.gif) |
.jpg) |
|
A very special welcome is extended to any new readers. If you have comments or suggestions to make then please click here CONTENTS
|
|
Neo Melanesian"Pidgin English" |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
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 Directory 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
Taklam Lodge in Kokopo, East New Britain now has a website located at http://www.taklam.com.pg. If you are interested in visiting East New Britain then I would recommend a stay at Taklam - Ask for Simon.
Pacific Training Academy -- http://www.pta.com.pg
Remington PNG -- http://www.remington.com.pg
Investment Promotion Authority -- http://www.ipa.gov.pg
Airlines of PNG -- http://www.apng.com
Century 21 Real Estate -- http://www.century21.com.pg
PNG Electoral Commission -- http://www.pngec.gov.pg
News Items
Lae Police
The police in Lae have received new uniforms donated by the Morobe Provincial Government. The donation was a gesture of confidence in the police force by the provincial government and the people of the province. The uniforms arrived in time to be worn during the elections.
Port Moresby Hospital
Following on from a recent donation by the TST Group of K20,000, to the Port Moresby General Hospital for the purchase of anaesthetic drugs needed for various essential operations, a health care company will donate a package of K10,000 a year for four years. The sponsorship will be used to improve pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and the welfare of patients. The company, Boucher and Muir, also sponsor the UPNG pharmacy students, funding a HIV/AIDS support group as well as sporting events and activities.
Elections
The polling in Port Moresby was extremely disorganised. Schools, that were to have polling booths set-up, were told three working days before hand so the schools had to quickly have a pupil free day. Electors were not told where the polling booths were to be located until the last minute. I believe that even expatriates who are ineligible to vote because they are not citizens of PNG were on the electoral common roll whereas many PNG citizens found out that their names were not to be found and could not vote. Some of these citizens have voted in previous elections and lived in the same house since before Independence. There are even reports of underage children being on the common roll.If you think the National Capital was so bad then think about the poor villagers who are three walking days from anywhere and how they must be suffering.
The Electoral Commission Website is located at http://www.pngec.gov.pg - despite having five years to prepare for the elections the website seems to be about the only thing that is working reasonably well this election period!
Labu Lake
The University of Technology in Lae has undertaking to do a study next semester on the productivity of the Labu Lake located at Labu village near Lae city. It is anticipated that the study will identify any potential threats to the lake and the surrounding areas due to industrial, construction, and sewage wastes from Lae city.
Toy Donation
The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints has donated 350 wooden and stuffed toys to the children in Port Moresby General Hospital children's ward. The toys have come all the way from Salt Lake City in USA.
Port Moresby Water
It's on again or is that it is off again? Many residents have woken to find that they have no water to their houses. Water has dropped below acceptable levels at Sirinumu dam near Sogeri and Eda Ranu (responsible for the water supply in Port Moresby) has had to introduce water rationing. The General Manager of Eda Ranu has announced that some suburbs can expect low water pressure or no water at all for several weeks to come.
Bank Fees
The ex PNGBC customers of the Bank South Pacific have been hit with a bit more than 66 percent increase in bank fees for Bank Drafts to overseas countries. This makes a mockery of the "new" bank slogan "the same only better". I think it should be the same but more expensive. Just imagine if the airlines were able to apply the same increases.The ANZ bank has increased fees for customers who use the Prime Bank account but who do not meet the criteria for having a Prime account.
Vanimo-Green River
For the first time the Vanimo-Green River district of the West Sepik (Sandaun) Province has a five-year development plan. This follows on from a similar development plan for the Aitape-Lumi District launched earlier this year. The plan for the Vanimo-Green River district contains 14 programs and 55 projects. Previously members of parliament have had trouble taking requests to overseas donors due to a lack of a suitable development plan.
PNG Aust Assoc
The Papua New Guinea Australia Association of Victoria has held several successful functions recently. They have had Barbeques, casseroles nights and sports days. Any readers living in Melbourne, Australia or close to Melbourne can contact Jack Devlan for further information on -Phone (03) 9763 3730. - Mobile. 0403 468 915. - E-mail jackd[at]bigpond.net.au
Halfway House
The Australian PNG Christian Families Association has established a home away from home for PNG people who have to attend hospitals in Australia. The halfway house provides accommodation and tries to prepare food for PNG people the way PNG like it prepared.
Swimming History
PNG swimmer, Paul Pini, has created history by wining a gold medal, in the 50-metre butterfly, at the Oceania regional championships in Noumea, New Caledonia. Swimmers from New Zealand and Australia normally dominate the championships. Paul has also won two bronze medals at the championships in the 50-metre backstroke and the 100-metre butterfly.
UPNG Law
The University of PNG hopes to be able to offer post gradate law studies next year. This will allow law graduates an opportunity to pursue a master's degree or doctorate.
Politics
During these elections it has been very difficult to find non-election related news to report in this newsletter. The media and the rumours have been nothing but full of election promises. Here is one, even Bill Skate, has declared that he would form a coalition with his political enemies if it was for the good of the country or was that for the good of someone else?
Walindi
If any is looking for accommodation in West New Britain not far from Kimbe, the provincial capital, then give Walindi Plantation Dive Resort a try. Walindi is situated just ten kilometres from Kimbe on the road to Talasea. Close to the Resort is the Walindi Nature Centre sponsored by the owner of the resort. -- http://www.walindi.com
Indian Maru
The search is on for the Indian Maru, a Japanese ship sunk off the coast of PNG during the Second World War. The ship was reputedly laden with gold bullion and travelling to an unknown location when it was sunk. A company expects to spend US$1.2 billion over the next five to six years on research and recovery. Any find will be split 50 percent to the PNG government and the rest divided amongst the companies providing the expertise to find the ship.
Science Lab
The Provincial High School in Lae has recently celebrated the opening of a new science laboratory. The lab was built to cater for the transition from high school to secondary school and was built with a K100,000 donation from a local politician.
Literacy Week
This year Madang will host Literacy Week to be held in September. The small province of Madang with an estimated population of 365,106 from the year 2000 census has approximately 126 language groups in the province and can only boast a literacy rate a little better than 50 percent. One group of people, the Hagahai's, were the last people in PNG to become literate. About 20 percent of the languages in Madang have alphabetical translations.
Languages of PNG
The National or official languages of PNG are Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin and English.The number of languages listed for Papua New Guinea is 832. Of those, 823 are said to be living languages and 9 are considered to be already extinct.
For information on the languages a visit to http://www.sultry.arts.usyd.edu.au/ling/research/papuan2.html will start you off in the right direction. Another interesting article is located at http://www.krysstal.com/langfams.html. It deals with language families and mentions the Rotokas language - Rotokas is spoken in Papua New Guinea o the Island of Bougainville by approximately 4,300 people and it has the fewest sounds of any language, 11 (compared to the 44 or so of standard English). These 11 are made up of five vowels and six consonants: A, E, I, O, U, B, G, K, P, R, T. - can you imagine that - a language with only 11 sounds. Six of those are used in the name of the language.
It has been reported that PNG has one language for every 900 square kilometres of the country or roughly one language for every 350 square miles for those readers who don't use the metric system.
Freq Asked Questions
Where can I find out about PNG Languages?
One of the best sites to visit is http://coombs.anu.edu.au/SpecialProj/PNG/topics/Language.htm
Motu
Where can I find information on Motu?
Try http://arabiatimes.tripod.com/motu.htm (Motu) and http://www.pngbd.com/dictionary.php (Motu and Pidgin)You can even find the Lord's Prayer in Motu at http://www.language-museum.com/m/motu.htm
Bill Purcell
Bill Purcell owns this site -- http://enterprise.powerup.com.au/~billpurc/index.htm -- a pilot who has flown many, many hours in Papua New Guinea. For all of you who have lived in PNG and dealt with Pidgin he has a short article on that very subject at http://enterprise.powerup.com.au/~billpurc/tokpisin.htm
Roger Clarke
http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/WM/Kai.html leads you to the kai kai the buai - A Pidgin English parody of Waltzing Matilda. It is an interesting site and well worth a few minutes of your time.
DIVErsions
Take a look at DIVErsion Dive Travel & Training in Cairns, Australia at http://www.diversionOZ.com/epngdive.htm
MS Simulator
Here is a website which amongst other Microsoft Flight Simulator files are the necessary files for the Air Niugini Fokker F28 4000 and Air Niugini A310 300 series jet aircraft -- http://www.map.net.nz/AFS2K/Jets/Jets.htm
Condoms
The election manager in Manus Province has decided to help educate the voters about HIV/AIDS by giving out AIDS awareness pamphlets and condoms to everyone who has voted - even 80 year old great grand mothers!
Asylum Seekers
An Australian retired Federal Court Justice has said that the "Pacific solution" for asylum seekers, where PNG and Nauru keep them under lock and key whilst Australia pays for their detention, amounts to little more than bribery by Australia.The president of Nauru has described the Pacific Solution as the Pacific nightmare!
Hotmail
Here is one for any users that are using a hotmail account to receive their PNG Gossip Newsletter especially those who use their real identity information.Has Microsoft taken liberties with your data? There's an easy way to check. Go into Hotmail and Click on Options (to the right of the tab that says "Address Book"). Click on Personal Profile (in the upper left corner). Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and see whether the boxes marked "Share my e-mail address" and "Share my other registration information" have been checked. It is up to you whether you want to share your information with others but Microsoft have changed the rules and made the decision for you.
Air Niugini
Rumours are flying around town that the Chief Executive of the national flag carrier has been sacked along with some others that he employed. The newspapers have reported that he has resigned from his position. The airline, like most airlines, has been struggling to keep its head above water despite massive cost cutting exercises that, some say, were only for the workers and not for the executives. The airline unions have claimed that the CEO is staying in accommodation costing the airline K7000 per month.The position of Chief Executive Officer has been advertised in the local newspapers and probably overseas papers this weekend.
I believe the Nation's carrier might be changing its timetable soon (possibly mid-July). It seems that the flights to Singapore will soon be on Thursdays and Sundays with other adjustments to suit.
Election Comment
Here is a contribution from a regular reader.Quote
Some of our staff were in a group estimated to be around 400 - 500 trying to vote at the Hohola Police station.
At 12.45 a number of "supporters" attempted to prevent some people from voting by threatening them, at this stage the Police Task force arrived and started firing shots into the air, they then refused to allow the people who remained the option to vote.
This is supposed to be a democratic country but this sort of reaction and in fact the whole 2002 Election organisation has brought the country into disrepute.
I have already had e-mail from Australia saying "What a Joke' I am afraid I have to agree
End QuoteI don't think many people would disagree in fact a great deal of people are saying "null and void" should be the only outcome of this election. What do the other people getting this newsletter say?
Andersons - Hanuabada
The K12 Million Andersons Foodland at Harbour City, Konedobu (Hanuabada) is expected to open its doors to the general public within a couple of months . People living in the nearby areas will have preferential treatment when it comes to employment.
Pregnant Women
The sacking and discrimination of pregnant women is one of many issues that need to be addressed jointly by the union movement in Australia and PNG. The area of occupational health and safety is another major issue, which needs to be addressed.The infant mortality rate in PNG has been reported, as the highest in the Pacific Islands region. In PNG 15,000 babies, less than one year old, die every year.
The maternal mortality rate is also the highest in the region with 3,700 mothers dying from birth complications every year.
Old Plane Photographs
I have received several photographs of old planes which were flown in PNG before Independence. If anyone is interested the photographs can be found at:-I must give a big thanks to both Pat Boys in New Zealand and Kevin Lock in Australia for the photographs. The unidentified one is quite interesting, as I looked it up in John Streeter's register of Australian Aircraft and cannot find any reference to it. The registration looks like VH-UOY but could be VH-JOY / VH-UOV etc? Does any one recognise this aircraft from the photo?
PNG Media
- Post Courier Newspaper -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg
- The National Online Newspaper-- http://www.thenational.com.pg
- PNG Tok Pisin Network-- http://www.tokpisin.net
- Chin H Meen (Music) -- http://www.chmsupersound.com
- EM TV (Television) -- http://www.emtv.com.pg
- Hitron (Cable TV) -- http://www.hitron.com.pg
- Pacific View Multimedia -- http://www.pvm.com.pg
If a friend has given or sent you a copy of this newsletter and you would like to keep receiving free copies then please visit http://pnggossip.com/news/index.html for instructions on how to join the list.
Articles for this Newsletter
If you think you have a PNG page worth mentioning then please click here.
To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter queue then please click here
- In Tok Pisin - em tasol
- Buka / Lonahan - tsek se (thanks Vicky)
- Dobu - kaioni - Thanks Lynette
- East New Britain / Kuanua - i tar par -- Thanks Dinah
- English - The end (finish) or that's all
- Madang / Manam Island - Imabu = Jacklyn - Unitech Clinic
- Milne Bay / Gapapaiwa - ikovi (thanks Ed & Catherine McGuckin)
- Milne Bay / Wedau - ikwa (finish) -- Thanks Jean
- Milne Bay / Wedau - lamna ava (that's all) -- Thanks Betty
- Misima - kaioni - Thanks Lynette
- Morobe / Boana / Gaing - Undung hogok = Girina - Elect Eng Dept Unitech
- Morobe / Finschhafen / Kalasa - Moya = Runeo - Mech Eng Dept Unitech
- Morobe / Finschhafen / Kote - Isawa = Julie - Recruitment Unitech
- Morobe / Finschhafen / Yabim - kitum (thanks Liz from ITS)
- Morobe / Kabwum / - zorig = Julie - Recruitment Unitech
- Morobe / Kaiapit / Markham - Insup = Fredah - Registry Dept Unitech
- Morobe / Mumeng / Buang - Maya = Melissa - Habitat Unitech
- Morobe / Nawai / Bukawa - Pandi = Gali - Registry Dept Unitech
- Morobe / Siassi / Mandok Island - isob (thanks Liz from ITS)
- Morobe / Siassi mainland / Kaimanga - imap (thanks Liz from ITS)
- Morobe / Siassi mainland / Kovai - birisi (thanks Liz from ITS)
- Motu - dokona be inai -- Thanks Rex and Daera
- Nalik - tamine nuaa (Thanks MC and Greg Baker)
- Nara / kanawamo -- Thanks Scott
- New Ireland / Tigak - ne lakos (thanks Vicky)
- Rigo / mangam -- Thanks Scott
- Suau - aoini - Thanks Lynette
- Takuu (Mortlock) - tena koi -- Thanks Sione
- West New Britain / Kilenge - apuwa o (thanks Liz from ITS)
- West New Britain / Kove- nei-mau (That's finished) (Hanns)
- Wuvulu - na peluli -- Thanks Eva
- Southern Highlands / Ialibu / Imbonggu - da pora (Thanks Amos)
Some of the above 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 use the contact form
View
PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive