Links
PNG in the News
Government, Businesses Should Cooperate To Mitigate Effects Of HIV/AIDS In Papua New Guinea, Conference Delegate Says. See -- http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/106719.php
InterOil Corporation, a Canadian company with operations in PNG has reported its first quarter 2008 financial results. -- http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/080514/0397444.html
A young lass jumped to her death in Port Moresby from a stolen vehicle early yesterday morning at Koki. The lass and her family were dropping of schoolchildren when they were held up by armed men. -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080514/news07.htm
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Ms. Susan Creane, Deputy Division Chief in the Asia-Pacific Department, visited Port Moresby from the 1st to the 7th of May, 2008, to discuss recent economic developments, the outlook for 2008 and the medium-term. -- http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2008/pr08107.htm
PNG Blogs
The Fords in PNG -- http://pngfords.blogspot.com/
Home Sweet Home!! -- http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2008/05/home-sweet-home.html
Home again -- http://inwildeboer.blogspot.com/2008/05/home-again.html
If it's not a rat... -- http://anvanderheide.blogspot.com/2008/05/if-its-not-rat.html
Kudjip Search & Rescue Assists Stranded Rock Climber -- http://giaman.com/pg/?04e005
Another Day in Paradise -- http://day-in-paradise.blogspot.com/
Bigpela Wara -- http://lourenslaureti.blogspot.com/2008/05/bigpela-wara.html
Weather Links
Most of the links that used to be available for PNG have disappeared or like this one for Agaun -- http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/92068.html -- have not been updated for, last time I looked, 8565 hr 54 min 58 sec ago.
Check out -- http://www.pi-gcos.org/PNG/
Misc Links
PNG Women -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bQ9UEa6kS0
Tari and the Huli Wigmen -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-jKdkzsgF8
Kokoda Trekking -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/
Don't forget to check out -- http://www.synergypng.com/ -- for computer needs. Some other computer companies that have web sites are --
Able Computing -- http://www.able.com.pg
Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
DataNets -- http://www.datanets.com.pg - and -- http://www.online.net.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.net.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg
While not a computer company it may be worth a look at the Theodist web site as well -- http://www.theodist.com.pg
Nazarene Hospital Foundation -- http://www.nazarenehospitalfoundation.org/info.html -- and Kudjip Nazarene Hospital -- http://www.kudjipnazarenehospital.org/
Just starting up Skerah.com has been designed to help solve that often frustrating experience of trying to find out event and entertainment information in Port Moresby. By centralising the most useful and relevant information in a single site, viewers can access the information in a simple, easy and fun way, anywhere anytime. The information is set out in a stadium like seating arrangement with a seating directory to help navigation. -- http://www.skerah.com/
News Items
A Kinawai
Ereman Tobaining has officially announced that a traditional Kinawai will be held on the 30th of May, 2008 at Malapau Beach where Admiral Yamamoto stayed overnight to declare his war policies in 1942.
Seven tubuans and nine dukduks will dance together at a ceremony called a "matamatam" between 4pm and 5pm on the 30th.
If anyone is in the area then I highly recommended going along to see this event. Contact Ereman on +675 653 6936 for further details.
Coffee Festival
The 7th Coffee Festival was held from the 8th to the 10th of May in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. More than 40 traditional Sing Sing (Dance) Groups attended, from the Highlands, Momase, all the way from Manus Islands. -- http://pngtourismnews.blogspot.com/2008/05/goroka-coffee-festival.html
See -- http://www.pngcoffeefestival.com/ -- and -- http://www.easternhighlands.com.pg/
Possibly also see -- http://www.png-tourism.com/
See also - Killing mars 7th Goroka coffee show -- http://giaman.com/pg/?db0958
Morobe Show
The Morobe Provincial Agricultural Society conducts the annual Morobe show, held in Lae. The show is a major tourist attraction and showcases the Agricultural, Industrial, Commercial and Cultural aspects of the Morobe Province of PNG. It plays a major role in the dissemination of information on cultivation, crops, diseases and breeding, as well as being the largest entertainment event in the province.
The 2008 Show will be held on the 18th and 19th of October...
The 2009 show is scheduled for the 31st of October and the 1st of November.
For more information you can visit the show web site at -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg/
PNG Classifieds
Shane Thomas the administrator of PNGBD -- http://www.pngbd.com/ -- has advertised a rate of $5.00 for PNG Home Based Business people wanting to sell items over the Internet. See -- http://www.pngbd.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23804
PNGBD also offers forums and other information about PNG. For example see -- http://www.pngbd.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=88 -- for information about Rabaul / Kokopo - East New Britain Province.
Taiwan Chequebook Diplomacy
Several senior Taiwanese officials resigned recently over the loss of millions of dollars in a failed attempt to lure PNG to officially recognize Taiwan. There have been calls for Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to set the record straight over the Taiwan "cash for recognition" scandal.
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?70dfe0 -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?93b1ba
A Papua New Guinea minister said his meeting with one of two middlemen involved in Taiwan's million diplomatic cash scandal was solely for trade purposes.
See -- http://au.news.yahoo.com/080512/2/16tq4.html
PNG and Taiwan established diplomatic ties in 1999 for a mere three days.
It has been claimed by a lawyer representing one of the two middlemen currently living in the United States that a big chunk of the money is already in PNG hands -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080514/news03.htm
A businessman accused of bilking the Taiwanese government out of nearly $30 million committed no crime and is prepared to return part of the money, his lawyer said. -- http://www.charlotte.com/nation/story/622724.html
Airlines of PNG
It has been reported that Airlines PNG is raising K105 million (US$39million) through a public offering to acquire new aircraft that would include Twin Otter, two Dash 8s and a Boeing 737. The company expects to list on the Port Moresby Stock Exchange next month to raise the money which it hopes to increase its fleet to 18 fixed-wing aircraft. A part of the proceeds will be used to settle debts and to plough into its working capital.
The National Superannuation Fund, NasFund, is expected to acquire 10 per cent of the shares that are being offered to the public. The owners of Airlines of PNG are offering 50 per cent of the company -- that is 105 million shares to potential investors and the public of PNG.
Air Niugini
The national flag carrier, Air Niugini, has recently taken delivery of its new Boeing 767-300 wide-body aircraft with a seating capacity of 214. The aircraft will be used on the Asian routes to Singapore, Manila, Hong Kong and Tokyo Narita from Port Moresby. It will also serve the Port Moresby to Brisbane and Port Moresby to Sydney routes.
The aircraft has been wet leased from Icelandic Air. Painted in Air Niugini colours the plane (MSN 24541) will carry the PNG Registration of P2-ANA (Previously TF-LLA)
For a sneak peak of children at Mt Hagen airport see -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m90w6VM-o4Y
Malaria
Malaria remains a major killer in PNG, with 700 deaths from the disease in 2007, although the World Health Organization (WHO) says the number is higher as many cases in remote areas go unrecorded.
See -- http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=77993
Telikom and Digicel Interconnection
The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) say it will soon be issuing a short term determination on the interconnection of mobile telephone systems from Telikom and Digicel.
See -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20080514/news09.htm
Whooping Cough
The Post Courier reports that two children are dead and many more likely to be affected by a whooping cough outbreak reported in the Bogia District of Madang Province. Giri aid post has treated more than 18 patients, mostly children including the two that died. Nine villages in the district have been affected but there was little health workers could do because of the lack of medical supplies. Several other districts in the province have also reported outbreaks of whooping cough, including the Middle Ramu and Raicoast.
Carterets
The remote atoll island of Carterets in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville has been hit hard by the rising sea level a few months ago. According to a local Carteret's islander, Oscar Kahi, the rising sea level in the area is causing anxiety among the people.
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?501d1f
Languages
The Bangkok Post says that PNG has 867 languages. See -- http://www.bangkokpost.com/Horizons/15May2008_hori001.php
Pirate Busted by Greenpeace
Greenpeace has caught an illegal tuna purse seiner (Queen Evelyn 168) near PNG. The Captain admitted to at least six other transfers of tuna he had done over the last month in the same pocket of international waters between PNG and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Globally US $9 billion a year is lost to pirate fishing and estimates in the Pacific range from US$134 million to US$400 million. These pirates earn four times more than Pacific Island states earn in access fees and licenses.
IMF Warning
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that plans to spend K10 million in each district could see PNG return to the dark days of macro economic instability. The fund said the plan to spend K890 million over 4 percent of GDP in a year suggests a loosening of fiscal policy and risks sparking additional inflation pressures.
The National Planning and Rural Development Minister, Paul Tiensten, said he was surprised that friends such as the World Bank, IMF and other critics had to come out and criticised the plan.
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6dcb98
Somare Halts Probe
TV NZ has reported that the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, indicated that he "erroneously signed" documents terminating a finance inquiry into an estimated 1 billion kina (US$372 million) missing from the public purse. Sir Michael yesterday told PNG's parliament he wanted "to clear misconceptions" and "misleading media coverage" that he stopped the inquiry after an interim report's "not only staggering but frightening" findings.
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?882abd
Opposition Urges Somare to Resign
The PNG opposition has called for the resignation of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare after attempts to halt investigations against him. Chief Ombudsman, Ila Geno, was about to convey the commission's decision on the allegations personally to Sir Michael, when lawyers representing the prime minister launched court actions in an attempt to stop the commission's actions.
The National newspaper reports the country's anti-corruption watchdog, the Ombudsman Commission, is investigating allegations that Sir Michael failed to lodge annual returns, lodged returns late, or lodged incomplete returns between 1994 and 2003.
The Prime Minister has denied any involvement in the Taiwan 'cash for recognition' scandal. Sir Michael has admitted meeting Taiwan's foreign minister in Singapore last year but has told Parliament he knows nothing about the scandal. Sir Michael signed PNG's One China Policy in 1976 and says the Government will not be changing its position.
PNG Gold Mining
Australia's biggest gold producer Newcrest Mining will pay $US525 million to co-develop mines in the country with South Africa's Harmony Gold. Newcrest announced it had agreed to buy a 50 per cent stake in the Hidden Valley gold and silver mine and Wafi copper and gold deposit in PNG - its first foray into the island nation. The deal will give it a share in some 15.2 million ounces of gold, 1.76 million tonnes of copper and 51 million ounces of silver estimated to lie in the undeveloped deposits.
Bougainville Copper
The European Shareholders of Bougainville Copper Ltd (ESCB) strongly support the landowner's claim for re-opening the giant Panguna mine on Bougainville. Visit the EU web site -- http://www.bougainville-copper.eu
New Britain Palm Oil
New Britain Palm Oil has doubled quarterly profits and underlined plans to double acreage over the next seven years in anticipation of strong palm oil prices.
See -- http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUSL1490716820080514
National Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian government, through the Media for Development Initiative project, has injected funds and technical assistance to breathe new life into the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). The PNG government has also allocated 21m kina [approx 7.8m US dollars] for the purpose. The NBC is expected to open its new state-funded television station by September this year.
Coming Events
30th of May -- A Kinawai is to be held on Malapau Beach, East New Britain. Many Tubuans and Dukduks will appear at the traditional ceremony.
2008 Sepik Iron man -- Queen's birthday weekend (8th of June)
21st of June 2008 - PNG Reunion - see -- http://www.pngreunion.com
40th anniversary of the PNG Institute of Medical Research - between the 18th and 22nd of June 2008 in Goroka
Tolai Warwagira Cultural Festival - July 9 - 15 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
14th National Mask Festival - July 16 - 19 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
PNG Tourism Expo -- September
Hiri Moale Festival -- September
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
Medical Symposium -- September 2008 -- http://www.medsymp.org.pg
Morobe Show -- 18th and 19th of October -- the Show is held on the weekend closest to the full moon in the month of October each year in Lae, Morobe Province. -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg
Milne Bay Canoe Festival -- always held during the first weekend in November
Anti Corruption Day - 9th December
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
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 and use the submission form
To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter queue please click here and use the submission form.
.gif)
.jpg)
View PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive
