PNG Gossip Newsletter - 6 September 2005

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Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"

Tok Pisin English
kakatu cockatoo
kalabus gaol / jail / cage / box
kalabusim imprison / lock up / shut up
kalap board (a vehicle)
kam come
kam hariap come quickly
gras fur / grass
gras bilong ai eyebrow / eyelash
gras bilong dok fur (of dog)
gras bilong pisin feather
gras bilong sipsip wool
nais / naispela nice / beautiful / pretty / wonderful
   
gras bilong kakatu em i naispela
 
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 24 / 7 ticket / phone support for less than US$3.00 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 30 - 31 United States cents 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 and Tourism Directory also has daily rates based from a PNG perspective

Welcome to the
Papua New Guinea Gossip Newsletter

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

Articles for this newsletter

To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter -- please click here and use the submission form to make initial contact.

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.

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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 and Tourism Directory located 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.expedia.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

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 them mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip Newsletter.

Mention of a website or service does not necessarily mean that this newsletter endorses the website or service



Lands Dept Site



The Department of Lands and Physical Planning have launched a new website that can be found at -- http://www.lands.gov.pg -- The management of the Lands Department hopes that the site will enhance the department's efforts to inform investors, government institutions and the general public of the roles, responsibilities, procedures, processes and the overall working of the department.



Dive Boat Web Sites



http://www.bomatu.com/MVTiata.htm -- MV Tiata
http://www.chertan.com/ -- MV Chertan
http://www.febrina.com/ -- MV FeBrina
http://www.pngtourism.org.pg/png/export/sites/TPA/diving/mvpsport.htm -- MV Paradise Sport
http://www.mvgoldendawn.com -- MV Golden Dawn
http://www.peterhughes.com/star/Star_dancerindex.shtml -- MV Star Dancer



Melanesian Institute



The Melanesian Institute is an ecumenical institute that researches, teaches and publishes on all aspects of Melanesian culture. A web site can be found at -- http://www.mi.org.pg



Forest Industries Association



PNG Forest Industries Association -- http://www.fiapng.com -- This site is designed and implemented by Wolfgang and is a CyberMasta Web Site -- http://www.cybermasta.com/portfolio.htm



Misc Sites



If you want to find a Yahoo Group that deals with Papua New Guinea then I recommend that you visit this link -- http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=papua+new+guinea&submit=Search -- with any luck you will find a whole list of groups that may interest you.

The Yahoo regional directory on PNG is located at -- http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Papua_New_Guinea/

Official web site of the PNG National Olympic Committee -- http://www.oceaniasport.com/png/

Inside Papua New Guinea -- http://www.insideoceania.com/html/papua_new_guinea.html -- this site has links to current news and stories about Papua New Guinea usually from sources outside PNG.

PNG Forest Conservation News -- http://forests.org/png

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

PNG Institute of Accountants -- http://www.pngia.org.pg

Rimbunan Hijau (PNG) Group -- http://www.rhpng.com.pg/

UMW heavy equipment supplier -- http://www.umw.com.pg/

The main PNG Tourism website can be found at -- http://www.pngtourism.com.pg

The Milne Bay Tourism website can be found at -- http://www.milnebaytourism.gov.pg

The Morobe Tourism website can be found at -- http://www.tourismmorobe.org.pg

An interesting web site dealing with Rimbunan Hijau, PNG's biggest logging company can be found at -- http://www.rimbunan.forests.org.au -- It makes interesting reading.



Sports Sites



PNG Rugby League -- http://www.rleague.com/nations/png
PNG Aussie Rules -- http://www.afl-png.com
South Pacific Motor Sports Club -- http://www.spmsc.org.pg
The Motor Sports Club also has sub-pages dealing with -- go karting, snooker, game fishing and speedway. Visit the -- http://www.spmsc.org.pg -- web site and navigate from there.
Game Fishing -- http://www.gfa.com.pg
Royal Papua Yacht Club -- http://www.rpyc.com.pg
PNG 2005 Squash International -- http://www.squashsite.co.uk/png2005.htm


News Items


Medical Symposium



The 41st Medical Symposium started yesterday in Goroka. The symposium is using the Auditorium at the University of Goroka. It is believed that about 400 scientists, medical doctors and health workers from PNG and overseas will attend the weeklong symposium. The symposium will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the PNG Medical Journal.

The Goroka Base Hospital donated K10,000 towards the running of the symposium.



Police IT



Thanks to assistance from the Australian Government the Human Resources section of the police force now has over 20 computers to help with the payroll including leave applications, salary and recruitment processes. The Australian Government upgraded the information technology system at a cost of K4 million while the constabulary did K380,000 worth of renovation work to the centre.



Police Rules



It has been claimed in a report by Ms Zama Coursen-Neff of Human Rights Watch that boys and girls are being shot, knifed, kicked and beaten with gun butts, iron bars, wooden batons, fists, rubber hoses and chairs by police. The report also says that children are also routinely detained with adults in sordid police lock-ups and denied medical care. The senior researcher for Human Rights Watch's children's division says that extreme physical violence is business as usual for the PNG police force.



Police Sackings



Many motorists have felt the pinch and had to put up with police asking for "on the spot" fines or donations when stopped at the all too common disorganised police roadblock around the National Capital but a group of eight police have been sacked for asking for K50 from a UNDP official at a roadblock in Port Moresby. Police are supposed to issue infringement notices to offenders and not collect money from them.



Port Moresby Speed Limit



The blanket Port Moresby speed limit is 60 Kilometres per hour (about 37 miles per hour) but motorists regularly flaunt that limit along the Poreporena Highway that links Port Moresby Jackson's airport to downtown Port Moresby cutting through part of Burns Peak. The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) has said it would not impose that rule along the highway as it has been built to a much higher standard than the other roads in the city. The NRSC did not, however, say what speed limit would be suitable for the highway. There was also no comment from police. The highway, opened several years ago, has very quickly become one of the busiest roads in the National Capital cutting many minutes off the trip from the airport to town.



Human Rights



People attending a workshop in Madang have been told that often, in PNG, people who speak out about human rights issues in the country are regarded as stirrers, troublemakers or loud moths. This is because human rights are not widely understood in the country. The aim of the workshop is to train trainers to work equally with the victims and the offenders about the different issues that are affecting the rights of people in the country. The workshop has been funded by the Ombudsman Commission.



ECP



Australia has accepted that the Enhanced Cooperation Program (ECP) will go ahead without any immunity for Australian Officers. The Australian Assisting Police (AAP) will return to the country but in vastly reduced numbers and they will be employed in strategic positions within the Royal PNG Constabulary including the National; Fraud and Anti Corruption Unit, attachments to assist provincial police commanders, police station commanders as well as training at Bomana Police College. 43 ECP personnel not attached to the police force but engaged in government departments remained in the country after the major ECP force left earlier this year.



Cancer



The PNG Governor General has said that 80 percent of cancer patients face a death sentence due to inadequate treatment. Sir Paulias Matane said cancer did not always lead to a death sentence because many well-known people who had money and went overseas had survived the dreaded disease with treatment not available in PNG. There are 15,000 new cancer cases detected in PNG each year.



Air Fares



Along with airlines around the world Air Niugini has had to increase airfares due to the increase in the price of oil. The fuel surcharge on international flights has increased from USD46.20 to USD57.75 per sector this is similar to what other overseas airlines have had to implement. On domestic sectors the price has increased to K42 from K30. Air Niugini claims that it has been mindful of the fact that airfares are rapidly going beyond the capacity of the general PNG public to pay any more and tried to keep the domestic increase to as low a figure as possible.



Public Service Commission



It has been claimed that the chairman of the Public Service Commission has been paid more than K500,000 in motor vehicle allowances of which more than K300,00 was in excess of the correct entitlements. The chairman, Jerry Tetaga, has denied the claims and claims that some of the payments were made in lieu of his leave entitlements. He has also claimed that they were for backdated payments for 2001.



Leadership



A call by the Lagaip-Porgera MP to change Section 27 of the organic law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership has come under fire by several organisations as well as from some members of parliament. The MP has proposed changes to the law that dismisses office holders if they are found guilty of misconduct in office changed so that it excludes politicians. The Transport and Civil Aviation Minister, Don Polye, has condemned the proposed changes and said that it would only promote a breakdown in leadership and honesty, integrity, transparency and accountability. Western Province Governor and Transparency International are some of the others that have condemned the changes to the law. The PNG Law Society has described the proposal as dangerous and ill advised.



Goroka Hospital



A company based in Goroka has helped with K100,000 to refurbish a medical ward at the Goroka Base Hospital. The New Guinea Highlands Coffee Export company (NGHCE) has formally handed over the medical ward to the hospital management committee. The money used was made available from the sale of coffee to the US Based Starbucks Coffee Company. Last year the NGHCE spent over K80,000 to renovate the surgical ward.



Loloho Gold



Over 1000 people have rushed to Loloho in Bougainville with the hope of finding gold. People have been filling copra sacks with dirt and then washing them in the local rivers in a bid to find gold.



PNG Ambassador to NZ



The new PNG ambassador to New Zealand has been welcomed by the New Zealand Governor General in Wellington. Former Speaker of the National Parliament and Wewak MP Bernard Narokobi was one of six diplomats to present their credentials to the NZ Governor General.



Road Rules



A report about a study done in 2003 and delivered recently by the Assistant Police Commissioner Jim Andrews on behalf of the Police Commissioner has revealed what most motorists already know and that is that most Public Motor Vehicle (PMV) drivers in Port Moresby have never gone through any form of driver training before getting their driving licences. Many of the drivers surveyed indicated that they had learnt how to drive by observing others. The report also said that about 80 percent of drivers currently on the road knew how to drive motor vehicles but had little idea of the road safety rules. A booklet has been produced to help people learn the rules but unfortunately it has been produced in English - a language not widely understood by the general population.



Independence



The Australian Governor General plans to travel to PNG this month as part of the PNG 30th anniversary celebrations. The Aussie GG will visit Wewak, Madang and Kokoda before taking part in the Port Moresby celebrations on the 16th of September. His visit will also coincide with the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in PNG.



Port Moresby Water



Due to better management of leaks and illegal use of water Eda Ranu, responsible for supplying water to Port Moresby has claimed that the demand for water in Port Moresby has been reduced by 26 million litres of water everyday. The water management project started in February 2004 and will end June 2006. The project has covered about 60 percent of the water network so far. The reduction in water usage has benefited Eda Ramu by a reduction in the amount of electricity used to pump water and the amount of chemicals needed to treat the water. The reduction will also mean that the existing water treatment equipment will be able to be used for several more years before needing to be replaced.



National Library



The Australian Government will help with a facelift for the PNG National Library. The library was Australia's gift at independence to PNG in 1975. Australia will also help pay for an exhibition rugby league match between the PNG Kumuls and an Australian Prime Minister's XIII during the Independence celebrations. The Australian team will be coached by league legend, Mal Meninga with help from Brad Fittler.



PNG Investment



The Finance and Treasury Minister, Bart Philemon, has said that bureaucratic inefficiencies at the Lands Department along with increasing prices and transport costs are some of the reasons why investors are having second thoughts about investing in PNG. Mr Philemon stressed that the problem of acquiring land for business is often a long process that frustrates investors. The long delay in processing documents also provides opportunities for graft and corruption.



Miss PNG Quest




Local Toyota dealer, Ela Motors, have donated two 1995 Toyota Vistas to the Miss PNG Red Cross event. One vehicle will be used as a prize in the 2005 Red Cross raffle and the other will be given to the winner of the Miss Charity title.



Previous Miss Red Cross Winners



The following people have won the title of "Miss PNG"

+ 1974 Miss Eva Arni was the first holder of the title "Miss PNG" - Eva went on to win the Miss Asia Title.

+ 1975 Miss Eau Suve. Eau went on to win the "Best Traditional Dress" award at the Miss Asia Quest.

+ 1976 Miss Sayah Karukaru

+ 1978 Miss Angeline Tukana

+ 1979 Miss Milly Misbut

+ 1980 Miss Mispah Alwyn

+ 1981 Miss Jennifer Abaijah

+ 1982 Miss Moi Eli

+ 1983 Miss Shannel Bray

+ 1984 Miss Patricia Mirisa

+ 1985 Miss Carmel Vagi - Miss Communications

+ 1986 Miss Anna Wild

+ 1987 Miss Harriet Warren

+ 1988 Miss Erue Taunao

+ 1989 Miss Joycelyn Leahy

+ 1991 Miss Marcia Muir

+ 1992 Miss Jennifer Lemeki

+ 1993 Miss Sharon Onsa

+ 1994 Miss Tania Doyle

+ 1995 Miss Imanakone Sioa

+ 1996 Miss Rita Stegman

+ 1997 Miss Lisa Linibi

+ 1998 Miss Helai Oala

+ 1999 Miss Roberta Ali

+ 2000 Miss Ephreddie Jubilee

+ 2001 Miss Olivia Wilson

+ 2002 Miss Yaku Ninich

+ 2003 Miss Cynthia Asi - Central (Miss MRDC)

+ 2004 Miss Ashwin Samson - Miss Warehouse



Coming Events



Medical Symposium -- on now 5th to 9th of September

PNG 30th Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September 2005.

Hiri Moale Festival -- 15th to 18th of September 2005.

Goroka Show -- Independence Weekend (17th - 19th September)

Tufi Cultural Show -- 17th - 19th September

Morobe Show, Lae -- 15th and 16th of October 2005

The Milne Bay Canoe and Kundu (drum) festival will be held between the 4th and 6th of November this year.

Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March 2006.

2006 - April 8th to the 16th -- National Game Fishing Titles






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 click here and use the submission form.

 



Created 6 Sep 2005
Updated 16 Sep 2005


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