Links
PNG Aviation related web sites
MAF Australia (PNG Info) -- http://www.maf.org.au/png/pnginfo.php
-- be warned this link will fail in the future.
Glenn Rice at MAF Australia advises the following -- "for your
future reference, we have just put in a new website with a new look and
are in the process of updating our content. So for now, you may want to
just link to the top-level of our site @ -- http://www.maf.org.au.
The direct link to the new PNG info page is: -- http://www.maf.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=
125 -- (we haven't got search-engine friendly URLs working yet!)
However, the old link that you published still works for now.
Anyway, hope this helps. Keep up the great work with the newsletter".
Thanks for the update Glenn.
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 web site on a daily
basis to find out the exchange rate as the rates on the web site are updated
by all the major PNG banks on a regular basis throughout the working day
but the web site offers more than that. The best way to find out what it
has is to visit the site.
PNG Dockyard
http://www.pngdockyard.com.pg/
-- PNG Dockyard Ship Repair Docks are located in Port Moresby's Fairfax
Harbour. This facility, along with its qualified work force of over 200
national and expatriate employees has the capacity to undertake all major
ship repairs.
PNG Coffee
Since I have just returned from Goroka I might as put in a plug for Kongo
Coffee. The company, from Goroka, advertises premium quality, freshly roasted
coffee. For enquires you can contact them at Kundiawa on +675 735 8304 --
Fax +675 735 1130 and at Goroka on +675 732 3069 -- Fax +675 732 3068 or
email them on -- kongo
[@] global.net.pg
Miscellaneous Sites
Surfing information for PNG can be found at the Surfing Association of
PNG website located at -- http://www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg/home.htm
-- and -- http://www.surfing-waves.com/travel/papua_ng.htm
-- The Tourism Promotion Authority December 2003 Newsletter also had an
article on surfing PNG at -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg/news/newsletters/newsletterdec.htm
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 Web Site for the PNG Institute of Directors gives 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 - for all your travel needs -- http://www.frontiertravelpng.com.pg
-- There are many travel agents in PNG but I am having trouble locating
web site links for them. Does any one know what are the links for the other
travel companies?
Grafitti Signs -- mailto:grafitti
@ datec.net.pg
The Lonely Planet Guide to PNG is located at -- http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/australasia/papua_new_guinea/
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free web based encyclopaedia and the information it has
on PNG can be located at the following web address -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea
Living Water Mission
http://www.livingwatermission.org/About_Papua_New_Guinea.htm
-- The Living Water Mission is based in Sewetaitai Bay on Normanby Island,
Milne Bay Province.
News Items
Prison Stats
It has been announced that more people headed off to serve a jail sentence
in 2004 than what happened in 2003. In 2004 3907 new prisoners were admitted
to jails compared with 3582 in 2003. Total breakouts increased from 122 in
2003 to 128 last year.
No Pay
It has been revealed that more than 20 elementary school teachers in the
province of East New Britain have not been paid any salary for the last three
years. It has been claimed by one of the teachers that the provincial elementary
supervisor for East New Britain has promised that the teachers would be paid
since 2002 by so far they have received nothing.
People's National Congress
It would seem that Sir William Skate, a founder of People's National Congress
(PNC) party, has parted company with PNC and will sit in the middle benches
of Parliament rather than play petty party politics. The party chief, Opposition
Leader Peter O'Neill, has said the party respected his views and was happy
for him to become an independent. This effectively sacks Sir William from
the party he helped to found.
Tok Pisin Dictionary
This country and its education system have been without dictionaries for
thirty years. The only dictionary of Melanesian Pidgin to English and English
to Melanesian Pidgin has been out of print since the 1970's. Now, The Jacaranda
Dictionary and Grammar of Melanesian Pidgin by F. Mihalic S.V.D. is available
again in 2005. This 375-page dictionary is a vital tool in the education process
of training people to speak, read and write the Melanesian Pidgin language.
This trusted and concise dictionary that has an excellent Grammar of Melanesian
Pidgin section in the front, along with twenty-three Word Group sections at
the back:
Schoolroom Terms; Anatomical Terms; Physiological Terms; Diseases and Sickness;
Medicines, Remedies, Nursing; Carpentry and Building Terms; Mechanics and
Engineering; Nautical Terms; Fish, Fishing and Sea foods; Animals, Insects,
Hunting; Birds; Plants and Trees with their Scientific Names; Fruits, Vegetables,
Gardening; European Foods; Household Terms; Clothing: Native and European;
Terms used by New Guinea Police relating to Courts and the Law; Doctrinal
Terms; Ethical and Moral Terms; Biblical Terms; Names of Books of New Testament;
Liturgical and Worship Terms; Liturgical Feasts and Seasons
The dictionary can be yours now for under K20 per copy.
Order today at -- ssaholt @ datec.net.pg--
or phone Steve Aholt in Goroka at +675 732-2164
The number of copies is limited so order today.
Another Ambulance
Rotary International is providing another fully fitted four-wheel drive ambulance
for remote PNG. The vehicle is being shipped, along with medical supplies,
from Brisbane, Australia and will be used to transport patients to and from
remote hospitals although taking the rapidly deteriorating roads during the
wet season in Port Moresby the vehicle may have to be used on the rudimentary
roads that were once main roads within the National Capital.
Flu Outbreak
An outbreak of flu in the Finschaffen district of Morobe province has killed
five people. Of the five two were children and three were adults. The deaths
occurred because there has been an acute shortage of drugs in the area. Funds
to purchase drugs have been donated by the local MP for Finschaffen as well
as to send health officers to the areas that have been affected.
PNG Poet
The American based International Society of Poets has nominated a poet from
PNG as amateur poet of the year. The poet, Benjamin Vali, is an instructor
at the Timber and Forestry Training College in Lae. The nomination puts Mr
Vali in the running for a $US20,000 prize.
PNG Passports
If you are a PNG citizens and have to renew a passport or expect to be able
to get a new passport for overseas travel think again. It is expected that
there will be no new passport stock for until June. This means that if you
are lucky enough to be able to afford to travel overseas and you do not have
an existing passport or your passport has less than 6 months validity then
you may face an uphill battle to get a passport. The Department of Foreign
Affairs is only able to issue PNG certificates of Identity or PNG emergency
travel documents. The delay is being placed on the changes in technology and
current global security concerns but other countries in the region have managed
to be able to keep up with the latest security requirements. It seems more
like a lack of money and / or some one slacking off in the Foreign affairs
department.
PNG Folktales
One Thousand One Papua New Guinean Nights:
Folktales from Wantok Newspaper
Translated and Edited by Thomas H. Slone
One Thousand One Papua New Guinean Nights is a two-volume collection of folktales
that were originally published in Papua New Guinea's Wantok newspaper. The
folktales were in Tok Pisin, the Pidgin English language of Papua New Guinea.
The two-volume collection presents the complete set of over 1000 folktales
published between 1972 and 1997. The book represents one of the largest general
collections of Papua New Guinean folktales and it is worthwhile getting a
copy. All of Papua New Guinea's provinces and approximately 35 percent of
Papua New Guinea's 800 language/culture groups are represented. The first
volume includes the introduction and 550 folktales; the second volume includes
the remaining folktales, indices, a glossary, a set of maps and a gazetteer.
All the folktales have been extensively indexed by - author, village, original
language (or culture group), province, flora and fauna, and folklore motif.
The book is available directly from the publisher at -- http://THSlone.tripod.com/masalaipress.html
and from Amazon.com -- http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?tag=abibliogrofmelan&keyword=slone+papua&mode=books
barnesandnoble.com -- http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=slone+papua
and bamm.com -- http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?type=keyword&find=slone+papua&x=6&y=6
Further information about the book and a couple of sample stories can be
found at -- http://THSlone.tripod.com/1001PNGnights.html
A sample story from Milne Bay, reprinted with permission of the author, can
also be found at -- http://michie.net/pnginfo/1001.html
Thomas H. Slone is a staff scientist at the University of California at Berkeley.
Sineboudalili
Thanks to the author of 1001 PNG Nights - Thomas H. Slone - a request for
information about a book titled with a name similar to Sineboudalili has been
located. Thomas pointed the person enquiring to the relevant section at Amazon.COM
and the enquirer purchased 3 out of 4 copies on offer. Thanks Thomas and also
thanks to the other readers that responded with helpful suggestions.
Coming Events
Mining Conference -- PNG's premier mining conference will be held between
the 23rd and 25th of May at the Lae International Hotel. This will be the
seventh Geology, Exploration, and Mining Conference. For further information
please contact the PNG Chamber of mines -- conf[@]pngchamberminpet.com.pg
- Telephone +675 321 2988 and Facsimile +675 321 7107.
Manan Island
The Manan Island Volcano has erupted again and the evacuation of people remaining
on the islands is being carried out by the government chartered Motuan Chief.
Over 800 people have been evacuated in this exercise so far. Authorities have
decided that the inhabitants of Manan Island will now be permanently resettled
on the mainland of PNG.
International Schools
The Headquarters for the International Education Agency (IEA) has moved location
from a small building on the Port Moresby International School site to the
old Ela Beach International School site.
Catholic Education
St Joseph's International Catholic School in Port Moresby offers good quality
primary education in Port Moresby. The school can be contacted on phone number
+675 325 3733 - fax +675 325 3237 and by email - joseph
@ daltron.com.pg
2005 International School Dates
IEA School terms for 2005
Term 1 -- 10 weeks from 31st January to 8th April.
Term 2 -- 10 weeks from 26th April to 1st July
Term 3 -- 10 weeks from 11th July to 15th September
Term 4 -- 10 weeks 3rd October to 9th December.
2005 Government School Dates
Term dates for PNG government run schools are as follows
Term 1 -- 31st January to 15th April.
Term 2 -- 26th April to 1st July
Term 3 -- 11th July to 23rd September
Term 4 -- 3rd October to 9th December.
Public Motor Vehicles
An increase of 20 toea per trip has been authorised for Public Motor Vehicle
(PMV) passengers in Port Moresby. There was an aborted attempt to increase
the fares before Christmas but this was declared null and void. Full fare
passengers will now have to pay 70 toea per trip and police are monitoring
the PMV buses to make sure the drivers complete the full route. Previously
drivers have been stoping halfway along the route and making the passengers
hop off after paying the full fare. The bus is then driven around the block
and often comes back to pick up the same passengers and make then pay another
50 toea to complete their trip. The police say that with the increase in the
fare this practice must stop.
FAQ's Infant Death Rate
What is the infant death rate (IDR) in PNG?
In 1971 the IDR was 174 per 1000 and now in 2004 it is down to 64 per 1000.
The IDR in 1980 was 72 per thousand. The child mortality rate for children
under five years old is down to 24 per 1000 compared to 91 children in 1971.
The International Conference on Population and Development has a goal of 35
deaths per 1000 for IDR and the less than five mortality rate to be less than
45 per thousand.
For the answer to more FAQ's about PNG please visit -- http://michie.net/png_faqs.
-- If you know the answer to a frequently asked question or if you find one
that is out of date or you know for a fact it is wrong then please feel free
to contribute by dropping an email to this newsletter. Please let me know
if you want your name down as the contributor to the answer.
Air Niugini
As announced in a previous issue of the PNG Gossip - Air Niugini is on the
lookout for one, possibly two aircraft, to help the airline serve a recently
won contract with a mining company. Air Niugini beat other airline companies
in the country to a predominantly cargo charter for Oil Search Limited based
at Moro. The start date of the contract has been set for the 1st of March
2005. Air Niugini is currently operating 3 Dash 8 aircraft plus 3 or 4 Fokker
F28 4000 series and 2 Fokker F100 aircraft along with a solitary Boeing B767.
The two Fokker F100's are equipped with business class seats and are capable
of being flown to Brisbane if, for some reason, the B767 is out of action
thus providing the airline with some back up capability on the Australian
international sectors. Air Niugini is currently offering the Fokker business
class seats at a discount within the country in an attempt to fill the often-vacant
seats.
The red rat has returned to the skies of PNG. A Qantas B767 was scheduled
to takeover from the Air Niugini B767 when it went in for a lengthy, scheduled
service. The red rat, however, proved that even Qantas can get into difficulties
and the normally good Air Niugini schedule was thrown into chaos as Air Niugini
and Qantas attempted to find another B767 to replace the faulty Qantas one.
Needless to say spare Boeing 767's do not come easily.
Yahoo Groups
If you want to find a Yahoo group that deals with Papua New Guinea then I
recommend that you visit this link -- http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=papua+new+guinea&submit=Search
-- with any luck you will find a whole list of groups that may interest you.
The Yahoo regional directory on PNG is located at -- http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/Papua_New_Guinea/
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.
Law Awareness Book
If you are interested in PNG Law then you will be interested to know that
Stanley Kuli Liria has produced a book to raise awareness of the various PNG
laws for non-legal professionals. It has been written to be as simple as possible.
The book explains the rights; freedoms, court processes and other basic areas
of law that the grass roots people need to understand to appreciate relations
and interaction with others in the society. The author comes from the Southern
Highlands Province of PNG and is a practising lawyer. -- http://michie.net/pnginfo/law.html
PNG Media
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