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.
Helifix PNG
Helifix PNG is developing a web site to showcase its products. The
web site can be located at -- http://www.helifix.com.pg
PNG Stories
Stories from PNG -- for a sample from the twin book set of 1001
PNG Nights please visit -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/1001.html
-- and for a couple more stories visit the homepage for the two books
at -- http://thslone.tripod.com/1001PNGnights.html
For stories about "Compensation Twentieth
Century Style" and others please visit -- http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cove/9183/
National Economic & Fiscal Commission
The web site for the National Economic and Fiscal Commission (NEFC)
can be found at -- http://www.nefc.gov.pg
-- The NEFC is an independent constitutional advisory body of the State
of PNG. The web site is intended to provide information about the NEFC,
the system of intergovernmental financing arrangements in PNG and other
fiscal matters regarding the 19 Provincial and 312 Local-Level Governments.
Jane's PNG
Jane's Papua New Guinea web site -- A pictorial insight with comments
on Papua New Guinea traditional culture, art and history. Contains a
series of excellent photographs and can be located at --
http://www.janeresture.com/png_home/
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 and Places -- http://www.aboutpng.com
PNG Government Online -- http://www.pngonline.gov.pg
Designscope Architects -- http://www.designscope.com.pg
Kokoda Trek
From time to time the Kokoda Trail pops up in one-way or another. It
seems to be the one thing along with the Highland Shows, the towns of
Madang and Rabaul that are mentioned frequently by tourists wishing
to come to PNG. The trail or track is well known for its part in the
fight between the Allies and the Japanese in the Second World War but
nowadays it has become "the" walk to do in PNG. There are
plenty of other walks that are possibly better but perhaps the Kokoda
walk is the benchmark for physical endurance. Many operators offer the
Kokoda Trail complete with carriers to help with the necessary food
and camping equipment. Here are some of the operators starting with
my favourite, -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au
-- run by Gail Thomas at PNG Business and Tourism Directory -- http://www.pngbd.com
-- of course it is up to the reader to make their own choice when choosing
any tour company.
+- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au
+- http://www.pngtrekking.com.pg
+- http://www.kokodaspirit.com.pg
+- http://www.nghols.com
If you are interested in walking the Kokoda Trail then please read
the following account -- http://www.kokodatrail.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=218
News Items
European Union
The European Union (EU) has spent about K3 billion under the EU development
cooperation programme in PNG since independence. This makes the EU the
second biggest PNG donor behind Australia It has been announced that
the EU will provide the same level of funding for PNG from 2008 to 2013.
Tourism Association
Michael Buleau is the newly elected president of PNG Tourism Industry
Association. Mr Buleau said the association is seen as the umbrella
body for the PNG tourism industry and has a responsibility to ensure
that all tourism stakeholders had confidence in it and that it effectively
represented their concerns and needs at the highest levels.
Mr Buleau, a former employee of Air Niugini, takes over from the outgoing
president Glen Armstrong from EMTV.
K100 Robbery
A man convicted of robbing a motorist of K100 and bankcards in Lae
was sentenced to three years in jail for armed robbery. Lae resident
National Court judge Justice George Manuhu said it was difficult to
sentence a man to jail such a robbery because the crime was serious
for a very little amount of money.
Animal Transport
Anglimp South Wahgi MP Jamie Maxtone-Graham has invited an animal transport
solutions expert to visit and investigate the possibilities of utilising
trained animals, mainly oxen, water buffaloes and horses in the rural
areas of PNG, particularly the highlands region.
Prof Paul Starkey, an expert on animal traction and chairman of the
International Forum for Rural Transport and Development, arrived last
Friday.
University Merger
The Rightsizing of the Public Sector Working Group has recommended
that the University of Goroka, the University of Technology and Vudal
University should merge with the University of PNG (UPNG) to save costs.
The Group recommended that these existing establishment be come regional
campuses of UPNG. The Group also recommended that the Divine Word University
be invited to operate under the same structure. Another recommendation
was that the PNG Maritime College should merge with Divine Word.
Solomon Island
The Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu has
announced that PNG will be providing a K20 million aid package to the
new Solomon Islands government over the coming years. He also said that
PNG would be providing technical assistance to Solomon Islands.
American Tourists
Fifteen tourists from California are currently visiting PNG and experiencing
something very different from their normal holidays. The group, comprised
of seasoned travellers, has not been to PNG before but felt that PNG
had something special to offer them. The group is spending 12 days visiting
Mt Hagen, the Sepik River, Madang and Tari. Two members of the group
went for a diving trip to Tawali Resort in Milne Bay and have been heard
remarking to tour organiser, Kerry Byrd, that it is the best diving
spot in the world.
123 Preferential Voting
Luther Wenge the Governor of Morobe Province will test the validity
/ legality of the limited preferential voting (LPV) system. Mr Wenge
has filed the papers in the Supreme Court to declare the LPV unconstitutional.
If his case is successful, the first-past-the-post system would be reinstated.
Eye Tester
The Masonic Lodge of Mount Hagen has donated a new eye-testing machine
called a slit lamp to the Mount Hagen General Hospital. The previous
slit lamp machine at the hospital had been out of order for many years.
The Lodge has previously donated an indirect ophthalmoscope and a lensometer
to the hospital.
Police Embarrassment
Twenty-five villagers from Zifasing village, Markham Valley have been
arrested for damaging property and being drunk and disorderly near the
Erap farm section of the Highlands Highway. It has been alleged that
the villagers assaulted five policemen from the police dog unit on their
way back to Lae. The villagers also removed the siren and damaged parts
of the police vehicle being driven by the policemen before driving it
away to their village, leaving the officers stranded on the road. The
stranded policemen eventually returned to Lae and went back with reinforcements
to arrest the perpetrators.
Goroka Accident
A vehicle allegedly owned by Gumine MP Nick Kuman, overturned on Tuesday
night near the Kabiufa High School. It has been reported that the driver
ran off the road while attempting to avoid a pothole. The vehicle, a
Toyota Landcruiser was stripped of vital parts by locals who took advantage
of the situation before police arrived.
Highway Link
The Trans Western-Gulf highway that is now under construction will
link the Western and Gulf provinces for the first time, Housing Minister
and Kikori MP Mark Maipakai said this week.
http://www.thenational.com.pg/051106/nation7.htm
Oil Search
Noreo Beangke has stepped down as a board member of the Oil Search
board. Mr Beangke has been a board member since 1992. The highest position
he attained on the board was that of the deputy chairman.
Aussie Asylum Seekers
New migrations laws in Australia will mean that asylum seekers will
be held in overseas countries such as Papua New Guinea if a controversial
law is passed through the Australian Parliament. Under the changes,
all asylum seekers landing on the mainland will be sent to offshore
detention centres in Nauru or Papua New Guinea's Manus Island to be
processed. -- http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,19102038-5001028,00.html
Illegal Fuel Sales
Service Station owners in the Highlands are complaining that they are
losing sales to the sales of fuel through black markets being run by
drivers of major trucking companies in the region. With the ever spiralling
upwards in fuel prices many drivers are looking to the cheaper prices
available from the black marketers. Mt Hagen trucking company, Mountain
Fuel Freighters, has denied the claims saying that their drivers are
not responsible for the illegal sale of fuel. See also Fuel
Tanker Spill below.
PNG Forum
The Australian Government will not be represented at the annual Australia-Papua
New Guinea Forum currently being held. But a pre-recorded message from
the Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, is expected to be broadcast
to delegates. see full article located at -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1638124.htm
Least Developed Country
The United Nations (UN) has said that PNG should be reclassified as
a least developed country. This is down from the current category of
developing country.
The Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, has questioned the UN for recommending
that PNG be downgraded to a least developed country. Sir Michael questioned
the motives behind the recommendations of the UN Committee for Development
Policy's (CDP).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_29367.shtml
Mekeo Rice
The Mekeo people of Central Province have initiated a rice project
for themselves but now require assistance from the government. Land
studies carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock have
shown that Mekeo topography, vegetation and soil are suitable for growing
grain crops such as maize, sorghum, upland and wetland rice.
PNG imports 130,000 tonnes of rice annually from Australia.
WWII ID Tags
Fifty-seven years after a B-24J Liberator, containing 11 US airmen,
crashed two identification tags were found by a person walking through
the thick rain forest in Morobe Province. See full article at -- http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/westmoreland/s_453843.html
Australian Colonies
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/we-think-of-our-neighbours-as-colonies/2006/05/11/1146940671693.html
Bougainville Funding
The Invincible Resources Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding
with the Autonomous Bougainville Government for a loan of K20 million.
The money will be used for capacity building within the autonomous region
and repayments will be tied to the development of a mining project in
the region.
Fuel Tanker Spill
A fuel tanker has overturned on a sharp bend between Gabensis and Wambit
villages along the Lae-Bulolo Highway in Morobe province. The resulting
spill of diesel made many villagers happy who helped themselves using
large plastic containers.
Operation Open Heart
As mentioned in a previous edition Operation Open Heart (OOH) 2006
is seeking help with funds for the annual event. Since 1993 OOH has
operated on 406 heart patients, 306 of these have been on children.
The success rate has been very good with only nine of the 406 patients
dying. About K200,000 is needed for OOH and a total of K81,000 has been
raised so far for the event this year.
Tuberculosis
The death rate from tuberculosis in PNG has been quoted to be ten deaths
a day. TB is the second leading cause of death in the country. TB is
a curable disease if the correct treatment is given over a nine-month
period and the dose is completed. Many people start to feel better after
a few months and stop taking their medication only to succumb to the
disease.
Coming Events
Lukim PNG Nau Exposition -- Port Moresby from the 16th to the 18th
of May.
Long Course Swimming Carnival at Taurama Pool, Port Moresby on Saturday
the 20th 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.
Swimming -- WESTPAC Dolphin Sprints 2006 -- Starting Friday the 9th
of June and concluding on Sunday morning the 11th of June at the Taurama
Pool, Port Moresby.
Tufi Cultural Show -- Tufi from the 9th to the 11th of June.
Lukim PNG Nau Expo -- From the 16th to the 18th of June at the Holiday
Inn in Port Moresby.
National Tourism Conference -- 19th of June
PNG 31st Independence Anniversary - 16th September 2006
PNG Media
If
a friend has given or sent you a copy of this newsletter and you would
like to keep receiving free copies then please visit -- ../news/index.html
-- for instructions on how to join the list.
Articles
for this Newsletter
If
you think you have a PNG page worth mentioning then please click here and use the submission form.
To
send a message for submission to the PNG Gossip Newsletter queue please click here and use the submission form.
.gif)
.jpg)
View
PNG Gossip Newsletter Archive