links

PNG Tourism Promotion Web Site



The official website of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority can be found at -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg -- If you are interested in Papua New Guinea then this is the web site to visit at least once before you arrive.



Airlines of PNG



The Airlines of PNG web site can be found at -- http://www.apng.com -- Airlines of PNG were formerly known as MBA and prior to that Milne Bay Air.



Tourism Sites



Air Niugini -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg
DIVErsion Dive -- http://www.diversionoz.com/en/png.htm
Lonely Planet Website -- http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/dest/aust/png.htm
Madang Diving -- http://www.madangdiving.org.pg
Melanesian Tourist Services -- http://www.meltours.com
MV Golden Dawn -- http://www.mvgoldendawn.com
Niugini Art -- http://www.global.net.pg/niugini-art
Niugini Diving -- http://www.niuginidiving.com
Tourism Promotion Authority -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg
Trans Niugini Tours -- http://www.pngtours.com



PNG Religious Sites



Anglican Church of PNG (Diocese of Port Moresby) -- http://portmoresby.anglican.org

Bible Society Work in PNG -- http://www.biblesociety.org/bs-pap.htm

Catholic Church of PNG and Solomon Islands -- http://www.catholicpng.org.pg

Christian Brethren Churches of PNG. -- http://www.dg.com.pg/~cbcpng

Church of God in PNG -- http://www.zip.com.au/~openshaw/begin02.html

Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG -- http://www.lutheranworld.org/Directory/ASI/EvangelicalLutheranChurchofPapuaNewGuinea.EN.html

Hetune - Community of the Visitation, Popondota -- http://orders.anglican.org/arcyb/cvl.html

MAF Service in PNG -- http://www.maf.org.au/png/pnginfo.php

Melanesia Field has its headquarters in Kudjip, PNG -- http://www.melanesianaz.org

Nazarene Hospital at Kudjip in the Highlands of PNG is a mission hospital operated by the Church of the Nazarene. It has been serving the people of PNG since 1967 -- http://www.kudjipnazarenehospital.org

New Tribes Mission Aviation in PNG -- http://www.ntmpng.org/ntma.htm

PNG Christian Links -- http://www.geocities.com/jbnirenga/christ-a.html

PNG Church Partnership -- http://hometown.aol.co.uk/pngcpluxton/PNGChurchPartnership.htm

Pioneer Bible Translators: PNG. -- http://www.pioneerbible.org.pg/

Religious Television Association of PNG -- http://www.rtapng.com.pg

Society of St Francis -- http://orders.anglican.org/arcyb/ssf-pac.html

The meaning of the Vow of Poverty in the third world -- http://orders.anglican.org/arcyb/2000-RichardCarter.html

The United Pentecostal Assemblies of PNG. -- http://www.upcpng.org/



 

News Items

 

Fuel Prices



The price of fuel has risen substantially in recent weeks. Diesel now costs K1.83 per litre with petrol costing K2.38 per litre. Kerosene will cost K1.57 per litre. The increases were blamed on the effects of the continued conflict in Iraq and the recently imposed two percent general import levy.



Highlands Highway



A landslide that swept away 30 village houses threatens to disrupt the Highlands Highway traffic.
More than 200 people were left without homes after the land collapse at Chuave, Chimbu Province. The collapse was caused by a torrential downpour and has left a big crack on the bitumen surface of the highway from the edge of the Chuave rocks, threatening to cut off the inner Highlands provinces.

In the Eastern Highlands, landslides in the province have left semi-trailers stranded in Goroka.
The landslides occurred at the summit of the Daulo Pass and Watabung.



PMV Accident



A 24-seater public motor vehicle (PMV) supposedly racing another PMV has flipped out of control smashing into a car killing the car driver and injuring 15 others. The accident happened just outside the old Cathay Club, now called the Waigani Country Club in the morning and many of the injured were school children travelling to school. It is believed that parts may have broken on the bus as it raced the other bus at between 80 and 100 Kilometres per hour.



Markham Bridge



The Markham Bridge connecting the people of Wau, Bulolo and Menyamya with PNG's second largest city Lae has collapsed. Floods cut through the base of the bridge on the Lae side creating a five-metre split. The Morobe provincial administration wants an inquiry into the handling of the bridge that led to its collapse and subsequent closure.



Porgera / Enga



The province of Enga now owns 10 per cent of the Porgera Joint Venture gold mine located in Enga province.



Pilot Death



Alan Mourilyan, an Airlines PNG pilot, shot dead by criminals as he left an Automated Teller Machine in Mount Hagen recently has been described as a true humanitarian. Airlines PNG managing director Simon Wild said the Australian pilot would often purchase used clothing and soft toys in Australia and then distribute these to needy families in PNG.

The Australian Foreign Minister has said that the murder of the pilot in PNG showed the seriousness of the law and order problems facing the country.



University Of Goroka



Through careful use of the existing allocated operating budget the University of Goroka has managed to increase its enrolment by 70 percent. The university is now very conscious of how scarce money is in PNG and is managing it far better than what is was in the past. It is hoped the university will be able to cement its role as the centre for teacher education and training in PNG.



Annual Profits



The total asset value of the Bank South Pacific has grown from K1779.1 million in 2002 to K1904.9 million in December 2003. The Bank made a net profit of K39.981 million for 2003.

Credit Corporation (PNG) Limited continues to ride the waves of success recently announcing a K25.6 million profit for 2003, an increase of 233 per cent on its profits for 2002.

City Pharmacy made a loss of K4.398 million last year and said a slim trading surplus of K134,903 prior to depreciation and Finance Department charges of K640,126 and K1,804,836 respectively. The company said they would offload some properties to concentrate on their core business. They said they returned to profitability in the last quarter of 2003.

Steamships Trading Company announced a net profit of K6.912 million for the period ended December 31, 2003 and will pay a dividend of 10 toea per share after its annual general meeting in May 2004.



Ramu River



Flood water from the Ramu River have isolated a mission station, high school, four primary schools, several health facilities and many villages in Madang Province. The flood waters have washed away hundreds of houses as well. The Ramu Highway that links Lae and Madang has been cut off with the Saussi bridge - the longest along the highway - swept away. Power from the Yonki hydro-electric scheme has also been cut following the collapse of two PNG Power pylons causing a shortage of power in Madang town. Flooding is normal during the wet season but it is particularly bad at present.



Buka Power



The Buka passage has potential to solve the power problems for Bougainville. Plans are underway to generate electricity for Bougainville from the fast flowing and aggressive sea in the Buka passage. Electricity will be generated from this harnessed energy.



Clothing Donation



Mondo Clothing has donated 51 second-hand bales of clothes to the Port Moresby General Hospital. The clothing will be used to clothe patients at the hospital. Many patients especially patients with HIV/AIDS have been left at the hospital by relatives without adequate clothing. The owner of the second hand clothing company said the company was proud to help the hospital because the clothing business "feeds on the goodwill of the community so you have to give back something to the community".



Anglicare StopAIDS



The Anglican run StopAIDS has recently opened a new centre to assist PNG citizens with various diseases. The centre is primarily concerned with helping people who are living with HIV/AIDS. The building costing more than K1 million was funded by various groups such as AusAID, the British High Commission, the American Episcopal Church, PNG Anglican Church, New Zealand Anglican Church and a district support grant from Sir Mekere Morauta the Member for Moresby North-East.

In a separate news item the National AIDS Council director, Dr Ninkama Moiya, has said that the PNG Government has not funded HIV/AIDS projects rather it has relied on the support of various donor agencies. Dr Moiya said it was unfair on the aid agencies and he called on the government to help share the bill. The number of HIV/AIDS cases in the National Capital District has now been reported as being 7,800.



Survey



A recent survey held in Port Moresby has revealed that the most sexually active group of people are the 13 to 25 year-old group. This group mainly consists of high school and university students who do not ascertain the background of their sexual partners. 636 people participated in the survey that was handed out with condoms. The survey also revealed that one in one hundred children on the street were there because their parents had dumped them after they found out they had AIDS and were dying.



Birth Registration



A national campaign on birth registration has revealed that only 3 per cent of the total population of PNG have birth certificates to show they are citizens of this country. Up until the end of March there is an amnesty being provided for the issuing of birth certificates. Everyone is urged to take the opportunity and register and get a free birth certificate. After March every certificate will be charged the normal fee of K15.00 The birth registration process is also in compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and by not complying with the convention, PNG has been rated as one of the lowest performers on this indicator.



Staple Food Demand



As a result of a rapidly growing urban population the demand for traditional staples, vegetables and fruit is increasing in PNG especially since the downfall of the Kina has increased the price for imported staples such as rice and wheat flour. Unfortunately with growing demand for these local staple items such as sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, taro or cassava, the prices of these are also on the rise.



PNG Power



PNG Power officials have signed a K1 million deal to put the debt-ridden electricity supplier through a major restructure to return it to profitability. The deal will see Ernst and Young consultants of Australia put together a business rehabilitation plan over the next 12 months for the power supplier. The rehabilitation program would be implemented over 12 months and he hoped that the beginning of next year would see their objectives being achieved according to the business plan.

Once again Port Moresby residents have had power problems. This time it has been reported as being due to a cracked insulator on a power pylon between Moitaka and Boroko. Almost the whole city was in darkness last Tuesday.



Mobil Oil



Mobil PNG has denied rumours that it would be leaving PNG but the company is watching with interest the proposed acquisition of BP (PNG) Limited assets by Canadian oil and gas company InterOil Corporation.



Legal Immunity



The Prime Minister has said that legal immunity for Australian specialists coming to PNG under the enhanced co-operation package will not be granted. More than 300 officers from Australia will act as advisers in various PNG government departments. Of these, 230 police officers will join the PNG Police Constabulary. I wonder if the PNG soldiers recently sent over to the Solomon Islands to relieve an existing group there have been given immunity?



Sandaun Province



A major logging company in Sandaun Province is set to build a K4 million office complex for the provincial government. The two-storey office complex will be a landmark for the provincial government in Vanimo. The building will have 38 rooms and will house the offices of the administrator and the governor as well as all the government departments. A conference room and canteen have also been provided for in the plans of the building.



Rice



Tolukuma Gold Mines Ltd has shown an interest in buying PNG grown rice from the people through the Central Provincial Government. A rice mill, donated by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, will be used to prepare the rice.



Aviation News



The head of the Rural Development Bank, who carried a handgun on to an Air Niugini aircraft bound for Singapore, will be charged next week according to the Commissioner of Police. The police have completed their investigation into the incident and all that remains was for the detectives to arrest and charge the man. The comments by the Police Commissioner came only days after the Australian Deputy Prime Minister commented that terrorists could use PNG to launch an attack on Australia due to lax security at Jackson's airport.



Madang Money Problems



Political differences between the parliamentarians from Madang province have been blamed for the Madang administration slowly grinding to a halt due to a lack of funding. Three months into the year and Madang is still waiting for the release of monthly grants from the National Government to run the provincial administration as well as provide services to the people in the province. Money budgeted for projects is currently being used to run the administration and provide services.



Shell Money



Port Moresby based cargo handlers at TNT have intercepted an illegal shipment of traditional Tolai shell money [http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/monitabu.html] destined for Brussels. Along with the shell money was traditional Tubuan masks. The matter has been reported to the National Museum and Art Gallery. A special traditional ceremony had to be performed before the items could be removed from the packing boxes "to avoid the spell being broken". The traditional shell money (Tabu) is still in use in East New Britain and the shipment would have depleted the supply of shell money.



Marine Experts



Two young PNG girls, recently graduated from UPNG with science degrees specialising in marine biology, are working as marine biologists with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). One, Rebecca Samuel, is employed as a marine policy officer and the other, Luanne Losi is doing marine fieldwork.



Game Fishing Titles



The 29th PNG National Game Fishing Titles will be held in the lead up to the Easter break from the 3rd of April to the 11th of April 2004 . Over 250 anglers from overseas and within PNG will converge on the capital of East New Britain Province, Rabaul, to compete in the National Game Fishing Titles over nine days.

Commencing the week prior to Easter, on Saturday the 3rd of April, and running each day through to Easter Sunday (11th April), teams will fish the cobalt waters surrounding Rabaul town and the still active volcano, Tavuvur, which overlooks the impressive Simpson Harbour.



High Risk TB



Both Lae and Port Moresby are now considered high risk centres for tuberculosis. The disease is killing 1000 people a day in the Western Pacific region. In PNG the disease is now spreading towards the highlands area of PNG. The disease is treated easily but there are many factors stopping this in PNG such as a lack of political will, lack of transport and the ever present financial constraints.



Baked Sweet Potato



3 Cups mashed Sweet Potato or Kaukau
3 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons finely sliced onions
3 eggs
1/2-teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon milk
salt and pepper to taste.

After mashing the cooked sweet potato,
mix in the butter, onion, milk, cinnamon, salt and pepper.
Separate the egg whites from the yolks.
Beat them separately.
Fold the egg yolks into the mashed potato followed by the egg whites.

Place mixture in a greased baking dish.
Brush the top with butter and bake in the oven with the dish placed in a pan of water for 35 to 40 minutes at 160 degrees Celsius. (325 degrees Fahrenheit)






PNG Media


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-- THE END --

Some of the ways of saying "that's all" are courtesy of Liz and her friends at the University of Technology in Lae. http://www.unitech.ac.pg

If you can add to this list then please send email to PNG-News@pnggossip.com

 






Created 26 Mar 2004
Updated 6 Apr 2004

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