Links
Warning: PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that it costs money to host a web site (try -- http://pngwebhost.com -- for an excellent, reliable but cheap deal) 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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Do you have a web site or link to a PNG related area on the WWW? If so do you want it mentioned here? Then send an email to -- pngnewsqueue @ pnggossip.com
Port Moresby
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Moresby -- or --
http://wikitravel.org/en/Port_Moresby
http://rds.yahoo.www.pacificislandtravel.com/png/about_destin/port_moresby.html
http://portmoresby.anglican.org
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9060933/Port-Moresby
http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/snaps1.html
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/port_moresby.htm
http://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/portmoresby.htm
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/png_moresby.html
http://www.pngbd.com/travel/tourism_guide_tpa/prov_ncd.html
Misc
Divine Word University -- http://www.dwu.ac.pg
Diwai Pacific Limited -- http://www.diwaipacific.com.pg
News Items
Next Newsletter
The last few newsletters have been disrupted due to holidays. The next newsletter will be disrupted due to overseas work related travel. Next newsletter should be out around the 18th or 19th of September.
PNG in the News
Success and Survival Tips -- http://jonboat2.eboatplanet.com/index.php/50/success-and-survival-tips-from-the-head-hunters-of-swagap/
Officer had command of sport -- http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22295836-28737,00.html
Fatal plunge -- Another two people, a young pastor and a woman, are fighting for their lives in the intensive care unit of the Mt Hagen General Hospital. ... see -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/082407/nation1.htm -- for full story.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports on an English expat hacked to death in PNG ... see http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/English-expat-hacked-to-death-in-PNG/2007/08/22/1187462332291.html -- for further details
The Annual Consumer Survey for PNG will be conducted annually and based on a national survey of PNG consumers with fieldwork conducted in the capital Port Moresby, Lae and Goroka. ... see -- http://www.mrweb.com/drno/news7227.htm -- for the full news item.
A proposed major hydro electric plant in the Morobe province of PNG will supply electricity to the Hidden Valley mine, the Ramu nickel mine and the Kainantu gold mine. See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/082407/business1.htm -- for full story
Melanesians want standby security force -- http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=69162
Nadzab in the South West Pacific during World War II -- http://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/heyn10.htm
Kokoda Track Record
Brendan Buka has done it again. The 23 year old trekker / porter has completed the "walk" from Kokoda to Owers' Corner along the Kokoda Track in a record 17 hours and 20 minutes. Last year "walking" in the opposite direction he set a time of 17 hours and 49 minutes. Trekkers usually allow six to nine days to complete the journey which crosses numerous steep ridges with many false peaks.
Anglican Bishops Walk
Anglican Bishop David Hand walked from Gona Beach near Popondetta to Ela Beach, Port Moresby along the Kokoda Trail in 1972 to raise funds for the Anglican Church in PNG. 35 years after Bishop David's walk a group of Anglican Bishops from PNG accompanied by a group of people from the Anglican Board of Mission in Australia (including Bishop Michael Hough) will trek along the same route to raise funds for the Bishop David Hand Memorial Trust Fund. Many people walk just the Kokoda Trail but this walk will be special as it is from beach to beach. The walkers hope to reach Port Moresby, St John's Anglican Cathedral on Independence Day the 16th of September after celebrating Martyrs Day at Martyrs Memorial High School in Northern province on the 4th of September.
Air Niugini B767
The current lease on the Air Niugini Boeing B767 has now expired and the replacement aircraft believed to be coming from Royal Brunei Airlines will not be available until the latter part of October. In the meantime Air Niugini has leased an aircraft and crew from Viva Macau (B-MAW) to fill the gap. The airline has finalised the necessary paperwork to enable the technical and cabin crew to work on the international services operated by Air Niugini.
Here is a quote I have received last week from an anonymous reader
QUOTE
All
As you will be aware the existing 767-300 departs PNG this afternoon at the end of a five year lease period. PX are negotiating to purchase a replacement aircraft from Royal Brunei Airlines. This was originally meant to have been online when the current aircraft departed but, as per the newspaper article today, there have been contract negotiation delays that have pushed this back to the end of October. In the interim PX have leased a 767-300 from Viva Macau to operate their wide body schedules.
Unfortunately the aircraft that has been leased does not have an extended over water operations approval and this will mean that their Port Moresby - Tokyo - Port Moresby flight will have extended flight times due to the requirement to track over the Philippine land mass rather than heading off direct. We expect that it will add approximately 2 hours to the flying time. Air Niugini advise that the aircraft will return to POM at 0655 hrs Sunday and this will impact on their Sunday Port Moresby - Brisbane - Port Moresby - Brisbane - Sydney operation, pushing departure back for PX003 on Sunday to 0800 and moving their schedule back by about an hour and 20 minutes on Sundays. Air Niugini advise that this should only be the case for the first two weekends in September. During this time the aircraft will be unable to carry a full load of cargo over the Japan sectors.
On both the 1st of September 07 and the 8th of September 07 they are committed to operate charters for the SP Games teams that will mean that the afternoon PX005 flights will be operated by a Fokker 100 with the 767 dead heading to BNE at 0550 on the following Monday mornings to allow normal scheduled services ex Brisbane on the Monday. The Brisbane - Sydney - Brisbane sector for PX005/006 on the 01SEP/02SEP and the 08SEP/09SEP are cancelled.
END QUOTE
For those that want to know the reason why the plane must stick close to land (actually an airport) there is an explanation about Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) at -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ETOPS
SP Games
The 2007 SP Games has commenced in Apia, Samoa with PNG sending one of the biggest teams ever. Several gold medals have already been won by PNG. As expected Ryan Pini and Dika Toua both medallists at the Commonwealth Games won gold in their respective sporting disciplines. Some of the sporting teams have already returned after completing their events.
Court Dismisses Telikom Case
... is expected to be ready by Sept 5 when he makes a ruling on the cost of the entire proceedings after he comes back from a Supreme Court circuit in Mt Hagen. See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/082707/nation3.htm -- for the full story
Melanesian Discoverer Replacement
The replacement for the Melanesian Discoverer was called Suwannee River but the vessel will be renamed "Kalibobo" before it is put into service. The vessel is expected to arrive from Cairns towards the end of Sep. It is currently being reconfigured and having a new chilled water air conditioning system and stabilisers installed.
Saudi Prince
Saudi Arabian Prince Al Waleed bin Abdul Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud recently had a two hour stopover in Port Moresby. Advance warning of the visit was given but facilities at the airport received criticism for not being up to a royal standard. Poor Jack Pidik, the Customer Services Manager for Air Niugini, received unwarranted criticism for not providing adequate facilities. I would have thought that the national government would be the right authority to organise a visit by royalty?
Poll-Related Killing
The Age - Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - Allegations of rape and violence have also been made against soldiers stationed near the Western Highlands capital Mt Hagen. The soldiers had been tasked ... see -- http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Pollrelated-killings-continue-in-PNG/2007/08/22/1187462336467.html -- for the full story.
Mt Hagen Calm
Radio New Zealand International from Wellington, New Zealand reports that security has been restored in Mount Hagen after a street battle between two local clans. See -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=34766 -- for full story
Kerevat Bridge
The World Bank has financed a K10 million bridge in the Kerevat area of East New Britain. Kerevat is about an hours drive from the town of Kokopo. In the past after heavy rain residents of the area would have to wait 2 to 3 days for the water level to fall before they could use the old low bridge.
Sweet Potato
The Queensland Department of Primary Industry and the National Agriculture Research Institute are working together to try and address the virus that has been affecting the kaukau (sweet potato) industry in the country.
Safeguarding Biodiversity
The National newspaper has drawn their readers' attention to a scurry act by PNG-based United States scientists then attached with the Goroka-based PNG Institute of Medical Research ... See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/082707/w8.htm -- for full story.
Goroka Show
With the popular Goroka Cultural Show just around the corner the SP Brewery has donated K20,000 towards the running of the event. The show attracts participants from all over the country with the majority of people coming from the Highlands region of the country.
Mobile Phone War
The battle between government owned B Mobile and new competitor Digicel continues with customers benefiting by great deals from both. Currently Digicel customers can only call other Digicel customers within the country and overseas numbers that Digicel have agreements with. Industry experts have hinted at an option that would allow the interconnection of B Mobile / Telikom to Digicel and Vice Versa even if Telikom did not want to do this. Many people are now carrying two mobile phones with them from the competing networks and one dealer has advertising the imminent arrival of a dual SIM mobile phone that can make and receive calls from either company.
http://www.telikompng.com.au -- and -- http://www.digicelgroup.com
PNG Shipping
The Chairman of the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) is in trouble for ordering an independent inquiry into the ill fated MV Sealark - a vessel he owns. The NMSA did its own investigation into the fire and subsequent sinking of the vessel but the chairman wanted a second opinion much to the ire of the Works, Transport and Civil Aviation Minister, Don Polye. Mr Polye says the move undermined the professionalism of PNG based institutions.
Forest Decline
It has been estimated by experts that PNG's forests will be depleted within 16 years. Loggers are cutting so fast that not only will the trees be gone but also many species of plants, animals and insects that live in tropical rainforests. PNG has some of the finest remaining rain forests in the tropical world. Experts are worried that many unknown species will be lost forever once the forests are gone.
PNG Stamps
The PNG Philatelic Bureau run by Post PNG is offering PNG's first personalised stamps. Personalised stamps allows the printing of a photograph, logo or message on the tab of the stamp. The tab is the same size as the existing stamps and each tab is attached to a valid stamp. The personalised stamps are being issued in denominations of 85t, K3.00, K3.35 and K5.35. They are also offering a personalised souvenir sheetlet of K1.00 (12 stamps on a sheet). For more information tel: 300 3745 fax: 323 3045 or try visiting the websit4e at -- http://www.postpng.com.pg
Medical Symposium
The Medical Symposium is currently under way at the Sir John Guise Stadium complex at Waigani in beautiful Port Moresby. The event, held annually, attracts attendees from PNG and overseas. Staff from the PNG Institute of Medica Research have presented many papers.
Circumcision
The British High Commission has announced that they will be supporting the circumcision program being run by the East Sepik Province. The program is part of the province's fight against HIV/AIDS. The High Commission will fund the purchase of a multimedia projector, a portable generator, and a DVD player to be used to help train medical people the correct procedures on how to do a male circumcision. The High Commission stated that recent medical research suggests that the rate of HIV/AIDS transmission in adult males could be reduced by as much as 60 percent if they were circumcised.
Ammunition Factory
By chance police in Port Moresby have come across an illegal ammunition factory located in a house at East Boroko. Sources said police attending to a break and enter report at the house found the illegal ammo factory. See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/082107/nation1.htm -- for full story about this incident.
Australian Citizens
All Australian citizens visiting Papua New Guinea, especially those walking the historical Kokoda Track, are once again being encouraged to register with the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby. Australian High Commissioner to PNG Chris Moraitis says registration information will help them locate their citizens in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue. "Some visitors, including those who walk the Kokoda Track, assume that registration occurs automatically when they get a passport or a visa to come to PNG. This is not the case. Registering with the High Commission must be self motivated," said Mr Moraitis. Online registration is available at -- http://www.smartraveller.gov.au -- Tel: 675 325 9333 ext 240 or Email: ahcpmsb_consular@dfat.gov.au
Losing Candidate Arrested
A losing candidate has been arrested for allegedly instigating a riot in the town of Mendi resulting in four people being injured by stray pellets fired by police.
Politician TVs
Because so many PNG politicians miss out on getting to the floor of parliament to hear what is going on it has been decided that they will be given television sets to watch the live broadcast of the cabinet sessions. Of course a K200 TV will not be good enough and due to their failing eyesight they will be given large screen plasma sets. Along with TV sets they will also be given personal computers to use. It is estimated that more than half a million Kina will be spent on the cheapest TV sets and over a million if the most expensive sets are purchased.
Coming Events
Goroka Grammar School Cultural Day will be held at the school on the 14th of September.
XIII South Pacific Games -- August 2007. To be held in Samoa
Lukim PNG NAU Tourism Expo -- 9th to the 11th September
National Tourism Conference -- 12th of September
Hiri Moale Festival, Port Moresby - National Capital District -- 13th to 17th of September
The Tourism Promotion Authority has the following to say about the popular annual Hiri Moale Festival.
It will be held at Ela Beach in Port Moresby and organisers say the event, which depicts the historical significance of the Hiri trade between the Motuan people and their Gulf neighbours to the west, will be bigger and better this year. As in the past, the symbol of the Hiri Moale Festivals today remains the giant double-hull Lakatois (canoes) which plied these waters risking many lives over many months to trade clay pots for sago from the west. Today, the Lakatois (sometimes spelt lagatois) are sailed into Ela Beach by certain chosen villages accompanied by singing and dancing. A highlight of the Hiri Moale Festival is the Hiri Hanenamo or Hiri Queen quest. (Thanks to Kevin Lock from
Fremantle in Australia for correcting the mistake in this item - In recent issues it was stated that the Hiri Trade was to trade fish for food from the west this was not correct. As i understand it and I agree with Kevin the Hiri Trade was the trade of clay pots for sago from the Gulf area of PNG) - That will teach me for quoting directly from the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. I appreciate all the help I can get in correcting mistakes, etc in the newsletter.
PNG 30th Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
Goroka Show -- 16th to the 18th of September
National Cultural Commission Arts and Crafts Exhibition, Port Moresby -- from the 26th to the 28th of October
Morobe Show, Lae -- 27th to 28th of October
The Milne Bay Canoe and Kundu (drum) festival is to be held in November from the 2nd to the 4th.
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
PNG Media
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