PNG Gossip Newsletter - 6 June 2006

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Welcome to the
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Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"

Tok Pisin English
dispela this / these
i predictive marker
smol small
haus house
tumas too much
lektrik electric
stov stove
mumu cooking pit / ground oven
rais rice
resa razor
pipia / rabis rubbish / scraps
plaua flour / flower
dispela haus i smol tumas
 
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 24hour a day /7day a week 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

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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 Directory also has daily rates based from a PNG perspective

Want to find out more about Papua New Guinea? Try searching at -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo -- and -- http://www.michie.net/png_faqs or try the PNG Business Directory located at -- http://www.pngbd.com -- and the PNG Tourism Directory -- http://www.pngtd.com. Both are excellent places to look for information about the country.
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

 

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

Articles for this newsletter

To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter -- please use the contact 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. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.

 


Roadside Stall near Goroka,
Eastern Highlands Province

 

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

External links - while PNG Gossip Newsletter will not sell your email address to others many links on this web site lead to other sites that may not have the same policy regarding your valuable email address. Be careful when handing over your email address to others.


 


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.

If links in the newsletter do not work properly, copy and paste the URL into your browser and press Enter. Be sure to copy the entire link, as it may wrap to the next line. If this still does not work please send an email to the newsletter advising of the broken link.



Misc Links



ASOPA -- Keith Jackson's weblog for people associated with the former Australian School of Pacific Administration -- http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/

CyberMasta web site designs -- http://www.cybermasta.com

East New Britain -- http://www.eastnewbritain.com

Friends of the Disabled Association -- http://www.foda.org.pg

Haus Poroman, Mount Hagen -- http://www.hausporoman.com.pg

Jane's Papua New Guinea web site -- http://www.janeresture.com/png_home

Jason's Travel Information -- http://www.jasons.com/000574,PNG,,,,PG,1,0.MEL#scroll_0:0

Madang Resort Hotel -- http://www.madangresort.com

Malagan Beach Resort, New Ireland -- http://www.malaganresort.com

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

PNG Medical Symposium web site -- http://www.medsymp.org.pg

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

PNG Web Hosting -- http://www.pngwebhost.com

Port Moresby Water Ski Club -- http://www.nla.com.pg/pomwsc/home.htm

Summer Institute of Linguistics -- http://www.sil.org.pg

Vabukori Village, Port Moresby -- http://www.vabukori.com

West New Britain -- http://www.tourismwestnewbritain.org.pg



Weather Links



Most of the links for PNG weather have now disappeared the only reliable ones seem to be the following --

Kerema -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0001.html

Kikori -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0002.html

Morobe -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0003.html

Port Moresby -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0004.html

Samarai -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0005.html



Wikipedia



Wikipedia is a free web based encyclopaedia and the information it has on PNG can be located at the following web address -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea

Wikipedia has started a Wikipedia in Tok Pisin. It can be found at -- http://tpi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

A page about Air Niugini can also be found at -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Niugini -- This page has some information that is not accurate but it is a start at documenting some of the history of the airline.



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 -- and follow the links. Or try this one -- http://www.maf.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=125

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


News Items

Port Moresby Show



After more than ten years the Port Moresby Show has been revived as the Port Moresby Cultural Show. The show was held at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in hot and dusty conditions and not at the Moitaka showgrounds. As an initial event, the first of its kind, the show rated as "okay" but it is hoped that the event picks up and is able to rival the other cultural shows around PNG. The Sir Hubert Murray Stadium offers very little shade in the main arena area for spectators and dancers but what other area in the heart of Port Moresby can offer anything better?



2007 Elections



It looks like that Sir Michael Somare may be on the way to achieving something that has not happened before and that is running for a full term as an elected Prime Minister. Previous Prime Ministers including Sir Michael have had to contend with votes of no confidence motions on the floor of Parliament that have sometimes been successful in ousting the prime office holder. Work is underway by the Electoral Commission to stage the 2007 Elections. They are looking at the 2002 elections to see what problems were encountered and how they can be solved. The elections will be the first full election that uses a limited preferential voting system rather than the "first past the post" system used in previous elections. The limited preferential voting system, only introduced since the 2003 elections, has only been used in by-elections to date in PNG.



Last Elections Flawed



The Chief Electoral Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, has said that the 2002 General Elections were flawed. He has said that the 2002 elections had too many ghost names on the common roll and double voting by voters.



Golden Chainsaw



Six Greenpeace activists were detained for 45 minutes at the Rimbunan Hijau (RH) timber company's Port Moresby compound recently when they tried to present a "Golden Chainsaw" award to the company. The Greenpeace golden chainsaw award is reserved for the worst forest destroyers in the world.



Tubuans Performance



The performance of Tolai Tubuans outside their home province have some members of the Tolai community up in arms especially when the Tubuans are not supposed to be seen by women. Tubuan is sacred in the Tolai society. Hundreds of people turned up at Port Moresby's Ela Beach early in the morning to witness the famous Tolai Tubuans perform the Kinawai dance.

-- http://michie.net/pnginfo/dukduk.html -- and -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duk-Duk



Rosetta Project



The Rosetta database contains information about languages spoken in PNG -- http://www.rosettaproject.org/live/search/browsebycountryresult?searchtype=countries&searchkey=Papua%20New%20Guinea -- A rather long URL that may need to be pieced back together if you are receiving the text only version of the newsletter.



Tok Pisin Classes



PNG has three national or official languages -- they are Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin and English. PNG Development services are offering Tok Pisin classes primarily targeted at expatriates who want to be able to communicate with their workers. The classes are run on-demand, the minimum group size is four. Classes can be two hours per day by five days (consecutive or weekly) OR - one and a half days intensive. Please contact PNG Development Services for further information. Phone / Fax (+675) 325 4860 / 323 4518 / 325 3043 / 686 8917
e-mail pngds@online.net.pg



Multi-user ATMs



The banking population of PNG has had to put up with single bank Automatic Teller Machines. If you have an ATM card with one bank it has not had the capability of working in any other ATM operated by an opposing bank. The Bank of South Pacific will soon have the capability of allowing non-BSP customer access to their ATM equipment. The Bank South Pacific has contracted with Australian company BankTech Limited to install an initial order of 15 generic ATM machines in PNG that will be accessible by all debit cards irrespective of which bank the user belongs to. These machines will be located in non-bank locations such as supermarkets, clubs and shopping centres.



SHP Liquor Ban



The National Executive Council has voted to impose a liquor ban in the Southern Highlands Province (SHP). The decision will no go before the Southern Highlands Provincial government to be made law. The move has been made to try and make the province a peaceful and harmonious place. The SHP Governor has indicated that it is fairly probable that the provincial assembly will pass the law. Over K1 million in taxes is generated annually from the sale of liquor in the province.



Honiara Transit Approved



The Solomon Islands Government has given approval for PNG to use Honiara as the transit point to fly to other Pacific Island countries. It was now up to PNG to negotiate landing rights with other neighbouring countries such as Vanuatu and Fiji.



Are PNG Men Violent?



According to a report prepared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) PNG men are the second most violent group of men in the world. The WHO report says that over half the female population (56,1 percent) have been physically assaulted. That does not include sexual abuse or rape. It has been suggested that the figure could be higher because many women are too scared to report violence against them. PNG was only second to Uganda in terms of violence against women. -- http://www.pnginfo.com/survey.html



Swamp Ghost



The American B-17E warplane that crash-landed in the Agiambo swamps of Oro (Northern) Province will remain at the Lae Bismarck Maritime Wharf pending a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry on the 1st of July. The Internal Revenue Commission will not issue an export permit pending the inquiry. The PAC is responsible for protecting public funds and state properties.



Swamp Ghost II



Bruce Hoy, the first curator of Modern History with the National Museum, says that he received several requests to recover the B-17E aircraft while he was in charge of the museum. One of the proposals he received and passed on to the politicians for consideration was that no money would change hands but rather the B-25 on display at Girua Airport Oro Province was to be restored externally, the Museum's P-38 fully restored, and an L-5 observation aircraft provided. Bruce adds that it was a far better offer than money because money can be so easily squandered on the wrong projects. Unfortunately because politicians get moved around in a typical PNG cabinet this proposal never eventuated.

Bruce says his main concern about selling any "wreck" to a private group of people is that their only object will be to make money out of the deal.



Port Moresby General



Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) seems to go from one crisis to another due to lack of funding. The latest problem is related to water or rather the break down of pumps creating a lack of water. This poses a health risk to the patients and health workers at PMGH. Last week the hospital was only able to have access to water for an hour at a time. Patients are made to feel even sicker than what they are because there is no water to flush toilets and the resulting stench is intolerable.



Buka Internet



Online South Pacific has commissioned an Internet point of presence (POP) service in Buka. Online engineers and Telikom PNG were on the site in Buka recently to complete the installation. Online South Pacific has said this was the first local Internet service available in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The local POP increases the quality of the Internet connection to Buka residents. The expansion builds on the rollout in other towns, including Kokopo, Mt Hagen, Goroka, Tabubil, Madang and Lae undertaken by Online South Pacific. The next expansion is to Porgera, which is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.



UN Concert



The United Nation's Concert held at the Port Moresby International School once again proved to be a drawcard for spectators. It was announced that all the 9,500 tickets had been sold and the school oval was the fullest I have ever seen it. Once again a few of the many events dragged on for too long and I counted at least three items based around the Cook Islands with some provinces of PNG not even represented. Overall the event was worth attending and unlike the Port Moresby Cultural Show was value for money.



Operation Open Heart



The recently launched Operation Open Heart 2006 will be conducted from 3rd to the 11th of August at the Port Moresby General Hospital. Operation Open Heart is a successful medical programme run every year that enables children, who would otherwise not survive to adult life, to be given a new lease on life. It is estimated that if the operations were to be carried out in Australia they would cost between K70,000 and K80,000 per patient. Donations are always gladly accepted for the event.



Cheetah Gas Strikes



Cheetah Oil and Gas Company has struck gas at its Kuru-2 well located in the Gulf Province. The company said it had successfully perforated the upper part of the Miocene Puri Limestone in the Kuru-2 well, and had subsequently flowed dry gas.



2RPIR



One hundred members of the Wewak-based Second Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (2RPIR) have travelled to Townsville, Australia to take part in a military exercise. The soldiers will be involved in a two-phase exercise code named "Wantok Warrior" with the Bravo (B) Company of the Royal Australian Regiment based at Lavarek Barracks in Townsville. The exercise was a reciprocal to the Delta (D) Company First Royal Australian Regiment exchange trip to the 2RPIR in Wewak that ran from the 19th of October to the 19th of November 2005.



Data Nets IT Certification



Data Nets has signed a agreement with Pearson VUE, the electronic testing business of Pearson Education, to provide Information Technology certification test delivery using the Pearson VUE Testing System. The company said the Pearson VUE advanced computer-based testing system administers exams for leading IT certification programs such as Microsoft, Cisco Systems, CompTIA, IBM through a global network of quality test centres that now includes Port Moresby.



Employment In New Zealand



A New Zealand decision to consider employing seasonal workers from PNG has been welcomed by the PNG government. The PNG Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, said that he is hopeful the New Zealanders will give the proposal serious consideration.



Coming Events



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.

Sepik Iron Man Competition. The competition is an annual triathlon event held in the East Sepik Province between the scenic Wewak Hill and along the picturesque Meni Beachfront - 11th of June 2006.

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

National Tourism Conference to be held at the Holiday Inn -- 19th of June 2006

Tolai Warwagira -- from the 5th to the 11th of July.

42nd PNG Medical Symposium will be held in Madang from the 4th to the 8th of September 2006 -- http://www.medsymp.org.pg

PNG 31st Independence Anniversary - 16th September 2006

Kiwi Ball - The fabulous ball held by the Kiwi's will be held on the 28th October this year. This year the New Zealanders hope to have a five-piece band to entertain the crowd.






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 6 Jun 2006
Updated 16 Jun 2006

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