Links
http://www.seniorluxurytravel.com
-- This site deals with many travel destinations. One of them is Papua New
Guinea.
http://www.exkiap.com -- a good source
of info particularly for finding kiap mates. This link has come via Arthur
Williams. (Kiap - government official)
Internet Service Providers
Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Data Nets -- http://www.online.net.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.com.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
HiTech -- http://www.dg.com.pg
Computer Companies in PNG
Able Computing -- http://www.able.com.pg
Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Data Nets -- http://www.datanets.com.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.net.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
HT PNG (formerly High Tech Industries) -- http://www.hightech.com.pg/
Remington Technologies - http://www.remington.com.pg
Stationery Suppliers
Theodist -- http://www.theodist.com.pg
- Theodist also sell Magellan GPS Systems.
Scanning
Professional Scanning and Archiving Services - ProScan Ltd http://www.proscan.com.pg
News Items
PDM
The leader of the People's Democratic Movement (PDM) is still in dispute.
The Registrar of Political Parties has declared that the current occupant,
Paias Wingti, is not the leader as he is registered as an independent politician.
Mr. Wingti can apply to become a member of PDM, the party he founded but it
is debatable whether all of the current PDM members will accept him.
Land Payments
It has been revealed that Ramu Sugar have been paying land payments to the
wrong people since the project started in the late 1970s. Ramu Sugar has been
told to terminate the present agreement and negotiate a new agreement with
the rightful landowners.
Wabag Health Centre
The Daewon Hotel in Wabag has donated K10,000 to the Wabag Health Centre.
The money will be used to set up a new blood bank this year.
Post Courier
The Post Courier -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg
-- Anderson's Supermarkets, all Brian Bell stores -- http://www.brianbell.com.pg
-- and FM100 --
http://www.tiare.net.pg/fm100/
-- have joined forces to launch a new nationwide competition for nine lucky
families (three lucky families a week for the next three weeks) to win K1,000
towards school fees for this year.
Waima Village
Families from Waima Village in Central province have celebrated Christmas
by surrendering a large number of illegal firearms to the police. 32 home
made guns, three factory made shotguns, 14 lots of home brew equipment and
11 marijuana plants were handed over to the police on Christmas Day.
Oro Province
One of the main bridges linking the town of Popondetta to the port at Oro
Bay has been destroyed by heavy rain. This is the third time in less than
two years that the road next to the bridge has collapsed.
Free Vehicles
It has been rumoured that some former senior government officials are holding
on to government vehicles despite the fact that their employment contracts
have not been renewed. The former Police Commissioner and the former Defence
secretary are holding vehicles in excess of K300,000 each. The former director
of the National Disaster Management office is holding onto another vehicle
of lesser value. It has been reported that police action may have to be taken
to recover the vehicles.
Motor Vehicle Insurance
The Motor Vehicle Insurance Limited has been dealt a blow with two of its
foreign reinsurance brokers pulling out. The brokers are concerned about political
interference in the country's only motor vehicle third party insurance company.
The pullout has left the drivers of motor vehicles in a precarious situation
with only one local company now carrying the reinsurance for motor vehicles.
Deloitte Tower
The Deloitte Tower in downtown Port Moresby, all 15 levels, has been without
air conditioning for a couple of days due to a broken water pipe. The problem
should be under control after intervention by the maintenance people.
New Year
The capital city of Port Moresby celebrated a wet and subdued New Year when
compared with other years. In the Oro (Northern) Province a hard-core criminal
was shot dead and a policeman stabbed on Wednesday afternoon. The Gulf Province
was able to report a very quiet New Year. The Highland provinces were also
able to report a quiet start to the New Year.
Queen's Awards
The Honour's awards handed out by the Queen on recommendation by the government
have received much publicity after the current Prime Minister vetoed the award
for three people from overseas. The previous government of Sir Mekere Morauta
recommended the awards and it is believed the Queen had approved the awards.
Angau Hospital
The Angau Memorial General Hospital has received a donation of K700 towards
a new children's ward from staff of PNG Motors in Lae. It is estimated that
the project will cost about K200,000.
UNDP
Melpa Media Productions, a local company specialising in television, radio
and video program productions, has been engaged by the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP) to film and produce a video and television documentary on the
Global Environment Facility small grants program in Papua New Guinea.
Miscellaneous PNG Websites
A parody of Waltzing Matilda called "kai kai the buai" can be found
at http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/WM/Kai.html
Asylum Seekers
A scuffle has been reported at the Lombrum Naval base between soldiers and
asylum seekers. The confrontation occurred just before the New Year. A soldier
received a cut above an eyebrow while several asylum seekers received bruises,
black eyes, swollen lips and broken teeth.
Tolukuma
The Minister for Environment and Conservation is prepared to conduct an investigation
into the water quality issues at the Tolukuma Mine but he has said that there
are only limited funds to do so.
Highway Troubles
Two people attempting to hold up a Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) along the Magi
Highway near Barakau in Central Province have been seriously wounded by police.
The police happened to be in the area and were quickly on the scene.
Indonesian Border
It has been confirmed that two women have been shot at the PNG border with
Indonesia. OPM rebels allegedly fired on a min-bus picking up passengers near
the border. The PNG Government is extremely concerned at the current situation
at the common border especially for the safety and security of the traditional
border crossers from both sides, as well as the nearby villages at the border.
New Ireland
The Japanese Ambassador has committed about K234,000 towards the costs of
providing an Emergency and Disaster VHF Radio Network for the New Ireland
Province. The grant will provide 21 two-way VHF radio units in the province.
The radio network will be installed at aid posts, health centres and local
level government centres throughout the province.
Jika Tribe
The Jika Komapi tribe in the Western Highlands has donated more than K2200
to the Mount Hagen general hospital. The donation was made after the hospital
appealed for funds to keep the hospital open.
Buka Wharf
Work on the multi-million Kina Buka Wharf will not continue until a study
has been made into any possible environmental damage to the waterfront. Heavy
equipment owned by Curtain Brothers remains idle on the island while workers
await a decision on the project.
Road Works
Residents around the many unfinished roadwork sites in Port Moresby are considering
mounting a compensation claim against the people responsible for the problem.
The National Capital District Commission owes about K15 million to Global
Construction and Curtain Brothers for the unfinished roadworks.
Education
The "on-air" education program has received a boost of a donation
of a 15-seater bus and a four-wheel drive vehicle so that teachers can be
transport4d to various schools to conduct programs. The education media centre
received the two vehicles as a donation from Japanese company Sony.
PNG Scholarships
Two students from Timor have won scholarships to study in PNG at the Divine
Word University. Bob Howarth, the managing director of the Post-Courier, --
http://www.postcourier.com.pg
-- will sponsor the students for two years.
West Papua
A political refugee from West Papua (Irian Jaya) has finally been granted
a PNG passport after waiting 18 years. The passport will allow the holder
(the president of the West Papua National Congress) to travel across the South
pacific to talk to governments and leaders about West Papua's fight for independence
from Indonesia.
Waigani Shops
The Papindo store and two other shops at Waigani opposite the market burnt
down just before the New Year. The fire started in a shop next door to the
Papindo store and spread to the other shops.
Bougainville
The National Government has committed K10 million over the next two years
to help promote development on Bougainville.
Hijack Scare
An early morning Air Niugini flight scheduled to land at Buka airstrip recently
did not land on schedule due to a threat by Bougainvilleans to hijack the
aircraft. It is not clear what sparked off the scare - whether it was fact
or simply one of the many rumours that can be heard in PNG.
Home Brew
Police around the country are targeting people who are into home brewing of
alcohol. Police at Hanuabada village in Port Moresby confiscated a home brew
kit and three 20-litre barrels, cylinders and the contents over Christmas.
Arawa Hospital
The Arawa Hospital in central Bougainville is without a doctor and patients
have to travel to Buka for attention. An overseas volunteer doctor left the
area over four month ago and no replacement has been forthcoming.
Wet Season
Is it official? The wet season appears to have arrived in Moresby. On arrival
in the country recent visitors are now being greeted with hilltops with a
tinge of green rather than the usual dust and smoke. The city council is making
an extra effort to keep the drains clear to stop flooding. All residents and
visitors to Moresby had hoped that the roadworks would be completed before
the wet season but now it will be interesting to see how many cars are bogged,
stranded etc in the middle of the abandoned roadworks.
Disasters
Official figures have shown that 3.2 million people have been affected by
emergencies in the last five years. Over K100 million in cash and kind has
been used to help those people affected. During the period 63 natural and
man made disasters hit PNG, the most sever being the drought and frost in
1997.
National Provident Fund
Police have moved on investigating the National Provident Fund report. A task
force of ten detectives will be working with a police force forensic accountant
and lawyer to ensure those responsible are prosecuted.
PNG Media
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