Links
Blogs about PNG
Pictures of Aussie PM's visit to Goroka PNG -- http://shorten.ws/y0v4u
Madang - Ples Bilong Mi, the goats of Madang -- http://www.messersmith.name/wordpress/?p=136
Where is the justice in this?? -- http://shorten.ws/w0a6w
On shore in Rabaul -- http://www.travelfans.us/2008/03/11/on-shore-in-rabaul/
Beyond Picket Fences -- http://beyondmypicketfence.blogspot.com/2008/03/who-am-i.html
Jac and John's PNG Adventure - Kundiawa - Machetes galore! -- http://shorten.ws/w6a5g
Vanimo: Crossing the Border -- http://www.bigempire.com/sake/vanimo.html
http://inwildeboer.blogspot.com/2008/03/please-pray.html
http://rabauldailyphoto-jules.blogspot.com/2008/02/ash-ash-go-away.html
http://theobregons.blogspot.com/2008/02/20080215-obregon-family-january.html
PNG in the News
Gordon market closed down -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031108/nation4.htm
Security for Aussie PM Rudd exceptional -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031108/nation21.htm
Radio Netherlands, has reported that Australia is to set aside 8 million euros to fight AIDS in PNG -- http://shorten.ws/z5c6c
Travelling in PNG -- http://yutok.wordpress.com/2008/03/08/traveling-in-png/
5 Manly Sports That Will Seriously Kick Your Ass -- http://shorten.ws/w1y8h
-- #5 Sepik War Canoe Racing in Papua New Guinea. What is it? Exactly what it says. Competitors have to race 14km upstream while standing in a canoe.
Half Year Accounts -- http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/previewDocument.ac?docID=GCA00823662SRM
Ceremonial dances now performed for modern shows -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031408/wkender5.htm
All is not well in Unitech -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031208/letter8.htm
Violence on University of Goroka campus -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031408/nation3.htm
Police to 'censor' CDs not suitable for kids -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031308/nation8.htm
MV Dulos docks in Kavieng -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031108/nation9.htm
Mobile telephone Company Digicel links Buka -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/030708/biz1.htm
Misc Links
Map of PNG centred on Port Moresby - http://tinyurl.com/3behuc
Satellite image of Kupiano -- http://www.maplandia.com/papua-new-guinea/central/kupiano/
Kokoda landowners lift blockade -- http://news.theage.com.au/kokoda-landowners-lift-blockade/20080310-1yg9.html
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued a new Smartraveller Travel Advice for PNG. It can be found at -- http://tinyurl.com/2jvc9z -- or -- http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Papua_New_Guinea
Diving in Papua New Guinea -- http://www.adventures.com.sg/diving-in-papua-new-guinea/
Britannica online encyclopaedia article on Lae -- http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9046804/Lae -- and one on Port Moresby -- http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-470920/Port-Moresby
Somare appeals for return of Australian police -- http://shorten.ws/k6x7u
News Items
Liquefied Natural Gas Project
Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's biggest publicly traded oil company, and its partners in a proposed PNG liquefied natural gas project have signed an agreement that allows initial work on the venture. The project includes Port Moresby-based Oil Search Ltd. and Santos Ltd. and proposes to commercialize the Hides, Angore and Juha gas fields and deposits in the Kutubu, Agogo, Gobe and Moran oil fields in the Southern Highlands and Western Provinces. Deliveries may begin in late 2013 or early 2014.
New Baby Rudd
A baby born to Lina and Esau Kitgi, from Red Top village in the Lufa district of the Eastern Highlands at the Goroka Hospital, Eastern Highlands Province has been called Kevin Rudd Kitgi in honour of the visit by the Prime Minister of Australia (Kevin Rudd) to the hospital on his visit to Goroka recently. Mr Rudd walked past the labour ward and soon after the baby was born so the couple decided to call the new born Kevin Rudd.
See -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38472
Melanesian Institute
The Melanesian Institute (MI) has a new Director. Reverend William Longgar has taken over from Hermann Spingler during the first week of March. Reverend Longgar, who represents the United Church in the organisation, said as the new director of MI his vision is to continue where his predecessor left in the task of further developing the standard of research work done by the institution.
The MI is a joint venture of the four mainline Churches (Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran and United Church) which for nearly four decades has contributed with its research towards a deeper understanding of Melanesian culture.
Sorceress Put To Death
A woman suspected of committing sorcery has been killed at Elmale village in Gumine district in the Simbu province. According to police reports, the woman was kidnapped by three suspects and taken to the bush after she was suspected of committing sorcery. She was allegedly killed by the suspects in cold blood. The murder is now being investigated by police.
Aussie PM's Visit
Mr Rudd received a Royal-like welcome at the Goroka airport and he was mobbed walking the streets and bought numerous local handicrafts before visiting the Goroka Base hospital.
In Goroka, Mr Rudd told researchers and staff at the Goroka Medical Research Institute that the increasing HIV/AIDS figures were disturbing. The Australian Government has allocated $A13 million (K35.4 million) towards non-government organisations to combat the deadly HIV/AIDS virus in PNG.
The day before in PNG's capital Port Moresby thousands of school children lined the streets waving Australian flags before Mr Rudd met counterpart Michael Somare for bilateral talks.
The PNG Prime Minister has thanked residents of Port Moresby and the people of Goroka and Eastern Highlands for the huge turn-out in the streets of these two cities to welcome Mr Rudd
See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031008/nation3.htm
Also -- http://asopa.typepad.com/asopa_people/2008/03/rudd-arrives-on.html
Giant Stonefish
As part of Port Moresby's beautification program city residents will see a giant stonefish at the Death's Corner roundabout at Konedobu. Metal sculpturist Joseph Gickmai Kundun has been commissioned to sculpture the giant fish.
Limited Edition Coffee
Nespresso has just announced their limited edition coffee for 2008 - Goroka. Goroka is described as precious, sophisticated, chiselled, and unique. The coffee is from the Eastern Highlands province of PNG, and made from Arabica beans grown in a very humid and warm tropical rainforest. Goroka gets its name from the mountain town where all coffee harvests are sent to be hulled before being sent all over the world.
See -- http://www.nespresso.com/goroka/index.php?pays=us&lang=en
Mt Wilhelm
The Mt Wilhelm track tourism plan has been officially launched by the member for Kundiawa/Gembogl Open, Joe Mek Teine near the foot of PNG's highest mountain. Mr Teine said the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) has made the right decision to develop the plan for Mt Wilhelm. The plan cost TPA K50,000 and they would continue to provide technical advice and marketing assistance to implement the plans.
Child Prostitution
Radio New Zealand International reports that the Madang province is faced with children turning to prostitution and other illicit activities to raise funds for school fees. Nancy Sullivan, an anthropologist and researcher, said the findings were saddening and she urged politicians to look at providing if not free education, then a subsidy so that children would not have to continue this kind of behaviour.
See also -- http://www.nancysullivan.org/ -- and -- http://www.nancysullivan.typepad.com
Trukai Rice
Trukai Rice has created more than one hundred new jobs as a result of its latest move to export rice to Australia. The export of rice to the Australian market has also increased PNG's balance of trade surpluses.
Nurses Health
Female nursing officers at the Port Moresby General Hospital are at risk of typhoid or a fever outbreak due to unhygienic living conditions at the sister's quarters located just opposite the Taurama campus, at 3-Mile in Port Moresby. It has been reported that the toilet and shower facilities in the female nurses' living quarters are rundown and the tenants were vulnerable to diseases. Australian Aid (AusAID) recently gave K14,000 for the maintenance on the quarters but no maintenance was actually carried so an investigation is underway.
Rare Birds
A bird that had not been seen for 80 years has been seen off the coast of PNG. About 30 Beck's petrels, including young birds, have been seen in the area. Only two previous records existed of the tube-nosed seabirds, both from the late 1920s when the ornithologist Rollo Beck collected two as he toured the region on a quest for museum specimens. The bird is classed as critically endangered - the highest level of threat.
PNG's Fitch Rating
Forbes reports that Fitch Ratings has raised PNG's long-term foreign currency issuer default rating (IDR) and country ceiling to 'B+' from 'B' with a stable outlook, reflecting the Pacific country's establishment of relative political and institutional stability for the sixth successive year and the progress it has made in managing public finances.
See -- http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/03/13/afx4767063.html
Madang Province
Former MP Peter Yama is disputing the election of Sir Arnold Amet as governor of Madang Province. He is citing several reasons why such as there was undue influence when Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare at Bangpala in Lower Ramu, Bogia district.
See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031008/nation7.htm -- for full story.
Lae Roads
The Morobe provincial government has received K24.5 million from the National Government specifically for the rehabilitation of the Lae city roads.
See -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/031208/nation40.htm
School Of Nursing
The PNG University of Technology School of Nursing in Lae will resume tomorrow (17th March 2008). Only year two and three students will be admitted. Year one admissions will not be possible until next year. The total number of students to be admitted is 58, with 42 women and 18 men. The college was closed at the direction of the Lae city health authorities who said the facilities were unfit for a college due to termite infestation. Some repair work has been complete and other work will be finished soon. Some of the buildings could not be repaired and had to be pulled down.
PNG Media Freedom
Australian journalist Sean Dorney who has spent a great deal of time in PNG says the media in the country is free, more diverse and better than what it was before independence. Mr Dorney was talking at a seminar held recently in Port Moresby.
Divine Word University
The Divine Word University has celebrated its 26th Graduation, the 13th since it was made into a University. Over 600 students graduated from the University.
See -- http://www.dwu.ac.pg/news/Graduation2008FrJan.html
HIV Infection
PNG, having the highest number of HIV/AIDS cases in the Pacific region has been classified as being at the stage where African countries were 10 years ago, while the rest of the Pacific island countries are now facing what PNG had a decade ago. The number of HIV/AIDS cases in the region is doubling every five years, with the highest infection rate found in PNG.
Air Niugini
Pacific Magazine has reported that Air Niugini has had to reschedule and cancel flights recently after its pilots were struck down by flu.
See -- http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/03/13/flu-forces-air-niugini-flight-cancellations
Transparency International
Transparency International (TIPNG) has called on politicians to clean up their acts as allegations of corrupt practices continue to get exposed in the press. TIPNG president, Mike Manning. commended the press for their steadfast exposure of corruption, which was reported almost every day but questioned whether anything was done as a result of the exposure.
Fuel Prices
Despite the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) posting a decrease to the official price of diesel to K2.99 per litre distributor InterOil has increased its prices for diesel to K3.10 per litre the same day. For kerosene, ICCC had set the price for the product at K2.83, compared to InterOil's new price of K2.93 per litre. The only consistency is the price of petrol, which both the ICCC and InterOil said will retail at the landed cost of K3.58 per litre.
Sir Dennis Young
Former speaker of the National Parliament, Sir Dennis Young, has died at the age of 73. Sir Dennis died of a heart attack at his home at Losuia in the Trobriand Islands in Milne Bay province. Sir Dennis was instrumental in forming the government after independence in 1975.
Coming Events
Kokoda Reunion Dinner: Parliament House, Melbourne - Friday 28 March 2008
March -- Canadian Indian chief to visit Eastern Highlands to start cultural exchange programme.
9th of April 2008 -- Sir Michael Somare turn 79
Coffee Festival, Goroka, Eastern Highlands -- May
Australia PNG Trade Expo - 4th to 6th of May
2008 Sepik Iron man -- Queen's birthday weekend (8th of June)
40th anniversary of the PNG Institute of Medical Research - between the 18th and 22nd of June 2008 in Goroka
Tolai Warwagira Cultural Festival - July 9 - 15 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
14th National Mask Festival - July 16 - 19 2008 - Rabaul, East New Britain
PNG Tourism Expo -- September
Hiri Moale Festival -- September
PNG Independence Day Celebrations -- 16th September
Medical Symposium -- September 2008 -- http://www.medsymp.org.pg
Morobe Show -- 18th and 19th of October -- the Show is held on the weekend closest to the full moon in the month of October each year in Lae, Morobe Province. -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg
Milne Bay Canoe Festival -- always held during the first weekend in November.
Do you have an event that you want advertised? Send email to -- PNGNews[@]pnggossip.com
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