PNG Gossip Newsletter - 16 May 2006

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Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"

Tok Pisin English
draiva driver
buskanaka savage
inglis British
kepten captain
kuk cook
kuskus clerk
lapun old person
liklik dokta medical assistant
mangi boy / youth
meri woman
manmeri everybody
pikinini child
pren friend
rabisman no-hoper
sista nurse / nun
skulboi schoolboy
tisa teacher
 
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$5.00 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 31.0 - 31.5 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.



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 and if you want to donate to keep this newsletter coming at least twice a month then click on the "donate" button above. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.

PNG Web Hosting
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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.google.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 then mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.


Helifix PNG



Helifix PNG is developing a web site to showcase its products. The web site can be located at -- http://www.helifix.com.pg



PNG Stories



Stories from PNG -- for a sample from the twin book set of 1001 PNG Nights please visit -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/1001.html -- and for a couple more stories visit the homepage for the two books at -- http://thslone.tripod.com/1001PNGnights.html

For stories about "Compensation Twentieth Century Style" and others please visit -- http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cove/9183/



National Economic & Fiscal Commission



The web site for the National Economic and Fiscal Commission (NEFC) can be found at -- http://www.nefc.gov.pg -- The NEFC is an independent constitutional advisory body of the State of PNG. The web site is intended to provide information about the NEFC, the system of intergovernmental financing arrangements in PNG and other fiscal matters regarding the 19 Provincial and 312 Local-Level Governments.



Jane's PNG



Jane's Papua New Guinea web site -- A pictorial insight with comments on Papua New Guinea traditional culture, art and history. Contains a series of excellent photographs and can be located at --
http://www.janeresture.com/png_home/



Madang Resort Hotel



Madang Resort Hotel -- http://www.madangresort.com/ -- A hidden jewel in the South Pacific, Madang is a totally unexpected montage of tribal cultures, immense beauty, friendly people and pristine diving.



Tourism Sites



Air Niugini -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg

DIVErsion Dive -- http://www.diversionOZ.com/epngdive.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



Misc Sites



PNG People and Places -- http://www.aboutpng.com

PNG Government Online -- http://www.pngonline.gov.pg

Designscope Architects -- http://www.designscope.com.pg



Kokoda Trek



From time to time the Kokoda Trail pops up in one-way or another. It seems to be the one thing along with the Highland Shows, the towns of Madang and Rabaul that are mentioned frequently by tourists wishing to come to PNG. The trail or track is well known for its part in the fight between the Allies and the Japanese in the Second World War but nowadays it has become "the" walk to do in PNG. There are plenty of other walks that are possibly better but perhaps the Kokoda walk is the benchmark for physical endurance. Many operators offer the Kokoda Trail complete with carriers to help with the necessary food and camping equipment. Here are some of the operators starting with my favourite, -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au -- run by Gail Thomas at PNG Business and Tourism Directory -- http://www.pngbd.com -- of course it is up to the reader to make their own choice when choosing any tour company.

+- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au
+- http://www.pngtrekking.com.pg
+- http://www.kokodaspirit.com.pg
+- http://www.nghols.com

If you are interested in walking the Kokoda Trail then please read the following account -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=218


News Items



European Union



The European Union (EU) has spent about K3 billion under the EU development cooperation programme in PNG since independence. This makes the EU the second biggest PNG donor behind Australia It has been announced that the EU will provide the same level of funding for PNG from 2008 to 2013.



Tourism Association



Michael Buleau is the newly elected president of PNG Tourism Industry Association. Mr Buleau said the association is seen as the umbrella body for the PNG tourism industry and has a responsibility to ensure that all tourism stakeholders had confidence in it and that it effectively represented their concerns and needs at the highest levels.

Mr Buleau, a former employee of Air Niugini, takes over from the outgoing president Glen Armstrong from EMTV.



K100 Robbery



A man convicted of robbing a motorist of K100 and bankcards in Lae was sentenced to three years in jail for armed robbery. Lae resident National Court judge Justice George Manuhu said it was difficult to sentence a man to jail such a robbery because the crime was serious for a very little amount of money.



Animal Transport



Anglimp South Wahgi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham has invited an animal transport solutions expert to visit and investigate the possibilities of utilising trained animals, mainly oxen, water buffaloes and horses in the rural areas of PNG, particularly the highlands region.

Prof Paul Starkey, an expert on animal traction and chairman of the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development, arrived last Friday.



University Merger



The Rightsizing of the Public Sector Working Group has recommended that the University of Goroka, the University of Technology and Vudal University should merge with the University of PNG (UPNG) to save costs. The Group recommended that these existing establishment be come regional campuses of UPNG. The Group also recommended that the Divine Word University be invited to operate under the same structure. Another recommendation was that the PNG Maritime College should merge with Divine Word.



Solomon Island



The Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu has announced that PNG will be providing a K20 million aid package to the new Solomon Islands government over the coming years. He also said that PNG would be providing technical assistance to Solomon Islands.



American Tourists



Fifteen tourists from California are currently visiting PNG and experiencing something very different from their normal holidays. The group, comprised of seasoned travellers, has not been to PNG before but felt that PNG had something special to offer them. The group is spending 12 days visiting Mt Hagen, the Sepik River, Madang and Tari. Two members of the group went for a diving trip to Tawali Resort in Milne Bay and have been heard remarking to tour organiser, Kerry Byrd, that it is the best diving spot in the world.



123 Preferential Voting



Luther Wenge the Governor of Morobe Province will test the validity / legality of the limited preferential voting (LPV) system. Mr Wenge has filed the papers in the Supreme Court to declare the LPV unconstitutional. If his case is successful, the first-past-the-post system would be reinstated.



Eye Tester



The Masonic Lodge of Mount Hagen has donated a new eye-testing machine called a slit lamp to the Mount Hagen General Hospital. The previous slit lamp machine at the hospital had been out of order for many years. The Lodge has previously donated an indirect ophthalmoscope and a lensometer to the hospital.



Police Embarrassment



Twenty-five villagers from Zifasing village, Markham Valley have been arrested for damaging property and being drunk and disorderly near the Erap farm section of the Highlands Highway. It has been alleged that the villagers assaulted five policemen from the police dog unit on their way back to Lae. The villagers also removed the siren and damaged parts of the police vehicle being driven by the policemen before driving it away to their village, leaving the officers stranded on the road. The stranded policemen eventually returned to Lae and went back with reinforcements to arrest the perpetrators.



Goroka Accident



A vehicle allegedly owned by Gumine MP Nick Kuman, overturned on Tuesday night near the Kabiufa High School. It has been reported that the driver ran off the road while attempting to avoid a pothole. The vehicle, a Toyota Landcruiser was stripped of vital parts by locals who took advantage of the situation before police arrived.



Highway Link



The Trans Western-Gulf highway that is now under construction will link the Western and Gulf provinces for the first time, Housing Minister and Kikori MP Mark Maipakai said this week.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/051106/nation7.htm



Oil Search



Noreo Beangke has stepped down as a board member of the Oil Search board. Mr Beangke has been a board member since 1992. The highest position he attained on the board was that of the deputy chairman.



Aussie Asylum Seekers



New migrations laws in Australia will mean that asylum seekers will be held in overseas countries such as Papua New Guinea if a controversial law is passed through the Australian Parliament. Under the changes, all asylum seekers landing on the mainland will be sent to offshore detention centres in Nauru or Papua New Guinea's Manus Island to be processed. -- http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,19102038-5001028,00.html



Illegal Fuel Sales



Service Station owners in the Highlands are complaining that they are losing sales to the sales of fuel through black markets being run by drivers of major trucking companies in the region. With the ever spiralling upwards in fuel prices many drivers are looking to the cheaper prices available from the black marketers. Mt Hagen trucking company, Mountain Fuel Freighters, has denied the claims saying that their drivers are not responsible for the illegal sale of fuel. See also Fuel Tanker Spill below.



PNG Forum



The Australian Government will not be represented at the annual Australia-Papua New Guinea Forum currently being held. But a pre-recorded message from the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, is expected to be broadcast to delegates. see full article located at -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1638124.htm



Least Developed Country



The United Nations (UN) has said that PNG should be reclassified as a least developed country. This is down from the current category of developing country.

The Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, has questioned the UN for recommending that PNG be downgraded to a least developed country. Sir Michael questioned the motives behind the recommendations of the UN Committee for Development Policy's (CDP).

http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_29367.shtml



Mekeo Rice



The Mekeo people of Central Province have initiated a rice project for themselves but now require assistance from the government. Land studies carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock have shown that Mekeo topography, vegetation and soil are suitable for growing grain crops such as maize, sorghum, upland and wetland rice.

PNG imports 130,000 tonnes of rice annually from Australia.



WWII ID Tags



Fifty-seven years after a B-24J Liberator, containing 11 US airmen, crashed two identification tags were found by a person walking through the thick rain forest in Morobe Province. See full article at -- http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_453843.html



Australian Colonies



http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/we-think-of-our-neighbours-as-colonies/2006/05/11/1146940671693.html



Bougainville Funding



The Invincible Resources Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Autonomous Bougainville Government for a loan of K20 million. The money will be used for capacity building within the autonomous region and repayments will be tied to the development of a mining project in the region.



Fuel Tanker Spill



A fuel tanker has overturned on a sharp bend between Gabensis and Wambit villages along the Lae-Bulolo Highway in Morobe province. The resulting spill of diesel made many villagers happy who helped themselves using large plastic containers.



Operation Open Heart



As mentioned in a previous edition Operation Open Heart (OOH) 2006 is seeking help with funds for the annual event. Since 1993 OOH has operated on 406 heart patients, 306 of these have been on children. The success rate has been very good with only nine of the 406 patients dying. About K200,000 is needed for OOH and a total of K81,000 has been raised so far for the event this year.



Tuberculosis



The death rate from tuberculosis in PNG has been quoted to be ten deaths a day. TB is the second leading cause of death in the country. TB is a curable disease if the correct treatment is given over a nine-month period and the dose is completed. Many people start to feel better after a few months and stop taking their medication only to succumb to the disease.



Coming Events



Lukim PNG Nau Exposition -- Port Moresby from the 16th to the 18th of May.

Long Course Swimming Carnival at Taurama Pool, Port Moresby on Saturday the 20th of May.

24th to the 27th of May, 2006 -- Morobe Biang Ngayan Cultural Festival -- Biang and Ngayan are words in two Morobe languages for "good". Morobe has the second largest number of languages in the country with around 90 - second only to Madang with over 100 languages.

Africa, Pacific and Caribbean nations and European Union Conference -- from the 27th of May to the 3rd of June.

Swimming -- WESTPAC Dolphin Sprints 2006 -- Starting Friday the 9th of June and concluding on Sunday morning the 11th of June at the Taurama Pool, Port Moresby.

Tufi Cultural Show -- Tufi from the 9th to the 11th of June.

Lukim PNG Nau Expo -- From the 16th to the 18th of June at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby.

National Tourism Conference -- 19th of June

PNG 31st Independence Anniversary - 16th September 2006






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 send email to -- PNG-News@pnggossip.com

 






Created 16 May 2006
Updated 26 May 2006

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