Links
General Links
http://www.duncalfes.com/pngscn.htm
-- Duncalfes Online photographs of PNG.
http://www.toowrite.com/comp6/0861.shtml
-- Too Write essay based around the Tambul Nebilyer electorate of PNG.
http://ukarumpa.org/ukarumpa_times/Default.htm
-- Ukarumpa Times
http://www.birdlife.net/species
-- Search this site for species of birds threatened in PNG.
http://www.vso.org.uk/png/culture.pdf
-- PNG Culture
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
News Items
Kayak Trip
Four Australians have just completed the trip of a lifetime from Australia
to Papua New Guinea by kayak. The four paddled from Thursday Island on the
23rd of September and arrived in Alotau, Milne Bay Province on the 31st of
December after paddling across the Torres Strait to Daru and following the
coastline, reaching Port Moresby on 26th of November.
Another kayak trip will be undertaken by Mal Headley who will be kayaking
from Townsville to PNG following the route taken by the blackbirders who travelled
that direction to pick up slaves for the sugar industry in Australia and other
countries. At the moment Mal has eight people in four kayaks ... but he expects
that number to swell with people joining the expedition for short legs of
the journey. If anyone is interested in the trip please send email to kayaking@pnggossip.com
and I will pass on the email to the person concerned. If anyone is interested
Mal is also looking for sponsorship.
Waigani City
The Government plans to develop a "government city" in the Waigani
area to accommodate government offices. The project, Waigani City Development,
was approved by the Mekere government and endorsed by the current Government
to help reduce the high cost of renting buildings from the private sector
to house government offices.
The government hopes that if it owns its own buildings then it will not be
embarrassed by being locked out when the rent is not paid on time.
Kokopo
The Jack Emmanuel Park at Kokopo, long a central feature of the town as its
major sports field, is to be taken over for construction of a commercial centre
at an estimated cost of K14 million. The sporting clubs using the park will
be shifted to a new site at Takubar, several kilometres away, and a major
new sports centre for the province and the islands region will be built in
the higher-altitude Gazelle electorate, at Vunakanau. The sports stadium is
to be built on State land that was used during World War 11 as a major airstrip
by the invading Japanese forces.
Gulf Province
The only public motor vehicle (PMV) operator along the Kivori Sepoe road in
Gulf Province will no longer operate due to the deteriorating road conditions.
The Kivori, Sepoe and Lavare road is so bad that a truck can't travel along
it.
Asylum Seekers
The majority of asylum seekers held at the Lombrum Naval Base in the Manus
Province will be moved out. The New Zealand Government has confirmed a number
of asylum seekers at Lombrum would be flown to New Zealand for resettlement.
This will leave 12 asylum seekers at Lombrum. Whilst this is good news it
will mean a reduction in mainly Manus work force.
Koki Market
The ground has been broken for the historic Koki market to get a facelift
under an initiative of the Japanese Government.
The Japanese have pumped K1.1 million into the National Capital District Commission
for the re-development of the market.
Under the agreement, the NCDC will chip in with K500,000 as counterpart funding.
It is hoped that once the place had been upgraded, security will be tightened
so that people who snatch women's bags will be caught and dealt with. Some
of the money will be used to build new toilets as well as a proper car park
and facilities for a fresh fish market.
Maternity Leave
The PNG Banks and Financial Institutions Workers Union (PNGBFIWU) have said
that currently women employees in the private sector went on maternity leave
without pay. The union has called on Parliament to amend the labour laws to
make it compulsory for the private sector to pay women on maternity leave.
The public service already pays women on maternity leave.
Christ the King Hostel
A fire that burnt the new wing of Christ the King Hostel at Badili in the
National Capital District has left about 50 residents without accommodation.
The fire completely gutted the building. Luckily firemen were able to saved
another older wing from being destroyed by the fire. There were no injuries
or lives lost as most of the occupants were at their work places when the
fire started and destroyed the building.
Bougainville
The Bougainville Interim Provincial Government (BIPG) and the Bougainville
People's Congress (BPC) will merge to form the Bougainville Constituent Assembly.
The new assembly is to receive, debate and approve the proposed Bougainville
Constitution with the Transitional Consultative Council (TCC). It is said
that the combined assembly is the best option because the BIPG and BPC broadly
represent the people of Bougainville.
Man Stabbed
A man from Bougainville was brutally murdered at the Port Moresby Six-Mile
settlement recently as he was changing his punctured wheel. It is rumoured
that the people who offered to help change his puncture wheel were not happy
with the money he offered them for helping. The man was married to a Central
woman from Gerega Village on the edge of Bootless Bay not very far outside
Port Moresby. Police have been able to apprehend suspects with the help of
the Six-Mile community. Six-Mile settlers have been warned by police to return
to their homes of origin voluntarily or face eviction by force.
House Fires
In retaliation for the brutal murder of the Bougainvillean settlers, from
other provinces residing at the six-mile settlement, removed and burnt down
houses owned by Goilalas, who they alleged carried out the murder. The Member
of Parliament for Goilala has condemned the action. Policed picked up 20 suspects
during a raid and six have been charged for destruction of property.
Squatter Settlements
It has been reported that there are over 100 distinct squatter settlements
in Port Moresby. Squatter settlements in the city are often seen as only a
police problem but they are really a problem for all government departments
especially the Department of Lands, Social Welfare, Health and the National
Capital District Building Board. These departments must co-operate and identify
which settlements and settlers were approved and which were not.
Western Highlands Province
The Western Highlands Provincial Assembly has passed its 2003 provincial budget.
The K53,840,700 budget for 2003 will focus on five priority areas, while some
divisions have been abolished due to budget cuts. The five priority areas
include road infrastructure, health, education, law and order and agriculture.
Divisions abolished included commerce, land administration, customary lands,
physical planning and information.
Enga Province
The Enga Province has passed a K47,229,181 budget for the year 2003. This
is a reduction of K9,560,382 compared to previous budgets. The budget saw
cuts in goods and services, capital formation from derivation grants and Special
Support Grants.
Tari
The fact that there are police present in Tari, Southern Highlands surely
must be a positive sign that things are settling down and a step closer to
government services to returning to the town.
Wafi Gold Mine
The landowners of the Wafi Gold Mine in Lae have rebutted statements made
by the Lands Minister concerning the ownership of their land. The Piu landowners
claim that they have formally registered the customary land in accordance
with the Piu genealogical history reports from the archives. It took the Piu
Landowners 10 years to compile all documents now being formally included in
the National gazette. As usual land disputes can take many years to resolve
due to the fact that hardly any of the villagers hold title to the land they
occupy.
Copra Production
The production of copra in Bougainville has increased despite the slight decrease
in its prices. Many producers throughout the island are still producing copra,
this time, especially for their children's school fees.
Marijuana
A man from Western Province has been arrested for pocessing 27 rolls of marijuana.
The man was arrested and flown to Port Moresby.
Betelnut Sales
Not only has copra production increased but the selling of betelnut to make
money to raise children's school fees has also increased. Betelnut is in high
demand and sales are fast.
Napa Napa Oil Refinery
The Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare visited the Napa Napa Oil Refinery site
and is satisfied with the progress being made. Work on the multi-million-kina
refinery is on schedule with the intention of having the first crude oil by
the end of next year.
Once completed the refinery would produce 33,000 barrels of refined petroleum
products per day. Of the 33,000 barrels 70 per cent would be able to be used
locally while 30 per cent would be exported overseas.
Hijack Case
The legal case over the hijack of an MBA aircraft in 1997 may have hit a snag
with two witnesses in case failing to turn up at court. The resident judge
in Mt Hagen has warned three people alleged to have been involved in the hijack
and their friends to "lay off" witnesses or face being locked up
in jail.
Laloki Settlers
The Central Province police commander has called on Koiari landowners to seek
advice from the appropriate authorities to remove illegal settlers in their
area. He said the landowners were not trying hard enough to stop people from
other provinces and districts settling on their land.
Bougainville Road
It has been announced that the Australian Government will not fund the emergency
patching of the 78km Buka town - Kessa road in North Bougainville despite
rumours that said they were going to.
Kick Boxing
Stanley Nandex is set for a chance at the world title. He has to win three
more events to have a crack at the title. He is currently undergoing intensive
training in Melbourne Australia and will also contest the South Pacific Games.
Teacher Trainees
First Year Trainee teachers arriving for the annual elementary teacher-training
program in NCD were told that they had to pay for the course. None of the trainees
were aware of the fact and they have been given a week to pay the money or else
they will be replaced by people on the waiting list who had money to pay.
Eastern Highlands
Teachers in the Eastern Highlands who have not been able collect their leave
tickets since last year should have been able collect them by now. The delay
has enraged a great number of teachers and spoiled their Christmas holiday
plans, as they have not been able to travel to their home provinces.
Hospital Chairmen
New chairmen have been appointed to head hospitals in the Islands, Southern
and Mamose regions of PNG.
Islands Region --
James Sipun is chairman for Lorengau Hospital.
John Tova chairman for Kavieng General Hospital
Ronnie Kalulu chairman for Nonga Base Hospital and
Urban Giru, chairman for Kimbe General Hospital.
Southern Region --
Ure Taina is chairman for Daru General Hospital
Peter Neville was re-appointed for Alotau
Sir Brian Bell remains for Port Moresby and
Timothy Titipu is the new chairman for Popondetta General Hospital.
Names for the Mamose Region hospitals were not available.
Sandaun Border
The Governor of Sandau (West Sepik) Province has requested that a mobile squad
of police be based permanently in the province.
The Governor has had to spend provincial funds to obtain a vehicle for PNGDF
soldiers to attend to the recent border situation between West Sepik and Indonesia.
The Defence Force Commander has said the situation is under control at the
border and that it is being handled by the police force.
Home Brew
Home-brew is a growing problem in the province of Madang. The selling of liquor
is banned from Thursday to Sunday in Madang so the people make their own brew
from the roots of the kava plant.
Lae Surrender
Following a crusade by the South Sea Evangelical Church of PNG in Lae during
New Year's Day a homemade firearm and a quantity of ammunition were surrendered
to police by youths of Maus Markham settlement on the fringes of Lae city.
The crusade convinced the youths to turn away from criminal activities and
live a normal life.
Buin Hospital
The Hospital in Buin has not been receiving any assistance from the government
since 1995. The hospital has had to survive on the K1.00 paid by out patients.
Other donations have been received from outside donors such as AusAid and
other agencies.
Pyramid / Fast Money
The fast-money scheme that went by the name of U-Vistract Corporation is believed
to have set up office in the Solomon Islands.
A rumour has circulated that U-Vistract will pay some of its PNG clients from
Honiara.
North Solomons Province
The Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby has donated K40,000 to the Moma Education
Centre located at Buin in South Bougainville of the North Solomons Province.
Oro Province
The Governor of Oro has said that the maintenance of roads would be a priority
in the Northern Province. The first roads to be maintained would be the Kokoda,
Siai, Afore and Sasimbta roads.
The project will be the first of its kind in the province for almost 10 years.
Airline Industry
Both the Post Courier and The
National have announced that PNG airlines may not be able to fly to Australia
after the 31st of January. Scott Braiding, from Australia, has kindly supplied
the following link -- http://news.airwise.com/display/story.html?name=2003/01/1042460793.html
for readers. The reason for this advice is a result of the Civil Aviation
and Safety Authority's concerns about the capacity of the Civil Aviation Authority
(CAA) of PNG to carry out its safety oversight responsibility in accordance
with its obligations under convention on International Civil Aviation. The
National gave the story front page treatment and also carried a story from
chairman of the PNG Aviation Representatives Board which said politics, political
appointments and political ineptitude are the fundamental cause for Civil
Aviation Safety Australia's notice to PNG that its aircrafts will not fly
into Australian airspace after Jan 31 unless safety audits are provided by
the local PNG CAA. -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/0113/nation2.htm.
Cocoa
A good price and the drop in the value of the Kina against the US Dollar has
meant that the cocoa farmers in PNG have been able to rake in 86% more revenue
than other years. PNG was able to export over 37,000 tonnes of cocoa for an
eleven-month period last year.
Pick Pockets
Pick Pockets in Lae better watch out as the Governor has convened a meeting
with local villagers to help police public places. The provincial government
has approved the initiative and allocated K100,000 to help implement the idea.
Election Petitions
The election petition against both the Somare's have been thrown out of court.
For overseas readers Michael Somare is the Prime Minister and his son Arthur
is the Governor of East Sepik Province.
A petition against the member for Sinasina/Yangomegl MP has also been thrown
out of court.
Grenade
A person travelling by ship from Bougainville to Lae has been arrested when
the ship he was on called into Kimbe to drop off other passengers. The man
was found to have a live grenade in his possession.
PNG Media
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 ../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.
.gif)
.jpg)
View
PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive