Links
PNG Business and Tourism Directory
PNG Business and Tourism Directory -- http://www.pngbd.com
-- This web site is probably the most useful stopping point for anyone interested
in finding out more about PNG. Many businesses use the website on a daily
basis to find out the exchange rate as the rates on the website are updated
by the banks on a regular basis throughout the working day but the website
offers more than that. The best way to find out what it has is to visit the
site.
New Web Site
The Pacifca group has a new web site located at -- http://www.pacifica.com.pg.
Pacifica covers Human Resource solutions and marine services.
Hope World Wide
Hope World Wide PNG -- http://www.png.hopeww.org/index.htm
Miscellaneous Sites
The unofficial Port Moresby High School site is located at -- http://www.maipng.com/pomhi/
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce website can be found at -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
The PNG Institute of Directors has revamped its website with the help of
an AESOP Volunteer, Peter Griffin. It is an excellent introduction to PNG
company law and related governance issues it can be found at -- http://www.pngid.org.pg
Papua New Guinea Institute of Accountants -- http://www.pngia.org.pg
Rotary Club of Boroko and Papua New Guinea -- http://www.rotary.org.pg
Friends of the Disabled Association -- http://www.foda.org.pg
Frontier Travel -- http://www.frontiertravelpng.com.pg
Grafitti Signs -- grafitti@datec.net.pg
Scuba Adventures - Kavieng, New Ireland province -- http://www.scubakavieng.com
-- +675 984 1244
Nathalie Le Riche-Reimann's artistic web site can be found at -- http://www.picturetrail.com/leriche
South Pacific Exports
If you need that hard to get part for your electrical / communications gear
or even a special tool send email to Peter Goleby at < sp.exports@bigpond.com
> - he might just be able to help you out or at least point you in the
right direction. Peter claims he will attempt to get anything legal for you
so long as he can add a small amount to cover his own costs.
Real Estate Agents Association
The PNG Real Estate Agents Association, a non-profit making organisation
operation under the laws of Papua New Guinea has a site located at -- http://www.reaa.org.pg/news.htm
Wartime Link Error
A few links in the last edition have disappeared. Unfortunately I have not
been able to trace them. Can any one find where these ones have gone? -- www.onthenet.com.au/~vetnet/wewak.htm
-- Wewak and surrounding area during World War II
Another missing one was -- www.onthenet.com.au/~vetnet/newguine.htm
-- Information about Salamaua, Wau, Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 3rd Division,
Nassau Bay, Salamaua Falls, Huon Peninsula Campaign, Lae, Finschaffen, Sattelberg,
Shaggy Ridge, Saidor, and Madang during World War II
And yet another one was -- www.onthenet.com.au/~vetnet/papua.htm
-- The Coral Sea, Kokoda Trail, Japanese land in Papua, Imita Ridge, Gona,
Buna, and Sanananda during World War II
Here some replacement links that do work (hopefully) -- Shaggy Ridge; a famous
fight, high in the mountains of PNG -- http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-battles/ww2/shaggy-ridge.htm
Australian War Diary, WW2, The Pacific, New Guinea, Shaggy Ridge -- http://www.minerva.com.au/austwardiary/warriors/army/ww2/pacific/shaggy%20ridge.htm
-- and in general -- http://www.minerva.com.au/austwardiary/warriors/warriors.htm
The Buna, Gona & Sanananda Campaigns -- http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-battles/ww2/gona-buna-san.htm
News Items
PNG Independence Day
PNG gained Independence from Australia on the 16th of September 1975 - 29
years ago today.
National Anthem
Since it is Independence Day here is the PNG National Anthem.
Arise all you sons
Oh arise all you sons of this land
Let us sing of our joy to be free
Praising God and rejoicing to be
Papua New Guinea
Shout our names from the mountains to the seas
Papua New Guinea
Let us raise our voices and proclaim
Papua New Guinea
Give thanks to the good Lord above
For His kindness, his mercy and love
For this land of our fathers is free
Papua New Guinea
Shout again for the whole world to hear
Papua New Guinea
We're independent and free
Papua New Guinea
National Flag
Who designed the flag of Papua New Guinea?
Susan Karike (Now Mrs Huhume) then a seventeen-year-old attending Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart School on Yule Island designed the National Flag in 1972.
The flag was officially raised at Independence Hill on the 16th of September
1975. The PNG Frequently Asked Questions knowledgebase needs you help. The
database -- http://michie.net/png_faqs
-- is growing but it still does not meet all the needs of the people who use
it, if you are knowledgeable about PNG and think you can help then please
contact this newsletter.
Health Graduates
PNG is leading Fiji in the number of health graduates according to the head
of the Fiji School of Medicine. He said that Fiji trained many doctors but
they go into private practice or leave Fiji to work in other countries
Kagamuga Airport
The Prime Minister, Michael Somare, has officially opened the improvements
to the Kagamuga Airport, just outside Mt Hagen. PMV's travelling from Mt Hagen
to the airport were able to double their fare and charge passengers K1.00
per trip. The runway at Kagamuga has been extended to 2190 metres and a fully
loaded Fokker F28 can now land. It has been stated that the Fokker F100 would
be able to use the airport if trees were trimmed in the vicinity,
PNG Airports
Part of the annual K700 million funding package from Australia via AusAID
will be used to improve 15 major airports around the country. Some of the
funding will also be use to improve wharves around the country.
Robbers Beware
Robbery has become so common in many parts of PNG that the victims are now
becoming fed up and taking out their anger on opportunistic robbers. Yet another
report has come in of the robbed turning on the robbers and inflicting serious
injuries on them. In recent incidents the robbers have definitely come off
second best.
Cancer Unit
Pleas have been made by the deputy Dean of the School of Medicine and Health
Sciences to re-establish the cancer radiotherapy unit in Lae. The unit has
been closed for many years and cancer patients in the country have no hope
of getting local treatment.
Maprik Radio
An FM radio Station for Maprik, East Sepik Province may soon become a reality
after two politicians donated K80,000 towards the cause.
Tokarara High School
The Bank South Pacific (BSP) has donated 15 computers to Tokarara High School.
BSP has also recently donated six computers to Sogeri National High School
and Iarowari High School outside Port Moresby. The majority of school students
in PNG do not have access to computer technology.
PNG Passports
The PNG Cabinet has approved a submission to improve the security features
of PNG passports ti ensure the authenticity of it and prevent tampering. Foreign
Affairs is currently issuing identity certificates to people travelling to
Australia and New Zealand rather than passports. They are only issuing new
passports to people travelling to Europe and only once tickets have been sighted.
New passports will be issued as soon as the security features have been incorporated
into the passport design.
Mining Loss
The government could lose K120 million worth of funding in European Union
funding because the Department of Mining has not implemented the establishment
of a Mineral Resources Authority to replace the Department of Mining. In the
past PNG has jeopardised many loans by not complying with terms and conditions.
Many organisations are willing and able to help PNG but it would appear that
due to political and bureaucratic incompetence and neglect the loans are forgotten
about and lost.
Coming Events
PNG Independence Day -- Today 16th September
Tufi Cultural Festival -- from the 17th to the 19th of September 2004
The International School of Lae Craft Show -- Saturday 18th September.
Medical Symposium
The annual PNG medical symposium has been successfully run in Port Moresby.
Medical personnel from all over PNG and from Australia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu,
Fiji and the United States of America attended the symposium that was held
from the 6th to the 10th of September. The theme this year was "Medical
and Health Issues".
NBC
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has been accused of, in a AusAID
report, "lacking focus" in their core business of broadcasting.
The report - the PNG Media Development Initiative report - says the current
program format used by the NBC is "extremely outdated" and "there
is limited knowledge by management of NBC's audience or market share".
The report went on to slam the broadcaster by saying that the NBC "has
a bureaucratic, process-orientated culture that is slow to deliver decisions".
Keravat High School
Over 20 students from Keravat National High School in East New Britain have
been suspended for their alleged involvement in cult activities. The students
have been suspended for two weeks just as they prepare themselves for the
national examinations. The Education Department Secretary issued instructions
to schools earlier this year to take tougher penalties against students involved
in cult activities in an effort to deter and halt the problem.
Horse Racing Machines
The illegal horse racing machines are in the news again. This time one of
them has supposedly burst into flames while paying out to a customer causing
thirty-five people to become homeless. The fire started in a trade store and
spread to four houses at Erima in Port Moresby. School students have lost
all their schoolwork and workers have lost references, certificates and tools
of trade in the fire.
Pipes And Drums
The pipe and drum band of the First Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (1PIR)
is to be resurrected. The band based at Taurama barracks just outside Port
Moresby has not been heard for many years when the many of the band were retrenched.
The commanding officer of 1PIR has recently sought assistance to purchase
six sets of bagpipes to revive the band. Australia has also offered to help
retrain the retrenched band members and train new members. It is hoped that
the band will be able to start practicing in October.
Bank South Pacific
The Bank South Pacific has announced an after tax half year profit of K45.5
million and its total assets have grown to be worth K1.9 billion. The increase
in profits is attributed to an intensive transformation in 2004, prudent expenditure
controls, stringent balance sheets and liquidity management.
On The Spot Fines
The National Capital District and Central Divisional Commander has ordered
his men to stop collecting K50 On-the-spot fines from street sellers. He was
acting on complaints from three women who were fined for selling betel nut,
cigarettes and ice blocks. The women were issued a National Capital District
Commission (NCDC) receipt for the money but the commander said he would investigate
whether this is legitimate or not. Officials from NCDC said there was no arrangement
with police to collect fines from sellers on behalf of the Commission.
Illegal Copies
People travelling to USA have been warned not to take pirate copies of music
cassettes, video tapes, photocopies of US magazines, medical publications
etc as they will not be allowed to enter USA and they will have their visa
cancelled. Even one piece of a pirated item is enough to deny the carrier
entry to USA.
Public Service Cuts
The National Executive Council has approved a 10 percent cut in Public Servant
numbers by 2007. The cuts would save around K75 million in 2007 based on projections
of salaries paid to public servants. Ad-hoc reductions in public service numbers
in the past have not worked so it is hoped that a better approach is made
for this exercise.
Millionaire?
A former National Gaming Board chairman has been found guilty of misappropriating
more than K3 million of public funds but has only been sentenced to nine years
of imprisonment with hard labour if he doe not repay K1 million of the misappropriated
money within 18 months. He was also placed on a good behaviour bond for five
years and has to perform community work for five years under the supervision
of a probation officer. There was no evidence that any of the misappropriated
money was applied to the benefit of the guilty party. The key player in the
misappropriation was the former Registrar of the Gaming Board, Paul Aisa who
was at the centre of the cashing of 41 cheques. The Judge carrying out the
sentence said that the people that appointed the accused, a man with no qualifications
to carry out the job, should be held responsible in this case it would be
the Finance Minister and the National Executive Council.
Chimbu Police
Police in Chimbu have had to buy fuel from their own pocket because they
are rationed 30 litres of fuel three times a week and that amount is not enough
for the police to monitor the whole province.
Telikom Sale
The sale of Telikom to Econet Wireless is going to be reviewed immediately
following criticisms in the media and parliament. An independent audit team
made up of people from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsui in Australia will conduct
a full review. An agreement was signed with another proposed purchaser to
buy Telikom in July 2002 but it has been reported that this agreement expired.
On the surface this original deal seems like a better package for PNG.
Electric Bicycle
Lohberger Engineering are assembling bicycles in PNG with electric motors.
The bicycle is capable of cruising for up to 45 kilometres on a fully charged
battery at 20 kilometres per hour. The bicycle also has pedals that can boost
the speed even further depending on how well your legs can push. To recharge
the battery takes approximately five hours. I have seen them advertised for
K1350. If you are interested then contact -- ernestl@lohberger.com.pg
-- for more details.
Real Estate Agents
Arthur Strachan (Lae) -- http://www.arthurstrachan.com.pg
Ashton Brunswick -- ashtonsbruns@daltron.com.pg
Century 21 -- http://www.century21.com.pg
and http://www.siule.com.pg
City Homes Real Estate -- http://www.cityhomes.com.pg
Kohoy Real Estate -- http://kohoyrealestates.tripod.com
L.J Hooker -- http://www.ljhooker.com
Parklane Real Estate -- http://www.parklane.com.pg
Ray White Real Estate -- monian@online.net.pg
Strickland RE -- http://www.sre.com.pg
The Professionals -- http://www.theprofessionals.com.pg
Home Brew
The general manager of South Pacific Brewery has said that alcohol is a major
cause of violence in the country but blames home brew, as being the major
form of alcohol causing the problem. He said that people are able to consume
or sell their home brew with little fear of being caught or prosecuted. He
said that some home brew had an alcohol content of 70 percent and his SP product
only had 4.5 percent.
University of Vudal
Sir Julius Chan has been installed as the new chancellor to the University
of Vudal in East New Britain province. Dr. Philip Siaguru has been appointed
as the new vice chancellor. Dr. Siaguru is currently the academic pro vice
chancellor at the University of Technology in Lae and will not take up his
position until early next year. The university is based around an agricultural
discipline. Sir Julius replaces the former Chancellor, the late Sir Alkan
Tololo.
PNG Media
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