Links
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.
Weather Links
Most of the links for PNG weather have now disappeared the only reliable ones seem to be the following --
Kerema -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0001.html
Kikori -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0002.html
Morobe -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0003.html
Port Moresby -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0004.html
Samarai -- http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/PPXX0005.html
PNG Sailing Website
The PNG Sailing website is still being developed but it is at a stage where it can be viewed -- http://www.sailingpng.com/
MTS Discoverer
MTS Discoverer -- http://www.mtsdiscoverer.com/ -- The MTS Discoverer can cruise for 30 days without the need to take on fuel and water. It is fast, comfortable and is equipped with five tenders and a helicopter (subject to conditions).
Malagan Beach Resort
Malagan Beach Resort -- http://www.malaganresort.com/ -- Malagan Beach Resort, nestled on the foreshore of the crystal clear waters of Nusa Harbour, is located in what is often referred to as a typical "Somerset Maugham" South Sea island setting.
Niugini Dive Adventures
Niugini Dive Adventures -- http://www.pngdiving.com/ -- Niugini Dive Adventures is based at the Madang Resort Hotel in Madang and Malagan Lodge in Kavieng.
Madang Resort Hotel
Madang Resort Hotel -- http://www.madangresort.com/ -- A hidden jewel in the South Pacific, Madang is a totally unexpected montage of tribal cultures, immense beauty, friendly people and pristine diving.
Tourism Sites
Air Niugini -- http://www.airniugini.com.pg
DIVErsion Dive -- http://www.diversionOZ.com/epngdive.htm
Lonely Planet Website -- http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/dest/aust/png.htm
Madang Diving -- http://www.madangdiving.org.pg
Melanesian Tourist Services - http://www.meltours.com
MV Golden Dawn -- http://www.mvgoldendawn.com
Niugini Art -- http://www.global.net.pg/niugini-art
Niugini Diving -- http://www.niuginidiving.com
Tourism Promotion Authority -- http://www.pngtourism.org.pg
Trans Niugini Tours -- http://www.pngtours.com
Misc Sites
PNG People & Places -- http://www.aboutpng.com
PNG Government Online -- http://www.pngonline.gov.pg
Designscope Architects -- http://www.designscope.com.pg
Water Ski Club
The Port Moresby Water Ski Club has a website located at -- http://www.nla.com.pg/pomwsc/home.htm
Summer Institute of Linguistics
The Summer Institute of Linguistics is celebrating 50 years of being in PNG. The Institute started in PNG in 1956 after being invited by the government to help translate the Bible into some of the many languages spoken in PNG. -- http://www.sil.org.pg
Game Fishing Titles
The web site for recently held 31st Game Fishing Championships in Lae has been updated with pictures and all the results -- http://www.gfapng-titles2006.global.net.pg/ then click on "Results" >> "Tournament Images" and select the day/event. This is another -- http://www.cybermasta.com/ -- web site.
News Items
Chuave By-election
The Supreme Court has confirmed that the by-election for the Chuave Open seat in Simbu province must go ahead. This leaves only one month for the election to be arranged and held as the PNG constitution bars the commission from holding any by-elections within 12 months of a general election. A general election is due for PNG in June next year.
Eco-Tech Training
Did you know that the Eco-Tech Training Centre at Warangoi in the East New Britain province has used organic farming methods instead of using high profile chemicals for the last 12 years? The centre also encourages farmers attending courses to use resources that are available in their own communities. Many farmers in PNG use nothing but organic methods to farm their produce.
Department of Finance
A Department of Finance senior employee has been arrested and charged with misappropriating K1 million. A first assistant secretary, is also expected to be arrested and served with the same charges. Two other people were convicted of the same crime last year and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into massive fraud and corruption activities within the Finance Department.
Rampant Funds Misuse
Justice Bernard Sakora, a National Court Judge, is alarmed that misappropriation of public funds by well-to-do Papua New Guineans was rampant in the country. He made the remarks when handing down his decision on former Anglimp South Wahgi MP Kuk Kuli. Kuli misappropriated more than K91,600 belonging to the state and was given a four-year six-month fully suspended sentence.
War Compo
It has been reported that the Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, will be seeking assistance from the Japanese government as compensation for war victims when he visits the country in two weeks time. Sir Michael told Parliament that the Japanese army and the Allied forces created a great deal of damage to the country during World War II, and it was only proper that they compensate PNG for their actions.
Citizenship Issues
A businessman in East New Britain is suing the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Sir Rabbie, over refusal to grant citizenship. The president of the East New Britain Chamber of Commerce, Mr Bruce Alexander, has filed a case in court against the Sir Rabbie for his alleged refusal to sign his citizenship certificate.
A government source said that Mr Alexander's application was one of several that are still being reviewed. The source said allegations in the media that Foreign Affairs and Immigrations Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu was blocking Mr Alexander's citizenship bid, was not true.
RSPCA
The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) has handed over the management of the Dog Pound at Gordon's in Port Moresby to the Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). The dog pound will remain at its current location because of the currently available facilities but the management has stepped up its visits to the compound. This means that RSPCA veterinarians will visit daily and carry out full professional checks on the animals held in the pound.
Police Vehicle Abuse
A senior police officer has warned that any police personnel found misusing police vehicles would be penalised.
There always seems to be complaints from the general public about police misusing vehicles in all provinces where some vehicles are seen carrying civilians around to and from shopping and other trips.
Police Beatings
An elderly couple from Simbu have claimed that three drunken police officers from the police dog squad beat them up near the old pineapple building in Waigani. The wife was selling betelnut and cigarettes with other street sellers when the police moved them on not before beating the couple and taking them to Hohola police station. The couple were later released without charges.
Remote Coffee Airlift
Coffee growers in the remote Ononge area of the Goilala district in Central province, with the help of the Ononge Community School have decided to airlift bags of coffee to Port Moresby via air. The school chartered a PNG Airlines aircraft to airlift the bags down to Port Moresby. On the return trip the plane airlifted materials needed for a school project.
Peter Barter to Quit
The Health Minister and Madang MP Sir Peter Barter has announced that he is retiring from politics and will not contest the Madang regional seat in the 2007 general elections due to his ongoing battle with cancer. He has endorsed the former chief justice, Sir Arnold Amet, to replace him as the National Alliance candidate for the Madang regional seat next year.
Sir Peter was first elected to Parliament in 1992. He lost the 1997 election to Jim Kas, but regained the seat in 2002.
Fire Service
The Fire Service in Port Moresby has taken delivery of two more fire trucks and an ambulance donated by the Queensland Emergency Services in Australia. The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce helped to secure funds and co-ordinate the delivery of the vehicles into PNG.
Port Moresby Show
After more than ten years the Port Moresby Show will be revived. The show is expected to be truly Papua New Guinean and under a new name, the Port Moresby Cultural Show. It will also be held at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and not at the Moitaka showgrounds just outside Port Moresby mainly due to security reasons. The show will be held from 26th to the 28th of May.
Interested people or groups can contact the Pacific Events office on telephone +675 325 3553 to get more information on the event.
Fuel Prices
The Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) in Port Moresby have officially launched a brochure explaining about fuel pricing in PNG recently. The brochure addresses questions like, how fuel prices are determined and what influences their movement, why fuel prices change every month and the role of ICCC in determining fuel prices in PNG. Many people are concerned about the monopoly signed between the government and InterOil in 1997 for InterOil to supply fuel to PNG for the next 30 years.
The ICCC says it cannot amend an agreement with refiner InterOil that reportedly allows for the inclusion of shipping costs from Singapore, even though crude oil is sourced from the Southern Highlands and the fuel is refined in Port Moresby. Apparently the 1997 agreement was signed at a time when PNG was in need of foreign investment and it was difficult to resist the multi million kina investment offered by InterOil.
Air Niugini - CEO
The Air Niugini Board have announced the appointment of the General Manager Finance, Wasantha Kumarasiri to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Mr Kumarasiri successfully contested the position from 74 other hopefuls from around the world. This now leaves the General Manager Finance position vacant although it is currently occupied by an overseas consultant.
PX Savings and Loans Society
The Women's Cancer Relief Fund has received a donation of K1,500 from the Air Niugini Savings and Loans Society (ANS&L). The donation will be used to help with the raising of funds to purchase a replacement cancer machine. The fund has raised a total of K283,000 over the last two years, but was well short of the objective of K1 million.
Government Printing
The Government Printer has just taken delivery of some new printing equipment that will automate much of the work now done manually. The printing office now has new electronic equipment including three presses, five binding machines and three high production copiers.
Free Education
Umm, elections must be around the corner!
The People's Progress Party (PPP) has promised to deliver universal free education from elementary to secondary schools if it is elected to govern PNG next year. PPP also said that scholarships would be provided for the top 10% of students graduating from secondary schools to further their studies overseas.
Mount Hagen Water Woes
Residents of Mt Hagen have, once again, had to put up with dry taps in the city. This forced many offices and businesses to close early and inconveniencing many people living in the city. The problem was associated with landowners shutting down the water treatment plant at Rebiamul because they were protesting over unsettled compensation demands.
ACP-EU summit
The PNG Events Council Secretariat is confident that recently renovated Sir John Guise sports stadium venue will be of international standards and be suitable for holding of the biggest international gathering ever seen in PNG. A total of 79 ACP (Africa, Pacific and Caribbean) and 27 EU (European Union) countries are expected to attend the ACP-EU summit.
Go Karts
The 2006 go-kart season has just been launched in Port Moresby. The racing was supposed to have commenced already but the track at the Port Moresby Country Club is being refurbished and will not be ready until June.
Operation Open Heart
This coming week the Health Minister, Sir Peter Barter, will launch Operation Open Heart 2006 in Port Moresby. The launching will mark the beginning of a fundraising drive for this year's programme that is being conducted in August at the Port Moresby General Hospital. Operation Open Heart is one of the successful medical programmes run every year that enables children who would otherwise not survive to adult life to be given a new lease on life. It is estimated that if the operations were to be carried out in Australia they would cost between K70,000 and K80,000 per patient.
Ombudsman Leashed
It looks like changes to the leadership code will curtail some of the investigative work that can be carried out by the Ombudsman. Parliament recently voted 78-3 in favour of amendments to the Organic Law on the duties and responsibilities of leaders. Currently the Ombudsman does not have to work within the rules of evidence when investigating and referring leaders but the amendments will mean that they now have to work "within the legal formalities" of the Evidence Act. A second vote on the amendments will be taken in Parliament after two months.
Kokopo Projects
Two projects worth more than K15 million were recently opened in Kokopo, East New Britain. The two projects include the building of the Kokopo Primary School at a cost of more K7 million and the Kokopo-Warangoi road project valued at over K8 million.
Coming Events
22nd Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum -- businessforum@apngbc.org.au -- The Forum is the major annual bilateral business meeting between Australia and PNG. It will be held at the Novotel Palm Cove Resort in Cairns, Australia from the 14th to 16th of May, 2006 -- http://www.bcpng.org.pg
Lukim PNG Nau Exposition -- Port Moresby from the 16th to the 18th of May.
24th to the 27th of May, 2006 -- Morobe Biang Ngayan Cultural Festival -- Biang and Ngayan are words in two Morobe languages for "good". Morobe has the second largest number of languages in the country with around 90 - second only to Madang with over 100 languages.
Africa, Pacific and Caribbean nations and European Union Conference -- from the 27th of May to the 3rd of June
Tufi Cultural Show -- Tufi from the 9th to the 11th of June
PNG 31st Independence Anniversary - 16th September 2006
====================
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