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PNG in the News
Transparency International PNG Inc (TIPNG) is gravely concerned about the K60 million plans to conduct the national Licensed Based Agreement forums with LNG project landowners, given so much has already been spent and promised as a result of BSA consultations so far. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6fb88f
TB programme launched in new provinces -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/953
US team checks bombs - http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090924/news11.htm
Manek recognised internationally -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/948
Nineteen years and counting in Papua New Guinea -- http://nancysullivan.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Congenital Syphilis at Goroka Base Hospital -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c7abc9
Blogs about PNG
Anything can happen? Expect the unexpected? That's right. Here in PNG it's practically the motto -- http://giaman.com/pg/?06c8f7
Listening to Coral Reef Sounds: It's Loud -- http://giaman.com/pg/?0d5a5b
Kundiawa to Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?5826b7
Just normal life -- http://fraukegoespng.blogspot.com/2009/09/just-normal-life.html
The Obregon Family Blog -- http://theobregons.blogspot.com
Marleen in PNG: Time for a Change -- http://marleeninpng.blogspot.com/2009/09/time-for-change.html - no this is not an adult site as far as I can tell.
Did Chairman Mao Visit Angoram in 1966? -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8096f7
Sepik River carvings -- http://giaman.com/pg/?bd8c83
Lisa's Blog: the best of Milne Bay -- http://lisadrewbill.blogspot.com/2009/09/best-of-milne-bay.html
Education and Environment -- http://giaman.com/pg/?383d67
Alotau, Milne Bay -- http://giaman.com/pg/?028152
Random PNG Links
Culture Crossing - PNG -- http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=160
Skerah Agencies -- http://www.skerah.com
Huli Wigmen -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/skerahpng/sets/72157622456329024/ and then compare with this one of US President Obama -- http://giaman.com/pg/?64a0dd
PNG Stamps -- http://www.postpng.com.pg/philatelic_files/philatelic_policies.htm
Papua New Guinea: The Final Frontier? -- http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0208/png2.html
Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
PNG Explorer -- http://www.pngexplorers.com
TreeHouse EcoResort and Expedition Diving -- http://www.treehouse.com.pg
PNG Weather
Agaun -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8325d1
Alotau -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b548fd
Bougainville -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d87d16
Erave -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7c4be4
Goroka -- http://giaman.com/pg/?077ee8
Gurney -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1ca8cd
Hoskins -- http://giaman.com/pg/?bb34fb
Jinjo -- http://giaman.com/pg/?88e63f
Kainantu -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a52324
Kavieng -- http://giaman.com/pg/?114afd
Kerema -- http://giaman.com/pg/?fbaeac
Kikori -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8bbde1
Kiunga -- http://giaman.com/pg/?74bbfa
Kokopo -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4535fa
Kurada -- http://giaman.com/pg/?091980
Lae -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab038e
Madang -- http://giaman.com/pg/?efd505
Mendi -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6b28b0
Misima -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7f3cfc
Momote / Lombrum -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab1b07
Morobe -- http://giaman.com/pg/?598b34
Mount Hagen -- http://giaman.com/pg/?71c59e
Nadzab -- http://giaman.com/pg/?d0d5a4
Nimona -- http://giaman.com/pg/?82d816
Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?981280
Samarai -- http://giaman.com/pg/?526b02
Tokua -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c1d33a
Vanimo -- http://giaman.com/pg/?5d22f4
News Items
BSP Tennis Championships
Over 40 keen competitors have taken part in the BSP PNG Tennis Open Championships held recently on the 19th and 20th of September at the Bava Street Courts in Boroko, Port Moresby.
RESULTS
Mens Open Singles : Winner Tim Kriebisch. Runner-up Lavu Ivuyo.
Womens Open Singles : Winner Vera Apisah Tere. Runner-up Dulcie Kaiulo.
Mens Plate Singles : Winner Eddie Mera.
Womens Plate Singles : Winner Matina Asimba.
Mens Doubles : Winners Ian Kaiulo & Lavu Ivuyo. Runners-up Michael Foo and Tawa Ivuyo.
Womens Doubles : Winners Vera Apisah & Omega Ivuyo.
For full report and images please visit -- http://michie.net/pnginfo/tennis200909.html
Criminal Beheaded
The Post Courier has reported the beheading of a key criminal by villagers near Kainantu in the Eastern Highlands Province. The villagers also killed four other gang members in retaliation over the recent killing of a village court magistrate shot dead by the crime figure.
Full story -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090930/news01.htm
Police HQ Fire
The fire brigade and PNG Power electricians managed to extinguish a recent fire in the main electrical power board at the Royal PNG Constabulary police headquarters in Konedobu. Supt Kabip Lamu, who was at the scene, said that no property had been damaged. He also added that experts from PNG Power would carry out an investigation into the fault and rectify any problems before work returned to normal.
East West Truck Looted
A truck owned by East West Transport has been looted at Daulo Pass. Initial reports indicate the driver of the truck had parked the vehicle after experiencing difficulties along the Highlands Highway. Nearby villagers took advantage of the situation to loot the truck carrying Coca Cola and beer. Some of the more enterprising ransackers sold the beer and coke while others just drank. Police could do little to protect the contents of the truck.
US Race Row
A photograph depicting US President Obama as an African witchdoctor has drawn PNG into president Barack Obama's health care plan and an associated debate about whether the photo is racist or not. The doctored photo is actually the president's face superimposed on a picture of a PNG Huli Wigman in full traditional regalia.
Read story -- http://giaman.com/pg/?dbaa6e
View image -- http://giaman.com/pg/?64a0dd
Palm Oil
Palm oil developers in PNG have been accused of deception in dealing with local PNG communities. The Rainforest Action Network (RAN), a San Francisco-based activist group campaigning against palm oil, says that plantation firms often deceive locals into signing what are essentially debt-bondage contracts.
Read more -- http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0925-png-palm-oil.html
Air Niugini
The aerospace division of Bombardier Inc. has announced that Air Niugini, the national airline of PNG, has placed a firm order for two Bombardier Q400 NextGen high-speed turboprop airliners and an option for another one. Based on the list price for the Q400 NextGen aircraft, the contract is valued at approximately $60 million US which could increase to $92 million US if the option is exercised.
Press release -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6beba9
Images of Air Niugini Q400 NextGen aircraft -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6d297e
Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman, famous for his motorcycle riding exploits with mate Ewan McGregor and the associated "Long Way" series, has made it to Goroka while filming the second in the series of his "By any Means" documentaries / expeditions. During his visit to Goroka Charley met with Marcel Pool, a volunteer physiotherapist working with physically-challenged people at the Mt Sion community-based rehabilitation centre. The Mt Sion Centre was originally established to help the blind but has extended its charter to cater for all disabilities under the umbrella of Callan Services for Disabled Persons.
Mr Pool also trains local health professionals at the Goroka Base Hospital and is helping to improve the hospital's physiotherapy unit.
Full story -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a1dd64
See -- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n5xs1 -- unfortunately the footage is only available to people in the BBC 2 coverage area. UNICEF is once again the official charity for Charley's expedition - see -- http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/news_detail_full_story.asp?news_id=1376
Vale Craig Couper
I received this from Terry Griffiths just as the last newsletter was being delivered.
Mr. Craig Couper a friend of PNG and ex Lihir Gold Ltd employee died recently in Nanango. He will be sadly missed by all his friends.
Folk Tales
Dr Steven Winduo says it would make sense for the government or other development partners to fund research, writing, publishing, and media broadcasting programs to preserve PNG folktales.
See full story -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/1015
Thomas H Slone has already preserved many PNG folktales in his two volume set titled "1001 Papua New Guinean Nights". -- http://members.tripod.com/~THSlone/1001PNGnights.html -- another sample authorised by Thomas can be found at -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/1001.html
Economic Climate
The man in the village or the "market taxis" mentioned here -- http://pnggossip.blogspot.com/2009/09/child-labour.html -- struggling to survive with little or no help from the government will be happy to know that the country is in good shape to take on any unexpected economic turbulence for the next 12 months. PNG now has foreign exchange reserves of K6.3 billion as at the 17th of September, up from K6.1 billion at the end of June this year. Shame some of the money can't be used to better the life of the average villager.
Child Labour
Young children, often referred to as market taxis but others call them market camels and Hagen haulers, are hauling bags of fresh produce into the stalls at Mt Hagen Market to earn a living. There are as many as 50 street urchins carrying massive loads of fresh produce, some twice their own body weight, for a meagre fee of 30 toea from farmers.
It is believed that the "taxis" haul between 12 to 15 tons of goods into the market daily earning around K3.00 to K12.00 a day for their daily labour.
The exchange rate is currently around 34.8 US cents to 1 Kina (K). There are 100 toea to the Kina. For an up-to-date exchange rate please visit -- http://www.pngbd.com
Rugby League
A hat-trick of tries for Michael Jennings helped the Australian Prime Minister's XIII comfortably beat PNG 42-18 at the Lloyd Robson Oval. In a scrappy performance Australia outclassed PNG's Kumuls. Australian coach, Mal Meninga, said his side's scrappy performance was due to limited preparation by the team. PNG coach, Adrian Lam, said the team's young players showed great promise. In more or less typical PNG fashion police, outside the ground, regularly fired tear gas as warnings to excited fans that didn't have a ticket but wanted to catch a glimpse of their Aussie heroes. The Melbourne Cup horse race stops the nation of Australia but the Australian State of Origin Rugby League series stops the nation of PNG. Any league event featuring overseas teams attracts a huge following in the country.
Prisoners on the Run
Over 50 prisoners have escaped from the Bomana Correctional Institution after wardens failed to show up for work and police were busy guarding the rugby league match between Australia and PNG. An official said the breakout was not discovered for "some hours" because many wardens, who are involved in a pay dispute, had not appeared for work at the prison, which houses some 600 to 700 inmates.
Kokoda Death
The Kokoda Track has claimed another life. The 55 year old man from Sydney had just started the walk when it was determined he was not fit enough to continue the walk. The man collapsed on his way back and died while being transported to a private hospital in Port Moresby. He is the second Australian in a week to die on the Track. Earlier this year, a 26-year-old NSW man and a 36-year-old Victorian mother died on the track. A women in her 60's in the same group has also had to be evacuated.
The Track follows the path used by Australian diggers in World War II.
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?924b20
World Surfaris
World Surfaris would like to announce the latest surf camp in PNG to open its doors for surfers. - Tupira Surf Club. The Surf Club at Ulingan Bay is located approximately 180 kilometres north of Madang Town and approx. a 2 hour scenic drive from Madang Airport by sealed road along the beautiful north coast of Madang.
See -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6e3ab7
Rugby Gene
How old is Stanley Gene? Some put him in his 40's while others say he is only 35. No matter what age he is it is quite clear that Stanley has not yet reached retirement age from playing Rugby League. His UK team, Hull KR, may have declined to offer him a new contract; instead giving him an opportunity to join their backroom staff other clubs outside the UK Super League have shown interest in the PNG international. Gene has been a part of the British rugby league scene since making his first trip to the country in 1995 as part of the PNG World Cup squad.
Gene comes from a village near Goroka in the Eastern Highlands province.
New Zealand Governor General
The New Zealand Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand and wife Lady Susan Satyanand, have paid an official visit to the country. This is the first state visit by a New Zealand Governor-General to PNG in more than 20 years. On arrival at Jackson's airport he was accorded a full military guard of honour with musical accompaniment from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary marching band. A state dinner was hosted by his PNG counterpart, Governor General Sir Paulias Matane, at the Crowne Plaza in honour of the New Zealander's visit.
New Zealand's total bilateral assistance to PNG is expected to rise to NZ$30 million next year from NZ$22.5 million.
Monday Escape: Kimbe
The bustling town of Kimbe is the third largest port in PNG and is the fastest growing city in the South Pacific. It's easy to see why. The town is a port on the great Kimbe Bay which boasts more than 60 percent of the coral species of the entire Indo-Pacific.
Full story -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a8ba0c
Overseas Celebrations
A little late but Ms Jean Lucilla Kekedo, OBE (The High Commissioner for PNG in the UK)
decided to do something a little different by celebrating her National
Day at the Rebecca Hossack Gallery off Fitzroy Square alongside an
exhibition of art, sculpture and textiles from back home. There was a
festive atmosphere at this event which was well attended by London’s diplomatic community and friends of PNG.
http://www.pnghighcomm.org.uk
Coming Events
AFLPNG Talent Search. AFL Queensland side Coolangatta, a regular host of PNG talent, will travel to take on the PNG Mosquitoes in Port Moresby. -- 24th October 2009
PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum 2009 Seminars 27th to the 30th of October -- http://skerah.com/Venuecentral/Premiumlink/pngcmp.php -- or -- http://www.pngchamberminpet.com.pg/images/pdf_files/chevents.pdf
31st October and the 1st of November - Morobe Show - see -- http://www.morobeshow.org.pg -- and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?2f4583
6th to 8th of November - National Canoe and Kundu Festival, Milne Bay -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ab7f63
National Arts and Craft Exhibition - 13th - 15th of November
PNG Games in Port Moresby from 18th to 29th of November
World Aids Day -- http://www.baha.com.pg -- 1st December 2009.
AFLPNG Talent Camp will be held in Goroka with 120 under 17's, 15's, and 13's present -- 4th to 6th of December 2009
AFLPNG - PNG Scholarships / Under 18 Trials will be held in Australia. 8 x U18s are hoped to be provided with Country Queensland, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Scholarships. -- February 2010
Women in Mining and Petroleum Conference - 22nd - 24th March 2010 - to be held at Divine Word University in Madang.
25th April 2010 - World Malaria Day. Malaria affects 90 per cent of the PNG population.
World liquefied natural gas (LNG) summit - Mid 2010
11th Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference - 6th to 8th December, 2010 - Hilton Hotel, Sydney - http://www.pnginvestment.cia.com.au -- This web site is out of date showing information abut the 2008 conference.
Pacific Mini Games - New Caledonia 2011.
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012
Pacific Games - PNG 2015. See -- Share the Games with other centres
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html.
PNG Media
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