PNG Gossip Newsletter - 16 June 2005

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Tok Pisin English
kambek / kam bek come back
kamera camera
kampani company (firm)
karet carrot
kari curry
karim carry
kiau bulb / light globe
kiau egg
kik kick
kikbal football
kirap take off (plane)
kirap nogut surprised
kirap / sanap get up
kirapim begin
kirapim found / establish
kirapim get someone up from bed
 
Interested in having your own Web Site? Worried about the cost? It may be cheaper than you think. Take a look at pricing at the PNG Web Hosting site. Sites with space for 15,000 MB of data, 300 GB transfer per month and 24 / 7 ticket / phone support for less than US$3.00 per month. -- DOT COM Domains from US$9.00 per year.
 

Remember that this mailing list is meant (mainly) 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 30 - 30.5 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 -- The PNG Business and Tourism Directory also has daily rates based from a PNG perspective

Welcome to the
Papua New Guinea Gossip Newsletter

A very special welcome is extended to any new readers. If you have comments or suggestions to make then please click here and use the submission form.

Articles for this newsletter

To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter -- please click here and use the submission form to make initial contact.

Warning: PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that it costs money to host a web site and there is not much return on the outlay to most businesses in PNG. If you do click on a link and use the services or even have some comments to make then please contact the people at the relevant web site and let them know so they at least know that someone has gained some value from their efforts. If you are so inclined then mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.

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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

Warning: PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that it costs money to host a web site and there is not much return on the outlay to most businesses in PNG. If you do click on a link and use the services or even have some comments to make then please contact the people at the relevant web site and let them know so they at least know that someone has gained some value from their efforts. If you are so inclined them mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.



New Guinea Traders



New Guinea Traders have a website located at -- http://www.newguineatraders.com -- the company is a limited liability corporation importing green arabica coffee beans. Originally established by Aarlie and Larry Hull for the purpose of helping indigenous Papua New Guineans realise a greater return on their labours and a more equitable profit from the magnificent natural resources of their country.



PNG Aviation



Air Niugini, National Airline of PNG -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg
Airlines of PNG -- http://www.apng.com
Airlink -- http://www.airlink.com.pg
Bill Purcell's Site -- http://www.billpurc.com/aviation.htm
MAF Australia (PNG Info) -- http://www.maf.org.au/png/pnginfo.php
Michie.NET PNG Aircraft Register -- http://michie.net/balus
Online Airline schedule -- http://www.pngbd.com/travel/flights.php
PNG Balus Project -- http://www.balus.gov.pg
TNT Air Cargo -- http://www.tnt.kenmore.com.pg



Surfing PNG



Surfing information for PNG can be found at the Surfing Association of PNG website located at -- http://www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg/home.htm -- and -- http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/papua_ng.htm --



Taklam Guest House



The Guest House, actually it is now called Taklam Lodge and Tours, was originally located in Rabaul but was relocated to Kokopo after the twin volcanic eruptions destroyed Rabaul in 1994. They commenced operations in 1990 offering a home away from home service. A web site is located at -- http://www.taklam.com.pg/



Communication



- ConXions -- http://www.conxions.com.pg -- (also Ericssons PNG)
- PNG Telikom -- http://www.teklikompng.com.pg
- PNG Pacific Mobile Communications -- http://www.tiare.com.pg
- PNG Telecommunications Authority -- http://www.pangtel.gov.pg
- RAD-TEL Communications sales and Services -- http://www.radtel.com.pg
- PACOM -- http://www.prosec.com.pg
- Alcatel (Now owned by PACOM) -- http://www.alcatel.com.pg



Telephone Management



If anyone is in PNG and looking for a good telephone management system for their Ericsson, Oki, Panasonic, NEC or possibly other PABX then I suggest taking a visit to MATRYX -- http://www.matryx.com.pg. This PNG system boasts over 100 customers within PNG. The company can also offer web development and various IT services. It is also associated with the PNG Business and Tourism Directory located at -- http://www.pngbd.com



Air Niugini Fokker F100



A bit more information about the latest Air Niugini Fokker F100 (P2-ANB) can be located at http://michie.net/pnginfo/px_f100.html.


News Items

PNG Tall Poppy Syndrome



Now that Air Niugini has returned to being a profitable airline it is the time that the armchair experts come out and say that they could have done a better job and in a shorter time of turning around the airline. Many of these so-called experts are politicians and other people with no idea of running an international business with most of the costs in overseas currencies. This problem is not confined to Air Niugini and could be likened to the tall poppy syndrome in Australia.



Hillside Gardening



For many years gardeners have been allowed to take over the slopes of hills in Port Moresby and plant various market vegetables for harvesting and selling. Many trees in the city have also suffered as people chop them down and sell the timber as firewood. Little is done to replace the chopped trees and stop the gardening. Over the years this has led to the erosion of valuable topsoil and the clogging of many drains. The Primer Minister, Sir Michael Somare, has said that he will introduce a law to stop the cultivating of the hillside land in Port Moresby.



Amateur Radio



The article on Amateur Radio operators in the Gordon's area, being upset that a public broadcaster has been allowed to flood the 40-metre band, brought this response from the broadcaster.

QUOTE

As far as the complaints against the short wave is concerned here are some things to pass along:

1) The frequency was selected by Sam Rowley, of HCJB. Sam was a great guy who had spent a lot of time building short-wave transmitters and stations throughout his career with HCJB. He was not a ham. Sam passed away right after he helped put the FM on the air in Port Moresby. He tried to obtain a frequency that would cover PNG well. Apparently he succeeded at that effort.

2) 7120 is a SHARED radio frequency and not allocated exclusively to Amateur radio. Hams are secondary users of the 7.1-7.2 MHz sub-band. That fact will not change until 2009.

3) After our application was approved and the frequency assigned but before the station was installed the WARC 2003 conference chose to make the 7.1 to 7.2 MHz band exclusively amateur by the year 2009. We constructed the station based on the license issued, knowing that it would be a temporary frequency. Our other choice was to delay construction by a couple of years - something we did not want to do nor did we have an obligation to do.

4) We are endeavouring to find a suitable frequency that is outside of the amateur bands to move to as soon as it is practical to do so. Unlike amateurs who can simply turn our dial a few kilohertz, we must maintain the assigned frequency until a new frequency is assigned. I have been given a few possible frequencies to check out so I am on the issue and hope to get something going on an application soon.

5) So far we have determined what our equipment can do without the need to replace the transmitter or to build a new antenna and with that information we are searching for a frequency that will work for us.

6) Our transmit power is 1 KW - less than many hams use and not at all in the class with the common 50 and 100 KW short-wave stations. We are flattered to be told our signal is so strong. Our peak signal for most of the daylight hours is in the central highlands and the software that we use tells us that the signal is 50 dbU at that point. Signal levels in other areas are less.

7) I can work VK's on 40 meters on 7110 and my home QTH (Gordons) is 5.50 km from the centre of our antennas. Our signal is a maximum of 10 kHz wide on my ICOM 706 MKIIG. (7115 to 7125) The audio filters on the transmitter have extremely sharp cut-off at 5 kHz. Modulation is tightly controlled to remain below 100% so there is no splatter.

8) We are unaware of any complaints from other commercial users. If they have a complaint shouldn't they be telling us about it?

9) Land suitable for construction of this station is not readily available as anyone who lives in PNG can tell you. We felt lucky to get what we have. If someone has land for sale that would be more suitable please contact us.

What more can I say?

Dave Olsen

END QUOTE



Nonga Base Hospital



The morgue at Nonga Base Hospital may have to close if relatives and friends do not come forward and remove the bodies currently filling the mortuary. Apparently the hospital has imposed a rule that any locals that die will have their body released immediately and will not be held in the morgue until further notice. The morgue is the only such facility for the whole of East New Britain province.



Kaugere Coffee



Kaugere, about three kilometres away from the coast, has proved to be a location where it is possible to grow coffee. Coffee is usually grown in the higher and cooler regions of the country. Three coffee trees were planted 18 months ago and the growers thought they were just another type of flowering plant until the trees bore the first flowers and fruit. The trees have already been harvested twice.



Training in PNG



Some providers of private training in PNG have been accused of providing low quality training at a high cost to the people of PNG. Some institutions are keen on providing top-level training for students but unfortunately others are only interested in making a huge profit leaving some students with little prospect of getting a good job in the field they have chosen.



Bougainville



The first president of the Autonomous Government on Bougainville has been declared and Joseph Kabui is the successful candidate who managed to poll a total of 37,928 votes. This was almost 14,000 votes more than the runner up John Momis. As indicated last edition John Momis will dispute the count due to perceived intimidation by supporters of the winning candidate. Internal observers who oversaw the elections have given their stamp of approval on the conduct of the elections. They have declared that the elections were conducted in a transparent, open and proper manner.

President Kabui, at the height of the conflict/crisis on Bougainville, was declared by Waigani as being the 'most wanted" person on the island with a price on his head.



Political Appointees?



Two people close to Sir Michael Somare have been appointed to key positions in state run bodies. His son, Sana Somare, has been appointed to the Board of PNG Power and Glen Blake, Sir Michael's financial advisor, has been appointed to the board of the Independent Public Business Corporation (IPBC). The IPBC is chaired by Sir Michael's legal advisor, lawyer Sumasi Singin.

Other changes to boards see NASFUND's Rod Mitchell and POSF's Leon Buskins appointed to the board of Telikom PNG which brings out the rumours that Telikom will be prepared for sale yet again but this time with input from the superannuation funds. The chairman of the Telikom board has stepped down citing work pressure and the need to spend time with his family as the reason. Air Niugini has had another member appointed to the board. Frederick Reiher has been appointed replacing a failed attempt by Captain Paun Nonggor and Sir Hugo Berghuser to be appointed to the board.



Telikom Outage



Telephone Subscribers located in a large area from five to seven-mile have once again faced cuts to their telecommunication service. Vandals cut a large section out of five main cables feeding the area last week and subscribers were left without any telecommunication service. Some people were lucky to have emergency services reconnected the same day and others are still waiting. Telikom claim that they lose up to K3 million a year on replacing stolen and damaged cables.



PNG Orchids



A successful second international Orchids Show has been held at the Sir Rabbie Namaliu Orchid Gardens in the grounds of Parliament House. The two-day event saw orchid growers, lovers and collectors coming from Port Moresby and flying in from outside the city to see the many species the country has on display. Orchid officials from Taiwan, Malaysia and the president and secretary of the Orchid Society of South East Asia attended the event.



Television Crime



A senior policeman in the highlands has said that western influences were contributing to the breakdown of law and order in the Western Highlands Province and other parts of the co. Crimes like kidnapping, ambush, and hijacking were "foreign crimes" introduced to the country through television and movies.



Fuel Prices



A small reduction in the price of fuel has made motorists happy around the country. Petrol will now cost K2.68 per litre in Port Moresby and K2.76 in Lae. Diesel -- Port Moresby K2.19 and Lae K2.27. Prices will be higher in other areas of the country.



Traditional Healing



Due to the ongoing shortage of drugs at all major hospitals around the country people are turning to traditional methods in a bid to find a cure for their sickness. The hospitals are turning patients away and pointing them to private pharmacies but many people cannot afford the high prices being charged for medicine so the next step is to turn to traditional herbal medicine. The Minister for Health has said that hospitals will not receive a shipment of necessary drugs until next month (July).



Forestry Bill



The World Wide Fund (WWF) is concerned that changes to the Forestry Bill will be a step backwards for the forestry industry. The WWF has joined with other concerned groups to call on the Prime Minister to withdraw the proposed Forestry Amendment Bill. WWF is concerned that the changes will take away the rights of the landowners for direct consultation when dealing with the allocation of timber permits. Other obligations will also be removed by the proposed changes.



Frequently Asked Questions



What is the land area of the provinces in PNG?

  • National Capital and Central -- 29,940 sq kms
  • Oro Province -- 19,827 sq kms
  • Milne Bay Province -- 14,000 sq kms
  • Morobe Province -- 34,500 sq kms
  • Madang Province -- 28,000 sq kms
  • Eastern Highlands -- 11,706 sq kms
  • Simbu Province -- 8,476 sq kms
  • Western Highlands -- 8,288 sq kms
  • Southern Highlands -- 25,988 sq kms
  • East Sepik -- 43,000 sq kms
  • West Sepik (Sandaun) -- 36,000 sq kms
  • East New Britain -- 15,500 sq kms
  • West New Britain -- 21,000 sq kms
  • New Ireland -- 9,500 sq kms
  • Manus Province -- 2,100 sq kms
  • North Solomons Province -- 9,400 sq kms
  • Enga Province -- 10,790 sq kms
  • Western and Gulf Province -- 135,000 sq kms

More PNG Frequently Asked Question can be found at -- http://michie.net/png_faqs



Scarlet Taxis



Scarlet Taxis are becoming popular for taxi users in Port Moresby. The company is 100 percent nationally owned and has been in operation for five months. The taxis are popular amongst expatriates and working class people because the cars look clean and presentable from the outside and inside and offer a metered service around town. All the drivers are non-smokers and do not chew betelnut and drink beer. The taxis also are hooked back to base via radio.



Living and Working in PNG



Here is an excellent and up-to-date article about living and working in PNG -- http://www.sagric.com.au/jobs/asf/More-about-PNG.pdf -- Note you will need an Adobe Portable Document Format reader to be able to display this article on you computer.



Coming Events



Golf - The 36 hole 17th West New Britain Open will be held on the 18th and 19th of June at the Mosa Golf Course.

East New Britain Warwagira and Mask Festival. The Warwagira will be held on the 6th to the 12th of July followed by the Mask Festival on the 13th to the 16th of July. Both events will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Park.

Squash - The K50,000 Steel Industries PNG Squash International has been set to be held between the 16th and 21st of August in Port Moresby. The event is part of the official Men's World Tour and is being run under the supervision of the Professional Squash Association - the world governing body for Men's Squash. The main event will be held at the Holiday Inn Sports Plus Club at Waigani.

PNG 30th Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September 2005.
Hiri Moale Festival -- the week leading up to Independence Day
Goroka Show -- Independence Weekend

The Milne Bay Canoe Festival is to be held near the end of October.



Building Boom



According to a building board member of the National Capital District Commission - Port Moresby should be heading for a building boom. It has been tipped that over K280 million of construction work is about to commence in the city. In the coming year construction work should increase by five-fold and possibly up to seven-fold in the following years. A drop in loan interest rates has been attributed as the main factor for the proposed boom. In recent years several companies have wound down their operations to a minimum and other companies have closed shop altogether.

Some of the forthcoming projects include -

36 home units on Touaguba hill valued at K23 million,
A K2.5 million fit out of Deloitte Tower by the European Union,
A building valued at K50 million for the Japanese Embassy as well as many smaller projects for apartment blocks and home ownership schemes for workers.






PNG Media


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-- THE END --

In Tok Pisin - em tasol

For other ways of saying the end please pay a visit to -- ../emtasol

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 click here and use the submission form.

 



Created 16 Jun 2005
Updated 26 Jun 2005


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