HAPPY NEW YEAR to all readers

To all who believe that the millennium starts on the 1st of January 2001 - Welcome to the new millennium! To all that think it started a year ago a simple Happy New Year will have to do.

Welcome to the Papua New Guinea Gossip Newsletter - 01 Jan 2001. A very special welcome is extended to any new readers. If you have comments or suggestions to make then please e-mail them to giaman@png-gossip.com Articles for this newsletter To send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter -- please e-mail your contribution to pngnews.queue@png-gossip.com 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, is currently worth somewhere around 30 - 32 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 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.

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Annual Jailbreak

The annual jail breakout by 18 inmates went off without a hitch. A very concerned NCD / Central police chief said this was not the first time this sort of thing had happened. He has accused the jail authorities of being very lax. The chief went on to warn relatives not to harbour the escaped criminals.

Duke of York Islands

The Duke of York Islanders, sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, have a sinking feeling. Their islands are being washed away each time places like Rabaul and Kokopo experience an earthquake. Some of the villages on the smaller islands are slowly being eroded away. Once where there were lovely white sandy beaches there is now nothing except fallen trees. Many homes that were metres from the beachfront are now part of the beach. The people are at the mercy of any Tsunami that might occur due to volcanic activity.

Passport Scam

An officer from immigration has been arrested and charged with issuing passports frequently. It will now be up to the courts to decide whether the charge is true or not. It is expected that further arrests are to be made.

National Provident Fund

It now appears that the 50 percent write down which was reduced to 15 percent may now become 25 percent for fund members who have been in the fund prior to 31 December 1998. Members, who have joined since January 1999, will have their savings written down by 15 percent.

Airlink

Airlink has announced that it will introduce services to Tari with connections to Mount Hagen, Port Moresby, Madang, Goroka and Lae.

New Ireland

A Telikom repeater station located on Anir Island was destroyed during Christmas. It is estated that it will cost K2.5 million to replace the 152 stolen solar panels and 48 high amperage batteries whilst associated telecommunication cabling was shredded to pieces and scattered all over the place.

Copra Prices

The price of Copra has risen by 16 percent. It has gone from K259 to K311 in main ports for hot-air dried copra. The price rise, which will come into effect from the 1st of January, offers little consolation to many families who missed out on a happy Christmas due to the low prices and extremely long delays in payments.

The Copra Marketing Board is attempting to raise a loan for K5 million from commercial sources to further prop up the prices of copra.

PNG Defence Force

The Defence Force has announced a new commanding officer for the Engineering Battalion located in Lae. The new commander of the Igam Barracks is Lt Colonel Verave Mae.

Home Brew

It has been reported that home brew arrests have dominated police reports in the New Guinea Island region. 21 home brew arrests were made in Kokopo, Keravat and Rabaul over the Christmas period.

Lae Scouts

Scouting families and ex-scouts of the North Shore in Sydney have donated second-hand uniforms for use by scouts in Lae after a media campaign in a local Sydney newspaper requested uniforms. The coordinator of the exercise hopes to be able to widen

Motor Vehicle Insurance

Hot on the heels of a recent price rise the cost of registering a motor vehicle in PNG is set to rise by 25 percent from the first of January.

Red Cross Blood Bank

Local Blood Bank identity, sister Rosemary Munaga, has had her motor vehicle taken from her for the second time this year as she has arrived at work. Despite the upset of being held up at gun point she continued to collect the much needed blood which is always in short supply of the Christmas - New Year period.

Oro Provincial Government

The Oro Provincial Government is dissatisfied with National Government's 2001 budget allocation for the province.

2001

Will the year 2001 see a settlement to the troubles in Bougainville? Has the Political Integrity Bill stopped the musical chairs that politicians have been able to play with the various political parties?

Port Moresby Fireworks

Residents of Port Moresby will be treated to a special fireworks display as part of the major celebrations to celebrate the New Year. The fireworks, being hosted by the National Capital District Commission, will be held at Ela Beach on New Year's eve.

Fokker F27 Friendship

I believe that 1961 was the year that Trans Australian Airlines (now merged with Qantas) introduced the Fokker F27 to Papua New Guinea. I have never had the privilege of flying on one within PNG but I have travelled from Melbourne to Canberra so I can imagine the vast improvement from the DC3's that were flown here prior to that. I am not sure whether the Fokker was the first aircraft in PNG to have a hostess on board or not but I know they did carry cabin crew here 40 years ago.

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PNG newspaper sites

• Post Courier -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg
• National -- http://www.thenational.com.pg

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Created 01 Jan 2001
Updated 01 Jan 2001

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