Links
Misc Links
Department of Treasury and Finance -- http://www.treasury.gov.pg/
Bank of Papua New Guinea -- http://www.bankpng.gov.pg/
Internal Revenue Commission -- http://www.irc.gov.pg/
Government of PNG online (other agencies) -- http://www.pngonline.gov.pg/
TE(PNG) Ltd is a company offering a diversified product ranges for the wholesale and retail markets in PNG -- http://www.tepng.com
United States Embassy - Port Moresby -- http://portmoresby.usembassy.gov
PNG Advisory Support Facility -- http://www.pngasf.com/
UNDP PNG -- http://www.undp.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
PNG Institute of Accountants -- http://www.pngia.org.pg
Rotary Clubs of PNG -- http://www.rotary.org.pg
Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions
http://www.fuzzywuzzy.com.pg/ -- Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions is a PNG based company established to provide expertly guided tours along some of the country's most infamous treks and trails. The most notable, the Kokoda Trek.
National Capital Web Site
The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) web site can be found at -- http://www.ncdc.gov.pg -- The NCDC is responsible for looking after the National Capital of Port Moresby.
PNG Blogs
Solomon's youth band describes PNG tour as eye opening -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8e28f2
Ukarumpa to Madang -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a83240
The Names of God -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2162ce
Spring Break -- http://giaman.com/pg/?9c7415
Cairns - Port Moresby - Lae -- http://giaman.com/pg/?545db9
Coconut oil bio-fuel on the agenda -- http://giaman.com/pg/?237e58
Ossie and Jenny Fountain - Lifeswitch's supported workers -- http://lifeswitch.net.nz/wp/?p=823
PNG in the News
Five people die of dysentery in remote area of PNG -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38819
Back from the dead -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/033108/nation1.htm
Off exploring - Kundiawa -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ec0f85
PNG-China mine owners defend Ramu development -- http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/200804/s2205232.htm?tab=pacific
PACRIM Energy Limited Annual Report -- http://giaman.com/pg/?823590
Steamships Trading Limited Annual Report -- http://giaman.com/pg/?80a5e6
Smooth progress stalls due to compo claims -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/033108/nation40.htm
Improve road network in Enga -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/033108/letter2.htm
Kerema info on Bebo -- http://www.bebo.com/KeremaKaru
http://tpi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerema_(taun)
Fuel for thought -- Songs of the Volcano performed Bob Brozman and the Rabaul community's local string-bands in PNG -- http://interact.newint.org/fuel-for-thought
News Items
Horizon Oil
Horizon Oil Ltd., Sydney, plans to purchase Austral Pacific Energy Ltd.'s 28.92% interest in Papua New Guinea petroleum retention license 4 and 10.7% interest in PRL 5.
see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a97a3b
BAHA Birthday
In March the PNG Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS (Business Against HIV/AIDS PNG) celebrated its first birthday. -- http://www.baha.com.pg/. A birthday celebration was sponsored by the NasFund -- http://www.nasfund.com.pg/
HIV/AIDS
Officials from the PNG National AIDS Council and Indonesian Papua's AIDS Commission have held talks to develop strategies to prevent the spread of HIV along the border. Romanus Pakure, acting director of PNG's AIDS Council, said the number of undocumented people crossing the border from PNG to Papua, and vice versa, is increasing. "We are seeing a record of about 3,000 going across to Papua every month," Pakure said. He added that the "borders do not deter the spread" of HIV/AIDS. "The virus moves with the people," he said.
According to Radio Australia, PNG wants to start a similar program with Australia to carry out surveillance along the countries' sea border in the Torres Strait -- http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/200803/s2204143.htm?tab=pacific
The Catholic church in Indonesia's Papua region welcomes PNG/Papua cooperation in battle against HIV -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38916
PNG Tourism
PNG recorded the highest percentage of visitor arrivals in the region last year, beating its 2006 record by 34 percent. The country saw 104,122 visitors compared to 77,731 in 2006.
A total of 1,344,685 visitors mostly from Australia and New Zealand visited Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Niue, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu who are members of the south-pacific travel.
Panguna Mine
The PNG Government has announced recently that it may reopen the huge Panguna copper mine on Bougainville. It was one of the South Pacific's largest copper and gold mines until mine was forced to close in 1989 after continuous attacks by secessionist rebels in a war that cost an estimated 10,000 lives. It is estimated that once the mine opens it could continue to operate for another 15 to 20 years.
see -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=38894
Air Crash Investigations
PNG's Department of Transport has admitted that 19 accidents since 2000 have not been investigated. Lack of funds and facilities are blamed for the failure of PNG's Civil Aviation Authority and Department of Transport to fully investigate these plane and helicopter crashes since 2000, despite legislation in 2004 establishing an Air Accident Commission. Some crashes have been partially investigated, but others not at all.
Enterprising Villagers
Villagers along a washed away section of the Okuk Highway in Simbu province have been charging K5.00 for every bag of cargo they carry across a creek. Heavy rainy caused the Teine creek to flood its banks, leaving a four-metre-wide hole along the highway at Gagmambuno in the Kerowagi district. Vehicles could not cross, forcing commuters from Western Highlands, Southern Highlands, Enga and parts of Kerowagi district travelling to Kundiawa town, Eastern Highlands, Lae or Madang provinces to walk across the affected area to continue their journey.
PNG Languages
PNG is linguistically the most complex nation of the world. Over 800 languages are spoken in this Pacific country. -- http://pnglanguages.org -- aims to show some of this linguistic diversity by making available the research results carried out by members of SIL.
The National or official languages of PNG are Hiri Motu, Tok Pisin and English.
Rotokas, a language spoken in PNG on the Island of Bougainville by approximately 4,300 people, has the fewest sounds of any language, 11 (compared to the 44 or so of standard English). These 11 are made up of five vowels and six consonants: A, E, I, O, U, B, G, K, P, R, T. - can you imagine that - a language with only 11 sounds. Six of those are used in the name of the language.
It has been reported that PNG has one language for every 900 square kilometres of the country or roughly one language for every 350 square miles for those readers who are not familiar with the metric system.
Lae Port Redevelopment
Settlers at Lae's Papua Compound have raised concerns over the potential long-term noise pollution that would affect them once the multi-million kina Lae Port redevelopment project was completed.
see -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/033108/nation7.htm
Correction on Malaria
Thanks to Chris who discovered an error in the link to the Welsh Malaria Vaccination story mentioned in the last edition. The link has now been corrected and the full news item can be found at -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e3ef88. Chris waded through and found the correct link for me.
Don't forget to visit Chris's site at -- http://hometown.aol.co.uk/pngcpluxton/ -- PNG Church Partnership
Common Sense Tips
Here are some common sense tips for people visiting or living in PNG put out by the New Zealand Government.
- Exercise a high degree of caution at all times especially in public places and areas frequented by foreigners.
- Take security precautions and do not walk alone, especially at night
- Be aware that isolated places such as golf courses, beaches and parks can be dangerous.
- Avoid the settlement areas especially in Port Moresby at all times.
- Avoid using the local taxi service or buses and rely on the hotel; or a friend for transport.
- If you are driving yourself take extreme caution at all times when driving.
- If you have an accident in your car do not stop at the scene but drive immediately to the nearest police station.
Most of the above are probably fairly relevant for any visitor to any city in the world although leaving the scene of an accident in some countries would get you into more trouble than you might expect. I don't think you could claim that you came from PNG and it was the done thing!
Komsen Gold
Frontier Resources Ltd has announced that they have found a high grade gold at Komsem on the island of New Britain. Komsen is located at the north-western corner of the extinct Mt Andewa volcano, which measures about 9 km in diameter.
see -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c644a1
Kokoda Bone Man
The Bone Man of Kokoda, a book to be released very soon, tells the story of a Japanese soldier who abandoned his wife and children to fulfil a promise he made to his dying mates along the Kokoda track during World War II. His promise was to come back for them, and return them to Japan to rest with their families. He has spent the last two decades devoted to digging up and repatriating the remains of almost 350 Japanese soldiers.
see -- http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/the-digger-of-kokoda/2008/04/03/1206851059458.html -- for full story
He said "The Australians and Americans had shown respect for their war dead, he said. Their remains were carefully interred at cemeteries across the countryside. The Japanese government, on the other hand, had literally left thousands of Japanese soldiers to rot, as if they were an embarrassment that they preferred to forget about. So I took it on as my own duty. No one else would."
The Bone Man Of Kokoda, by Charles Happell (Macmillan Australia) -- http://nla.gov.au/anbd.bib-an42468657
Schoolboys Rugby League
The PNG Schoolboys Rugby League competition starts on the 12th of April. The National Schoolboys under-16 championships will be held in Kokopo in East New Britain province in September.
PNG Soccer
FIFA, the world soccer body, is funding the development of soccer grounds around the country and is looking at securing land titles or leasing existing grounds to PNG Football Association (PNGFA) to enable FIFA to release the funds for its development. PNG soccer president David Chung said that "Land is becoming a major concern to us in securing titles and we want to enter into another arrangement with the local associations to lease their pitches for 10-15 years to allow FIFA to fund the development of the pitches and dressing areas."
Lost Chinese Money
PNG runs the risk losing millions of kina in project funding from China as timing for the drawdown of funds for some projects lapses at the end of next year with the funding going back to China. Some of the projects were part of the China and Pacific Economic Development Cooperation Agreement signed in Fiji in 2006. Am total of 59 projects were identified to be funded by China including the Kandep rice project, Hagen comprehensive technical programme, Usino-Bundi road, a regional sports stadium in Wewak, an international convention centre, concessional loans for hydro electricity project and human capacity building project in which 68 government officers will be trained in various institutional facilities in China.
East Sepik Bribery
The Governor of East Sepik, Peter Wararu Waranaka, has denied all allegations of bribery levelled against him by runner-up of the Yangoru-Saussia seat Gabriel Dusava in last years national elections. Mr Wararu rebutted the allegations of bribery in the National Court session held in Wewak recently.
PNG Reunion
Tickets are now on sale for the 21st of June 2008 SP Bikpela Pati to be held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. If you are interested you may purchase your tickets on line at -- http://www.pngreunion.com -- or by sending a registration form (available on the web page) along with your cheque, MasterCard or Visa details to PO Box 384, Palm Beach Qld 4221
Coming Events
9th of April 2008 -- Sir Michael Somare celebrates his 79th birthday.
Australia PNG Trade Expo - 4th to 6th of May
Coffee Festival, Goroka, Eastern Highlands -- will be held between the 8th and 10th of May
2008 Sepik Iron man -- Queen's birthday weekend (8th of June)
21st of June 2008 - PNG Reunion - see -- http://www.pngreunion.com
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
PNG Media
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