Links
Head Hunted Revisted -- http://www.headhuntrevisited.org.
-- This is about an expedition that will take place in the Solomon Islands
and Papua New Guinea in May / June this year.
Kokoda Trek
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
PNG Coffee
Kongo Coffee from Goroka, Eastern Highlands province, advertises premium
quality, freshly roasted coffee. For enquires you can contact them at Kundiawa
on +675 735 8304 Fax 735 1130 and at Goroka on 732 3069 Fax 732 3068 or email
them on -- kongo@global.net.pg
Miscellaneous Sites
Surfing information for PNG can be found at the Surfing Association of PNG
website located at -- http://www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg/home.htm and
-- http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/papua_ng.htm
-- The Tourism Promotion Authority December 2003 Newsletter also had an article
on surfing PNG at -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg/news/newsletters/newsletterdec.htm
The unofficial Port Moresby High School site is located at -- http://www.maipng.com/pomhi/
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce website can be found at -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
The Web Site for the PNG Institute of Directors gives an excellent introduction
to PNG company law and related governance issues it can be found at -- http://www.pngid.org.pg
Papua New Guinea Institute of Accountants -- http://www.pngia.org.pg
Rotary Club of Boroko and Papua New Guinea -- http://www.rotary.org.pg
Friends of the Disabled Association -- http://www.foda.org.pg
Frontier Travel - for all your travel needs -- http://www.frontiertravelpng.com.pg
-- There are many travel agents in PNG but I am having trouble locating web
site links for them. Does any one know what are the links for the other travel
companies?
Grafitti Signs -- mailto:grafitti@datec.net.pg
The Lonely Planet Guide to PNG is located at -- http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/australasia/papua_new_guinea/
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/
British High Commission
The following link will take you to the British High Commission Web Site
-- http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/papuanewguinea
-- British High Commission,
Kiroki Street,
Port Moresby,
Postal address: Locked Mail Bag 212,
Waigani,
National Capital District,
(+675) 325 1677 -- bhcpng @ datec.net.pg
Living Water Mission
http://www.livingwatermission.org/About_Papua_New_Guinea.htm
-- The Living Water Mission is based in Sewetaitai Bay on Normanby Island,
Milne Bay Province.
News Items
Plastic Bags
The government has made a sudden announcement stating that the importation
of plastic bags will be banned from January and the sale of bags made in the
country will be banned from June. Plastic bags are a very visible item around
town that adds to the pollution of Port Moresby and most other towns in the
country. There are many other things that cause pollution in the country but
because bags can be seen from the seat of an executive vehicle these have
been targeted as a way of cleaning up the town. It is a shame that other items
such as buai spit and buai skin could not have been banned but then these
can not been seen unless you hop out of your executive vehicle and go for
a walk around the streets. Many of the plastic bags can be seen decorating
fences, waste land and clogging drains and waterways but many are also recycled
at least once and some are reused until there is little left of them. Lets
hope this is a start to clean up the town. Many people have set up businesses
selling second-hand supermarket bags to make ends meet. What will happen to
these people?
New Year's Honours
PNG now has two extra knights and one dame as a result of the New Year's
honours. Bill Skate has been made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael
and St George (KCMG). He has said that he will now drop the name Bill and
go by the title of Sir William. Lady Carol Kidu has been promoted to a dame.
She has been made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).
The other person to be knighted was former parliamentarian from West New Britain
- Lucas Waka. He has been made Knight Bachelor for services to politics.
Alimb to Tapia Road
A new 10-kilometre road from Alimb to Tapia in the Nebilyer area of the Western
Highlands Province was opened on Christmas Day. The community-initiated project
took two months for the people living in the four council wards to construct
using local resources.
Jayapura Shopping
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people travelling between
Vanimo (PNG) and Jayapura in Indonesia over the Christmas and New Year period.
Because of this police have boosted operations along the border. The shopping
centres in Jayapura offer many discounts that people in remote areas of the
Sepik and even the main Sepik towns cannot gain access to in their own country.
Santa Robbery
After giving out present on Christmas Day to children at the Mount Hagen
General Hospital Santa and his helpers were robbed of about 100 toys by a
large group of adults in the hospital car park. There was little that Santa
and his helpers could do. Santa has said that he will return this year and
not be deterred by the robbery.
Port Moresby Morgue
The morgue at Port Moresby General Hospital is once again in need of repair.
About K13,000 is needed to repair the seals around the doors and the refrigeration
equipment used to keep the bodies at a temperature where they will not rot.
At the moment the mortuary attendants have had to use rocks to keep the doors
closed and even then the cold air is escaping. The morgue, designed to store
60 bodies, is currently housing over 200 bodies.
PNG Power
PNG Power has announced that they are now responsible for the running of
the Kubu power station located at Buka, Bougainville. A hand-over ceremony
between the provincial government and PNG Power took place on 31st of Dec,
2004. For the first time since 1990 customers will have a 24-hour electricity
service as well as paying less for electricity. PNG Power, then Elcom, deserted
Bougainville during the height of the conflict on the island.
Vanimo Hospital
The Vanimo hospital has been able to upgrade facilities at the labour ward
and the nursing quarters from savings it made in 2004. The renovation project
cost K60,000, an amount the hospital has managed to save by doing surgical
operations that would have otherwise cost them more through referrals to other
hospitals.
Porgera Hospital
Following the donation of a brand new ambulance by the Porgera Joint Venture
the Porgera Hospital is now fully mobilised to attend to emergencies. The
hospital had been struggling to attend to emergencies using a rundown ambulance.
The ambulance is fitted with standard ambulance equipment such as stretchers,
oxygen, flashlights, siren and emergency first aid kit.
Drug Haul
Police have discovered a 20-kilogram bag of marijuana hidden in a potato
bag in a raid at the Port Moresby Wharf just before Christmas. Police were
not able to identify the person behind the shipment although they have questioned
a lady associated with the shipping of the marijuana.
Moresby Crime
Police have claimed that there has been fewer serious crimes committed this
year in Port Moresby. Some people claim that much of the crime committed in
PNG goes unreported unless there is a chance of claiming insurance. Many people
have lost faith in the police being able to apprehend criminals. The NCD/Central
Police Chief Tony Wagambie said that figures released show the number of serious
crimes committed during 2004 was 3,831 compared to 4.650 in the previous year.
Mr Wagambie, however, admitted that the figures do not reflect the true crime
situation in the community. "There might be many crimes that have not
been reported," he said.
Murder Cases
The latest police statistics, released by the office of Police Deputy Commissioner
(operations) Gari Baki, showed a total of 620 murders and 971 sexual offences
were reported nationwide last year. The figure for murder cases last year
was the highest compared to figures for the previous four years. In 2003,
there were 592 incidents of murder; 469 in 2002; 419 in 2001 and 523 in 2000.
Sex Offences
Figure recently released for sex offences last year (2004) was the lowest
compared to the previous four years. For example, in 2003, there were 1,152
cases reported; 1,153 in 2002; 1,053 in 2001; and 1,295 in 2000.
Oro Province Coffee
Coffee beans harvested in the Afore area of Northern (Oro) province are rotting
because they cannot be transport out of the area. The road conditions are
so poor and the coffee cannot be transported to Oro Bay for shipping to Lae.
Roads in the area are currently in an appalling state, with no bridges, no
drains, and the potholes are as big as craters.
Engan Budget
The acting Finance and Treasury Minister, Sir Peter Barter, has approved the
Enga provincial government's K55 million budget for 2005. The Enga provincial
government will open its bank accounts with a number of impact projects getting
priority. These include the construction of the Wabag Bank South Pacific building,
road maintenance, completion and commissioning of the Wapenamanda coffee factory,
setting up of a new secondary technical school and upgrading of Kopen Secondary
School.
Engan Bank
The Engan Provincial Government has authorised the expenditure of K1.5 million
to help towards the construction of a new Bank South Pacific building. On
completion the bank will lease the building from the provincial government.
The new building will be opposite the National Court building in Wabag the
provincial capital. Construction is expected to start in April with the completion
of the building set for early 2006.
Another Budget Passed
The Finance and Treasury Minister has approved the budget for the West Sepik
Province. The budget is aimed at improving and maintaining vital infrastructure
in an effort to boost economic activity in the province.
EMTV Sale
PANGTEL, the PNG regulator of broadcasting services, has directed EMTV to
confirm the sale of its television services to Fiji Television. PANGTEL has
also directed EMTV to inform Fiji TV of the accrued license fees liability
by EMTV on its commercial television-broadcasting license, which must be settled
in full, before the license granted to MNL could be transferred to Fiji TV.
EMTV has been operating in PNG for 17 years, and its broadcasting license
issued by PANGTEL expires on Dec 31, 2006 and EMTV cannot transfer the licence
to anyone else without prior written approval of PANGTEL.
Plane Crash
A veteran pilot has been killed in crash in the Simbu Province. The Cessna
185 with only the pilot on board was on a flight to remote Karamui, south
of Chimbu when it went down. The aircraft was owned and operated by Ian Leslie,
the former chief pilot of Talair and long-time resident of Goroka.
Helicopter Crash
Two Telikom employees have sustained injuries in a helicopter crash just
outside Port Moresby. The helicopter, owned by Islands Nationair, was on its
way to Mt Strong when it crashed. The pilot was unhurt in the incident. Civil
Aviation Authorities have confirmed the crash of the B206 long ranger helicopter.
PNGDF reforms
As is widely known the PNG Defence Force is currently going through major
reforms. The aim of these reforms is to make the force more effective and
accountable to the government. Both the government and public wish to see
the Defence Force as a disciplined, effective, free from moral corruption,
much more dependent and responsive force than what it is currently.
Trukai Rice
Here is an item from a contributor.
Hi
I've been getting your newsletter for a while now and I reckon it's great.
One thing that caught my eye was the item re Trukai Rice: '...Trukai supplies
over ninety five percent of the PNG rice market....'
When my family and I left Rabaul in 1991 I returned to my then employer;
NSW Main Roads; which sent us to Deniliquin (south western NSW) - largest
rice mill in the Southern Hemisphere. They grew rice there on irrigated paddies
but that's another story. When my wife visited the rice mill she was amused
to find that the same Trukai Rice packaged and ready to go.
Perhaps the item should have read (unless things have changed): '...Trukai
Rice (grown and packaged in Deniliquin NSW) accounts for over ninety five
percent of the PNG rice market....'
regards
Alec
Grasruts University
40 people have graduated from the East New Britain Grasruts University with
certificates from a personal viability course. The Grasruts Uni ran the course,
the 92nd, under the Entrepreneur Training Development Centre.
PNG Oil
The production of PNG oil is down and new production wells must be found
to otherwise unplanned shutdowns will occur. It has been estimated that the
Gobe Main Field would need to be shut down within the next few years. New
drilling targets have been located in the Southern Highlands including the
Northwest Moran which was discovered in 2003 and is due online later this
year at 3,000 barrels of oil a day.
EHP Schools
It has been reported that more than K1 million is owing to schools in the
Eastern Highlands province for the 2004 school year school fees. The report
said that school fees for 2004 had been reduced by up to K300, however, parents
still had difficulties in paying up the full amount.
For the 2005 Provincial Education Board has approved the following fees for
children attending government schools in the province:
Elementary (prep to grade 2) K40;
Primary schools (grades 3-6) K80;
Primary schools (grades 7 and 8) K200;
Secondary/vocational (grades 7-10 day students) K650;
Secondary/vocational (grades 7-10 boarding students) K900;
Secondary (grades 11-12 day students) K1, 000);
Secondary (grades 11-12 boarding) K1, 200; and,
College of Distant Education (CODE) K80 per subject.
PNG Media
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