PNG Gossip Newsletter - 16 Jan 2009

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Welcome to the
Newsletter

 

 



Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"

Tok Pisin English
bikbus dense bush
em nau! great! fantastic!; literally 'him now!'
em tasol that's all
hallans / hailens highlands
haus sik hospital
hausboi / hausmeri servant
het i pen headache
hukim pis catch fish / fishing
husat who
kago cargo / goods / baggage
kagoboi porter
kilim injure
kilim i dai pinis kill
kilman murderer
dai pinis die
sanguma / puripuri sorcery / witchcraft

Webster's Online Dictionary
with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation

       

English       Pidgin English  
 
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 hour a day / 7 day a week ticket / phone support for less than US$5.00 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

Javascript DHTML Drop Down Menu Powered by dhtml-menu-builder.com

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 Directory also has daily rates based from a PNG perspective

Want to find out more about Papua New Guinea? Try searching at -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo -- and -- http://www.michie.net/png_faqs or try the PNG Business Directory located at -- http://www.pngbd.com -- and the PNG Tourism Directory -- http://www.pngtd.com. Both are excellent places to look for information about the country.
For those who are not so familiar with the geography of Papua New Guinea I suggest taking a look at -- http://maps.google.com -- and then clicking on the "+" to zoom in to the area of interest. Go to the following link for a quick start to a map of Port Moresby. -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/pom-map.html

External links - while PNG Gossip Newsletter will not sell your email address to others many links on this web site lead to other sites that may not have the same policy regarding your valuable email address. Be careful when handing over your email address to others.

 

A very special welcome welkam, ita hedavari is extended to any new readers. If you have comments or suggestions to make then please click here

Articles for this newsletter

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

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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Also remember that the accuracy of the information in this newsletter should not be relied upon - it is, after all, a gossip newsletter.


Links

If links in the newsletter do not work properly, copy and paste the URL into your browser and press Enter. Be sure to copy the entire link, as it may wrap to the next line. If this still does not work please send an email to the newsletter advising of the broken link.

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External links - while PNG Gossip Newsletter will not sell your email address to others many links on this web site lead to other sites that may may not have the same policy regarding your valuable email address. Be careful when handing over your email address.

 




PNG in the News



World Wide Food Crisis - Half the planet could be hit by food crisis by 2100: study
-- http://news.smh.com.au/world/half-the-planet-could-be-hit-by-food-crisis-by-2100-study-20090109-7d18.html

Highlands adventurers -- http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/01/11/38295_gold-coast-news.html




Blogs



An older blog not being updated anymore -- http://pnglife.blogspot.com/

http://ittoktok.blogspot.com/

http://ittoktok.blogspot.com/2009/01/air-fares-could-go-down-this-week-but.html

How to win friends and influence people, PNG style: East New Britain -- http://steveinpng.blogspot.com/2009/01/east-new-britain-province.html

How to win friends and influence people, PNG style: Sandaun Province -- http://steveinpng.blogspot.com/2009/01/sandaun-province.html

How to win friends and influence people, PNG style: Eastern Hghlands -- http://steveinpng.blogspot.com/2009/01/eastern-highlands-province.html

A Love Better Than Life -- Chicken Toes -- http://alovebetterthanlife.blogspot.com/2009/01/chicken-toes.html

PNG: The Ride -- http://placesfacesthings.blogspot.com/2009/01/png-ride.html




Misc Links



Aurora Expeditions - Rabaul to Alotau -- http://www.auroraexpeditions.com.au/expedition/rabaul_alotau.aspx?rt=16

Tales of the South-West Pacific -- http://www.aerohub.co.nz/?p=602

The forgotten prisoners of Rabaul -- http://www.angellpro.com.au/rabaul.htm

PNG Photos - Thousands of Papua New Guinea Images and Photographs. Start at -- http://www.pngbd.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/11949/sort/1/cat/500/page/2

Martin Maden's Photos - Tribute to Sir Mathias Kauage -- http://www.guartic.com/martin-madens-photos-tribute-to-sir-math

Jason's Papua New Guinea -- http://www.jasons.com/Papua-New-Guinea


News Items




PNG Web Hosting



Having a website has become a true necessity nowadays. Here you will find all the required website resources in one place - 24/7 web hosting services complemented with FREE bonuses such as popular php scripts, marketing tools and a website builder, among others. -- http://www.pngwebhost.com




2009 Prediction



Islands Business predicts 2009 could be another good year for PNG even in the wake of the world financial crisis. See full story -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a7c898

See also -- http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/01/09/papua-new-guinea-from-economic-boom-to-economic-gloom/




Buai Ban



Powes Parkop, the National Capital District Governor, is trying to ban the selling and chewing of betel nut in public places. The Governor says chewing betel nut is not only a dirty habit, but it also poses a health risk to the community like tuberculosis, one of PNG's biggest killers.

The World Health Organisation says that around 20 per cent of betel nut chewers in this part of the world suffer from oral diseases like mouth cancer.

see -- http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2459777.htm

Associated article -- http://michie.net/pnginfo/buai.html




Bougainville President



Former Bougainville Revolutionary Army commander James Tanis has officially become Bougainville's second president in a ceremony held in Arawa, Central Bougainville in the first week of January. Bougainville went to the polls last month after former president Joseph Kabui died from a heart attack in June last year. Tanis was born and raised in Panam Village in Lamane, on the border of South and Central Bougainville.

James Tanis has said that the future of Bougainville does not depend on mining alone and that it needed a broad-based economy such as agriculture and smallholder development opportunities.




Alleged Sorcerer Killed



A young woman has reportedly been lashed naked to a pole and burnt to death in what authorities fear may be another sorcery killing in the Western Highlands.

Black magic is still practiced in the highlands of the country and women are often killed for having extra marital affairs, accused of sorcery or blamed for spreading HIV/AIDS.

The Post Courier reports that more than 50 people have been wilfully murdered, some in gruesome fashion, for allegedly practising sorcery in two Highlands provinces last year.

see -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090108/news01.htm -- and -- http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/08/png.witchcraft/index.html

PNG to toughen laws on sorcery killings -- http://news.theage.com.au/world/png-to-toughen-laws-on-sorcery-killings-20090112-7f2y.html

see also -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/011309/nation5.php

 




Papuan's Repatriated



Over 700 West Papuans living in PNG are choosing to return home to the Indonesian side of the border despite claims they face human rights abuses. The voluntary repatriations are happening because, according to the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, conditions in West Papua have steadily improved since 2001. The Indonesian government will pay for the repatriation and was working with the PNG government on the issue.

Felix Meraudje from the West Papua National Congress based in Port Moresby said it was a publicity stunt to show Indonesia is good. West Papuans fled their province following alleged human rights abuses by Indonesian authorities and security forces.

see also - Cops to be hauled up for smuggling contraband -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/010909/nation6.php




Air Fares



This has come from another blog dealing with PNG Info Tech.

Both Domestic and International airfares could go down this week which is great news for the travelling public in Papua New Guinea but what about Internet Service Provider fees? Read the full story and check out the PNG IT blog at -- http://ittoktok.blogspot.com/2009/01/air-fares-could-go-down-this-week-but.html




Plagued Plaque



Thieves have once again stolen an Australian War Memorial plaque, most likely to sell it to scrap metal dealers. The plaque was taken late last year from the Australian War Memorial in Wau, Morobe province and recovered from a scrap metal dealer. The acting High Commissioner to PNG, John Feakes, has said "the repeat theft is very disappointing" and condemned the act in a written statement. Feakes has urged locals to return the plaques or provide information on its whereabouts.

Criminals have not only target WWII plaques but also gone after family graves and other historic markers.




Vale Sir Danny Leahy



The Goroka Chamber of Commerce has expressed sadness over the recent passing of pioneer businessman Sir Danny Leahy. President Terry Shelly said Sir Danny was an avid believer in Goroka and Eastern Highlands who pushed for better services for the people and had a firm belief in the coffee industry.




Hummers Hit PNG



Boroko Motors have advertised that they are selling H3 Hummers in the country. I wonder if they waited for the drop in fuel prices before advertising? See -- http://www.guartic.com/serioulsy-get-noticed




Border Pass Abuse



PNG Police say that passes issued to traditional border crosses between Indonesia and PNG must be discontinued immediately and should be replaced with a proper system and only people with valid passports allowed to move to and fro. It has been reported that rural stations near the border were doing illegal trading and there were no proper monitoring systems because the police and defence were ill equipped.

see also -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090109/news13.htm




Taxi Meters



Owners and operators of taxis have been warned that the deadline for the installation of taxi meters is the 20th of January. The installation of meters is a requirement under Section 38 of the Motor Traffic Act, which stated that every taxi should be installed with a meter. Meters can be purchased from Dick Smith Electronics, Progress Motors, Auto Zeal and others at a cost of K1500. The date of the 20th of January may be extended for another 2 weeks taking into account that less than half of the approx 700 taxis in Moresby have had meters fitted to date.

see also - Taxi operators engage law firm to fight meters -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/010909/nation8.php




Fuel Prices



Recent prices for fuel in Port Moresby are

Petrol K2.25
Diesel - K2.07 / litre
Kerosene - K.92 / litre

Overall, the average retail prices for the period from August 2008 to January 2009 have fallen by K1.82 per litre for petrol, K1.92 per litre for diesel and K1.81 per litre for kerosene respectively.




UNHCR



Is PNG really such a rough, tough place for expatriate workers? The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) doesn't seem to think so as both the outgoing and incoming representaives for PNG are women. Both have served the United Nations with distinction in some of the major trouble spots around the world, such as Bosnia in the 1990s and the Middle East. The new leader of UNHCR in PNG is Austrian Walpurga Engelbert and Thai citizen Wallaya Pura is the outgoing head.

UNHCR
4th floor, ADF Building, Musgrave Street
Port Moresby.
Ph : 321 5973/ 321 7422
Fax : 321 5977
Email : pngpo@unhcr.org
PO Box 1041, Port Moresby, PNG.




Highlands Highway



Yet again passage along the Highlands Highway has been severed. This time it was blocked by trucks sliding off the road due to the wet weather near Mata in the Chimbu Province. The highway was impassable in both directions. Initial attempts by road contractors to fix the situation were thwarted by the continuing inclement weather.




PNG Art



If you are interested in contemporary PNG Art then visit Pasifik Nau -- http://www.pasifiknau.com -- a recently set up web site. If you are a Melanesian artist and would like to share your own work or publicise an upcoming exhibition etc then visit the site and make contact. There is even a section devoted to bilum art. A bilum is a string bag.




Tokua Airport



Tokua, the main airport servicing East New Britain, has been closed due to volcanic activity causing massive disruptions to the travelling public. Continuous strong north-west monsoonal winds experienced in East New Britain province recently has been blowing volcanic ash from Mt Tavurvur over Tokua Airport, rendering it unsafe and unusable by aircraft. Rabaul Shipping Limited has offered to ferry some, if not all, of the stranded passengers from Rabaul to Kavieng and vice-versa. From Kavieng the passengers will then be able to catch Air Niugini flights to their destinations.

The airline says it cannot put passengers on other forms of transport, unless a safety risk assessment is carried out to ensure customers' lives are safe.

see also -- http://volcanolive.wordpress.com/2009/01/10/rabaul-volcano-papua-new-guinea-john-seach/




Training Courses



Veniba Training Services have advised they are conducting short computer courses in Madang. Visit -- http://www.veniba.com/UpcomingCourses.pdf -- for more information or call them on 852 0560 / 682 0654 / 7229 9684




Matupit Island



The Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane has shed tears when he visited the volcano devastated Matupit Island near Rabaul, East New Britain province. The National reports that he was dismayed by the desert-like island that has been neglected since the eruption of Mt Tavuvur in 1994. The island presently has no water, roofing iron, water tanks and educational services and health care facility. Islanders survive on a staple of fish, wild fowls' eggs and bananas from the mainland.




Seasonal Workers' Program



PNG has been accused of delaying the seasonal workers' program with Australia. The allegations come after the Australian Federal Opposition last Friday accused the Rudd Government of bungling a plan to give Pacific Islanders special visas to work in Australia. However the PNG Foreign Affairs office technical team has been quoted by the Post Courier as saying that preparations were on schedule and that they were still preparing the final report to be presented to the Foreign Minister Sam Abal later this month.

The guest worker scheme will allow workers from PNG to pick and pack fruit in Australia for seven months a year.




Mass Burial



As is often the case the morgue at Port Moresby General Hospital is overcrowded. The National Capital District Commission has assured the hospital that it will assist to conduct a mass burial once a list of the unclaimed bodies has been put out in a public notice so that relatives are given a chance to remove the bodies for a more formal burial.




Chinese Tombs



It is hoped that the Republic of China government in Taiwan will send investigators to the site of three abandoned tombs found in East New Britain. The tombs are said to belong to Republic of China soldiers from the Second World War. Historical records show that Japan sent about 1,600 Republic of China soldiers to Rabaul as slave labourers. Some of the soldiers died on their way to Papua New Guinea, while others lost their lives in prisoner of war camps. Many of them were buried in Rabaul.




Coming Events



Inaugural Madang Golf Classic February 2009 sponsored by Airlines of PNG.

Symposium on Sea Turtles - to be held in Brisbane, Australia between the 17th and 19th of February 2009.

Oceania Snooker and Billiards titles in Port Moresby from the 20th to the 29th of March, 2009

34th Games Fishing Association PNG National Game Fishing Titles - Madang - from the 3rd of April to 13th of April 2009. - see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b94786

PNG Kickboxing Association has postponed its world title fight -- 25th April 2009

ANZAC Day - 25th April

Arafura Games - 9 to 17th of May 2009 -- http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au/

The International Cricket Council (ICC) East Asia Pacific (EAP) Under 19 Cricket Trophy tournament will be held from the 1st to the 7th of June 2009

5th National Tourism Conference -- June 2009 (date to be confirmed) - to be held at Madang Resort Hotel.

Tolai Warwagira from 8 to 14 July 2009 and Mask Festival from 15 to 18 July 2009 at Kokopo East New Britain

PNG Remembrance Day - 23rd July

45th Medical Symposium - Port Moresby - sponsored by the Pacific International Hospital from the 1st to the 5th of September 2009

31st October and the 1st of November 2009 - Morobe Show

National Elections - June 2012

Do you have an event that you want advertised? - use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.




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 -- http://www.pnggossip.com/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.

Information contained in this newsletter may be correct only at the time of publication and may be subject to change at any time without notice.



Created 16 Jan 2009
Updated 26 Jan 2009


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