P.N.G. Gossip Newsletter - 26 Apr 2003

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PNG Gossip Newsletter Meri Milne Bay

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.

C o n t e n t s

Tok Pisin Links
Recipes Misc Links
Tuberculosis Fuel Prices
Bougainville Withdrawal Arafura Games
South Pacific Games Speedway
MV Morning Glory Roadworks
Markham District Wheel Chairs
SARS SARS - Masks
SARS - Nurses Life Sentence
Oro Province Feud Marijuana
Port Moresby Hospital Lae - Easter
Moresby - Easter Central Province - Easter
Parliament Speakers Southern Highlands Province
Southern Highlands Security Southern Highlands - Mendi
Fun Park New US Envoy
HIV/AIDS Fight HIV/AIDS
Chinese Government Paradise Magazine
Captain Peter Sharpe Forged School Certificates
Medical School Kavieng Fire Truck
BSP Highlands Highway
Madang Apples Enga Province
Media Sites That's All

 

Articles for this newsletter

To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter -- then please click here.

 

 

 

Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"
Tok Pisin English
ambalens ambulance
haus sik hospital
hetlait head light
kar car
laisens licence
mak bilong ron speed limit
paia kar fire truck
pmv bus
polis police
pulim kar towing a car
raunabaut roundabout
taksi taxi
tren stesin station (railway)
tren train
wiliwil bicycle

 

 

Remember that this mailing list is mainly meant 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 25 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

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.google.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

PNG Recipes



Learn to make dishes featuring coconut, fruit, vegetables, and fish -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/recipe1.html

Some more recipes from Papua New Guinea can be found at -- http://www.anahitagallery.com/ahrecipe04.html

And another site with some PNG recipes is at -- http://archive.elca.org/countrypackets/png/recipe-print.html



Misc Links



Embassy of Papua New Guinea in the Americas -- http://www.pngembassy.org/

Important and useful information from the US State Department for US nationals or anyone visiting Papua New Guinea is located at -- http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_996.html


Papua New Guinea Tourism and Business Directory -- http://www.pngbd.com


An array of statistics and information collated from several US Government agencies about PNG can be found at CIA -- The World Factbook -- Papua New Guinea -- https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pp.html

An Introduction to Papua New Guinea. Contains an extensive history of the Papua New Guinea islands. Includes the geography and climate of the island. -- http://www.interknowledge.com/papua-newguinea/


The Lonely Planet World Guide has information on Destination Papua New Guinea --- http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/australasia/papua_new_guinea/



Botanical Gardens



Situated within the vast campus of the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby, the National Capital Botanical Gardens is one of the prime tourist attractions in the country. -- http://www.ncbg.org.pg -- The Botanical Gardens has a huge collection of plants from all over PNG as well as many plants from other parts of the world. These include many palm species, bamboos, heliconias, cordyline, pandanus, native trees and shrubs.



National Mapping Bureau



The home of the National Mapping Bureau is located at -- http://www.natmap.gov.pg/ -- a division of the Department of Lands & Physical Planning.

The National Mapping Bureau is responsible for providing Papua New Guinea with mapping products and services. The Bureau sells a wide range of paper and digital map products, provides GIS and GPS data and services including data capture both in the field and in the office along with printing and consultancy services for the Private Sector and Government Bodies.

National Mapping Bureau
P.O. Box 296,
Waigani, N.C.D.
Papua New Guinea

Phone: (+675) 327 6459, 327 6467, 327 6967
Fax: (+675) 327 6460
E-mail: natmap@datec.com.pg



Religious Websites

Pioneer Bible Translators -- http://www.pioneerbible.org.pg
Port Moresby Diocese of the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea -- http://www.portmoresby.anglican.org
United Pentecostal Assemblies of PNG -- http://www.upcpng.org
Catholic Church of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands -- http://www.catholicpng.org.pg
Religious Television Association -- http://www.rtapng.com.pg

Ukarumpa Mission Station -- http://www.ukarumpa.com

 

 


 

News Items


Tuberculosis




Tuberculosis is on the increase in PNG. This is despite the fact that there is a cure for the disease. The increase is attributed to people being careless with their hygiene and those with the disease not completing the prescribed treatment.



Fuel Prices




The price of fuel in PNG has gone up. This time the price increase is blamed on the Iraqi war and trouble in Venezuela. Petrol in Moresby is now K2.25.2 per litre. Diesel is K1.83.9 and kerosene is K1.54 a litre.



Bougainville Withdrawal



Many of the ex-combatants who served on Bougainville are concerned that there has been no customary reconciliation between the Defence Force and the people of Bougainville.



Arafura Games




Due to the fear of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome the Arafura Games, held in Northern Territory, Australia, have been called off. The games were scheduled to run from the 18th to the 24th of May.



South Pacific Games



The PNG South Pacific Games preparations received a donation of K50,000 from traditional sponsors South Pacific Brewery. Eight lucky people will also win a free trip to the twelfth games to be held in Fiji from the 28th of June to the 12th of July.



Speedway



Racing at Moitaka Speedway gets under way today (26th April). Many cars have been seen in various garages around town with a mad rush to get them ready in time.



MV Morning Glory



The MV Morning Glory, a coastal vessel, has sunk near Kimbe Island about 24 nautical miles from Kimbe Bay. The Cape Gloucester Local Level Government operated the barge. A dive boat operated by Walindi Resort rescued the crew from the barge. (http://www.walindi.com).



Roadworks



The Port Moresby road works are moving along slowly. Many residents are still complaining of excessive dust and are now concerned that it may take another twelve months to finish the work.



Markham District



The remote Wantoat Primary School in the Markham district has received a donation of K15,000 made available by the Markham Joint District Planning and Budget Priority Committee. The money will be sued to purchase an electric typewriter and a photocopier.



Wheel Chairs



The World Wheel Chair Foundation (WWCF) has given more than 400 wheelchairs disabled people in PNG through the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints.



SARS



The Port Moresby General Hospital chief executive officer, Dr Alphonse Tay, has expressed his concern that recent reports by the media on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have created panic amongst the general public. Dr Tay has urged the media to be cautious when reporting on SARS.



SARS - Masks



There has been an unprecedented demand for surgical masks. City Pharmacy in Port Moresby has said the company was selling surgical masks - the type being used in other countries by members of the public to protect themselves from SARS.

Staff at Rabaul urban clinic in the East New Britain province have also begun wearing masks as a precaution.



SARS - Nurses



Nurses from the Port Moresby General Hospital have started wearing facemasks while attending to patients. The nurses are wearing surgical masks as a precaution. There have been no reported cases of SARS yet at the hospital or at any other hospital in the country.



Life Sentence



A man from Oro Province has been given a life sentence for a highway heist and the killing of a man in the Markham Valley along the Highlands Highway on the 25th of October 2001.



Oro Province Feud



Northern province (Oro) police have charged a senior doctor with insulting Governor Bani Hoivo earlier this week, when Mr Hoivo allegedly tried to obtain the doctor's permission to send a patient to Port Moresby. The Popondetta Hospital has been closed to all but emergency cases until the dispute / feud is resolved.



Marijuana



The Kerema District Court has sentenced five people to 12 months imprisonment at Bomana jail with hard labour for possessing and cultivating marijuana another suspect was warned and dismissed by the court.



Port Moresby Hospital



A blaze has destroyed the home of two family residences in the grounds of the Port Moresby General Hospital. The house had been turned into two units and housed two families of Health Department workers.



Lae - Easter



Easter in Lae saw the body of man recovered at the mouth of the Markham River and a young woman was pack-raped at Speedway on Easter Sunday afternoon. These two incidents blemished an otherwise peaceful Easter celebration in Lae. The Holy Week was marked by church service and celebrations commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.



Moresby - Easter



Easter in Port Moresby appears to have passed peacefully for most people. It would appear that only a handful of car accidents tarnished the long weekend.



Central Province - Easter



Both the Hiritano and Magi highways were reported to have been quiet over Easter.



Parliament Speakers



Parliament Speakers from the Pacific Island countries are to meet in the national capital - Port Moresby from the 28th of April to the 1st of May. This, the third Forum Presiding Officers Conference (FPOC), will focus attention on legislative reforms undertaken by various parliaments and congresses since the second FPOC.



Southern Highlands Province



The Prime Minister has announced that the province would be divided into three regions west, central and east, each with a deputy administrator to improve the effectiveness of the administration of the province and this Government will seriously look at the possibility of creating a new Hela Province given the right environment.

The Australian Government is contributing K3 million towards the cost of running the Southern Highlands Supplementary Elections.

Many people attempting to make a last minute dash to reach the Southern Highlands from Port Moresby have found that the Dash 8 aircraft run by Air Niugini has been booked to capacity for over a week.



Southern Highlands Security



A former Southern Highlands premier has appealed to the National Government to consider extending the deployment of security forces in the Southern Highlands Province for six months after the election.

Elite squads of mobile police are protecting the Southern Highlands as the elections in the province progress. Mobile squads are guarding Hides and Kutubu oil fields with help from the PNG Defence Force.

The people responsible for maintaining security in the Southern Highlands Province for the supplementary elections have been told to take good care of their vehicles. Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Wagambie has told his men that there is no money to buy new vehicles or spare parts as they prepared to depart for operational areas in Mendi.



Southern Highlands - Mendi



Police from Lae have been deployed to Mendi to assist with the supplementary elections for a month. The policemen have been tasked to assist at polling stations if problems arose and not to take part in any disorderly activity as scrutineers.



Fun Park



The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) is expected to endorse the K7.4 million Fun Park project. The project is the brainchild of Bill Skate, the National Speaker of Parliament.

It is expected that the Fun Park will have an outdoor cinema, picnic pavilion, water slide, an auditorium, children's playground, mini golf and much more.



New US Envoy



President George W Bush has chosen Robert Fitts, the political adviser for the US Southern Command at MacDill Air Force Base, as the new US ambassador to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.



HIV/AIDS Fight



Leaders from all sectors, including government officials, are expected to attend regional workshops organised by the Public Sector Reform Advisory Group (PSRAG) and the National AIDS Council. The focus of the workshop is to get the message across to the people and don't rely only on the National AIDS Council (NAC) to carry out an awareness campaign on the epidemic.



HIV/AIDS



PNG is on the brink of losing a large number of its young people if they are not protected from HIV/AIDS. 6103 people have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS since the first case was reported in 1987 and the most affected were between the ages of 20 to 34, which was the economically productive age bracket. The leading cause of death at the Port Moresby General Hospital in the medical ward is AIDS related. The world scenario was no different to PNG - of the 40 million people throughout the world that had the virus; 11.8 million of those were people between the ages of 14 to 24.



Chinese Government



The new Chinese Ambassador to PNG, Li Zhengjun, has presented his credentials to the Governor-General Sir Silas Atopare.



Harbours Tariff



The PNG Maritime Workers Industrial Union is upset at the move by PNG Harbours Limited to increase its port tariffs by 15 per cent.



Paradise Magazine



Paradise magazine is published for Air Niugini as the Air Niugini in-flight magazine. The annual subscription rates for six issues of the magazine including postage are: In Papua New Guinea - K50, Australia - K75 or AUD $40 - Rest of the World - US $40.

Email: delta@daltron.com.pg



Captain Peter Sharpe



Another pilot is leaving Air Niugini after many years of service to the airline and the country. Captain Peter Sharpe MBE will leave PNG shortly after clocking up over 25,000 hours of flying, 60,000 take offs and landings and over 60 million flown miles. Captain Sharpe is the first and only life member of the PNG Airline Pilots Association.



Forged School Certificates



The Forging of school certificates is a serious problem but the Education Department does not have the resources to prosecute people. The Director of the Measurement Services Unit, Peter Bridger, has said that as a result those caught were allowed to go. He said employers had found forged certificates and informed MSU but the department could not do anything to have people prosecuted because of lack of resources.



Medical School



The School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Port Moresby has been allocated K7.7 million to improve facilities for the nursing program from AusAID. The money will be used to construct a new academic building and to refurbish the existing nursing health sciences buildings built in the late 1950's.



Kavieng Fire Truck



The New Ireland Provincial Government has praised District 9600 of the Rotary Club for its delivery of a fire truck. The truck will be used to help contain fire hazards in the provincial capital of Kavieng.



BSP



The Bank South Pacific (BSP) has announced a K54.7 million profit after taking over the PNG Banking Corporation (PNGBC). The Bank has also announced a dividend of 42.64 toea per share. Profit is expected to rise further during this year and the dividend rate was expected to rise from last year's 33 percent to 40 percent this year and 70 percent next year.



Highlands Highway



Trucking companies and the Road Transport Association have cancelled all operations into the Highlands region following threats by landowners along the Wara Tamba and Wandi sections of the Highlands Highway. The companies have called on the government to address all the issues along the highway.



Madang Apples



A councillor of the Raikos District at Angumburami village in the Finisterre Ranges has managed to grow 200 apple trees. The trees began life from six seeds picked up from a rubbish bin at Ramu Sugar in 1986. The first harvest saw apples the size of marbles harvested but now the apples are the size of a fist. The councillor is unable to bring the apples to Madang town due to the lack of roads. He sells them for between 10 and 20 toea at the local market.



Enga Province



The European Union has funded and education project in Enga Province at a cost of over K4 million. The project will comprise of two houses for teachers, a double story four room classroom, one double classroom, nine new toilets and showers, two laundries, one girls' dormitory, an assembly hall, a mess hall suitable for 800 people with a kitchen and a completely new sewerage and water supply system with two reservoir tanks for the Wabag Secondary School.

 





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-- THE END --

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.

 






Created 26 Apr 2003
Updated 16 May 2004

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