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PNG in the News
PNG airports 'ill-prepared' -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110323/news02.htm
EU Trade Commissioner speaks out on PNG and Pacific EPAs -- http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201103/s3166923.htm
Radio station out, islanders at great risk -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17578
Toilets a cesspool at PNG airports -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110322/news03.htm
Parkop: Be water-wise -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17740
Solar to light up rural areas -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17733
What headline to believe? Census on track -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110325/news09.htm - or - Absence of funds delays census -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17839
PNG Images
Stock PNG Photos -- http://giaman.com/pg/?05c4f0
2007 Rioting in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?267194
PNG Expedition -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3c9006
Ukarumpa Horse Show -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_png_scotts/5542179948
Buluminski Highway -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rCOMcMZAGo - Kavieng to Namatanai, New Ireland province.
Flying Foxes in Madang -- http://giaman.com/pg/?56de75
Air Niugini B767 take off -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3FXbC7CWoQ
The Coral Triangle -- http://giaman.com/pg/?fee0ee
Goroka Market -- http://giaman.com/pg/?dad133
Misc PNG Links
What to do in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?6c9494
PNG Languages -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b026c3 - and -- http://giaman.com/pg/?640ee3
Tok Pisin -- http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-TOKPISIN.html
Going straight - in Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a98eab
Lila's wonderful trip to WNB -- http://www.skerah.com/article.php?id=72
Port Moresby Port -- http://www.pngports.com.pg/Port%20Moresby.html
Allied Gold Limited has completed repairs to a tailing mixing tank at its 100% owned Simberi gold mine -- http://giaman.com/pg/?fdaf3e
Dugong conservation effort launched in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?39e487
Paradise Magazine -- http://giaman.com/pg/?4c601e
Port Moresby Game Fishing Club -- http://www.pmgfc.org.pg
PNG Blogs
Penned in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?692809
PNG My Land My Country -- http://tingtingblokantri.blogspot.com
KANGE NGA KONA -- http://pngemmiyet.blogspot.com
PNG Andrew -- http://pngandrew.blogspot.com
Papua New Guinea Blogs -- http://www.pngblogs.com
PNG Exposed Blog -- http://pngexposed.wordpress.com
Message In a Bottle Project - Kavieng -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a1bba9
News Items
PM Found Guilty
Prime Minster Michael Somare has been found guilty of 13 charges of misconduct in office for submitting annual financial statements late or incomplete. Somare escaped the three more serious charges of failing to provide any statement at all. Politicians who have been found guilty of similar offences in the past have been given small fines.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110322/news01.htm
Courthouse packed -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110322/news10.htm
Prosecutor calls for Somare to be sacked -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/22/3170744.htm
PM Somare Suspended
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has been suspended from office for 14 days without pay after being found guilty of 13 charges of misconduct while in office dating as far back as 20 years ago.
Two members of the three-man tribunal voted for the suspension while a third member wanted Sir Michael to be dismissed from office.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?2452f8
Mixed reactions from people regarding PM’s penalty -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17845
Are Fish Dumb?
A study at Muluk in PNG reveals that fish may not be as dumb as most people think. Scientists have measured how close a diver can get before fish take flight in protected and non protected fishing areas. The research showed that "Inside protected areas, the fish tended to move off when the diver closed to within 2-3 metres of them. However those outside the protected zone, where hunting was common, mostly fled when the diver came within 4-5 metres of them."
-- http://www.labspaces.net/109701/Fish_know_to_avoid_the_spear
Muluk is on the eastern side of Karkar Island in Madang province,
(Latitude: 4° 39' 0 S, Longitude: 146° 4' 0 E)
Illegal Trawler Fined
A trawler from Mooloolaba in Australia has been caught and fined for illegally fishing in a PNG exclusion zone. The vessel spent over 9 hours in the exclusion zone despite the skipper being warned not to fish there. The company that owns the trawler pleaded guilty and the skipper of the vehicle was fined $5000 and sacked by the company.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?94856e
Health Kickback Scam
Government officials in PNG's national health department have received massive kickbacks from pharmaceutical drug suppliers in a scandal that had been going on for nearly 10 years, but moves are afoot to tackle the problem, health officials say.
Full news item -- http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportID=92202
Frightening Attack in Kokopo
The crew of the cruising yacht Asylum have had a break and enter on board while asleep and moored off Kokopo, East New Britain.
-- http://www.noonsite.com/Members/val/R2011-03-16-2
Kavieng Airport
Landowners recently closed the airport at Kavieng in New Ireland province. The landowners have said the government has failed to pay 4.41 million kina it owed them. The original owners of the land the airport is on and the town of Kavieng say the airport will remain closed until the government pays the money it made a commitment 15 years ago to pay.
Kavieng airport could remain shut down for 30 days -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=59528
Sandline - 14 Years On
Major-General Jerry Singirok, MBE (Rtd), says upon reflection, it is disheartening to say the least that nothing has changed much since March 1997.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?c5063e
See also -- http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/sandline.html
Airlines PNG Profit
For the year ending the 31st of December 2010 Airlines PNG have announced an operating revenue for the period of K211 million. While the airline is pleased to report a profit to shareholders, they say there are still significant growth plans for 2011 which includes the purchase of additional aircraft. Accordingly, the group has not declared a dividend for the period.
-- http://apng.com/index.asp?pgid=9
Kimbe University Centre
The Governor of West New Britain Province (WNBP), Peter Humphreys has officially opened a new double-story building at the Kimbe University Centre in West New Britain Province to accommodate an increase in students. The building was funded by the Provincial Government and built by local contractor.
Australian Rugby League
Goroka-born James Segeyaro is set to make his debut on the interchange bench for North Queensland Cowboys against the inform Melbourne Storm team. Segeyaro will wear Number 14 for his NRL debut.
Yumi Rausim Malaria
Malaria is a killer disease carried from one person to another by mosquitoes. The principal malaria mosquitoes in PNG are members of the Anopheles punctulatus group of mosquitoes which comprises at least 11 species. Malaria is one of the leading causes of illness and death in PNG. The Yumi Rausim Malaria program aims to improve knowledge, behaviour and participation of communities and individuals, including health staff in the national malaria control effort.
-- http://yumirausimmalaria.com
See also -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110318/news08.htm
Strike Threat by Doctors
Doctors in PNG are threatening strike action over an ongoing pay dispute. The National Doctors Association says its members will walk off the job, if a Memorandum of Agreement dating back to 2009 isn't implemented by the end of this month.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a7d2cc
SHP doctors join colleagues to strike -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17597
Docs go on strike -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110325/news05.htm
TB on the Increase
World TB Day is on the 24th of March. In PNG there are approximately 16,000 new TB cases detected annually, one of the highest figures in the Western Pacific. Out of 37 countries in the Western Pacific region surveyed, Cambodia had the highest number of TB infections following closely by PNG. Globally 1.5 million people die from TB every year which equated to 4,500 deaths per day.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17585
Funds needed for TB?treatment and studies -- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17840
Police Deny Market Chaos
Western Highlands Provincial police commander, Chief Supt Kaiglo Ambane, said vendors at the Mt Hagen market attacked his men after his men stopped them from conducting illegal activities in the city. Betelnut and cigarette vendors claim the police destroyed their belongings. The vendors, who requested anonymity, said they respected the police for enforcing the city rules but it was not good when they checked their pockets and got their money and other personal belongings.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/17750
New Exporter Award
Sharmayne Ryan from Amruqa in PNG has won the New Exporter award presented by the Facilitating Agricultural Commodity Trade (EU-FACT) project of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Land Resources division. The EU-FACT project, which began in May 2008, is funded by the European Union under the 9th European Development Fund.
Boram Hospital
The National Government, according to the Prime Minister, has allocated funds for the relocation of the Boram hospital and the onus has been put on the provincial government to find land for the hospital relocation. Recently parts of the hospital had to be evacuated due to flooding.
Pacific Aerospace
Pacific Aerospace has several single-engine P-750 turboprops flying in PNG. Central Aviation took delivery of its first aircraft in 2008 and will soon have a third and Adventist Aviation Services took delivery of its second P-750 XSTOL in June 2010 and will also soon have a third. There are nine P-750s flying in the country. Pacific Aerospace has now introduced a wide tyre modification, primarily for operators in PNG.
From Flemington to Kokoda
A trip to the Kokoda trail last year has helped put the life of a 17-year-old, originally from Djibouti, back on track. Since Kokoda he and others on the trek have improved their school attendance and are volunteers with the police and community soccer program Goal Kick.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?01d23f
PNG LNG
The Japanese government has decided to sell its stake in the PNG oil and gas joint venture with JX Holdings and Mitsubishi Corp. The PNG-LNG project will produce 6.6 million tonnes of LNG a year supplied by gas from the Kutubu-Hides group of fields in the highlands. It is scheduled to come on stream in 2014.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?5092e8
Kapris Found Guilty
William Nanua Kapris and 11 of the 13 people charged in relation to the Madang Bank South Pacific heist on the 5th of July 2008 have been found guilty by the National Court.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110323/news06.htm
Kavieng Hotel
The Kavieng Hotel in New Ireland province is undergoing a major make-over at the cost of K2.6 million. The rooms at the front of the Kavieng Hotel have been pulled down and a new block of 13 rooms are in the process of being built.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110316/business07.htm
Forests Handed Over
Jeremy Hance at -- http://mongabay.com -- reports that 5 million hectares (12.3 million acres) of PNG forests have been handed to foreign corporations. William Laurance, a leading conservation biologist, says the revenue made from these deals is not aiding poverty alleviation efforts in the country, but instead the profits are "mostly ending up in the hands of foreign corporations and political elites in PNG.
-- http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0323-hance_png_sabls.html
Aust Foreign Aid Wasted
PNG's senior diplomat in Australia has commented that Australia's AU$457 million foreign aid program is being wasted. PNG High Commissioner Charles Lepani said about half of what is spent each year in PNG went to paying Australian-based contractors and consultants.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?6f29c0
The Australian High Commissioner in PNG, Ian Kemish, has relayed his Government's tough "zero tolerance" to fraud in the annual Aussie aid program to PNG.
Coming Events
Note: please verify any date mentioned as dates do change and events can sometimes get cancelled.
National Softball Championships - Easter in Goroka
World Malaria Day - 25 April
Arafura Games - 7th to 14th of May -- http://www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au
Lik Lik Diwai Tourism Festival - 20th May
Wahgi Sing Sing - June
Warwin High School Cultural Day - 13th June
Kontu / Tembn Shark Calling, New Ireland - 29th June - 2nd July
Warwagira Cultural Show, Kokopo - 29th June - 5th July
National Mask Festival, 6th - 9th July
Birding in Paradise, 12th - 22nd July -- http://giaman.com/pg/?8b315c
Miss Melanesia Australia 2011 - The Irish Club, Brisbane, Australia - 16 July 2011
Malagan Show, New Ireland, 22nd - 24th July
Crocodile Festival, Ambunti - 9th & 10th August
Mount Hagen Cultural Show - 13th & 14th August
Goroka Show - 16th - 18th September
Morobe Show - 15th & 16th October
Canoe and Kundu Festival, Alotau - 4th - 6th November
Full Pacific Games - New Caledonia 2011
National Elections - Scheduled for June 2012
2012 PNG Games - Kokopo, East New Britain
Olympic boxing qualifying tournament - April 2012
Pacific Mini Games - Wallis and Futuna 2013
Full Pacific Games - PNG 2015 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?081f78
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- ../misc/ctc.html
PNG Media
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