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PNG in the News
Forest Initiative in PNG -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7d00b8
PNG call for scientific study to determine if Ok Tedi to blame for deaths -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=72242
Highlands Pacific: Ramu nickel/cobalt to ship to China -- http://giaman.com/pg/?35710f
New plans for Lae City -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121122/feature.htm
PNG offer big help to Solomons -- http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/16556-png-offer-big-help
MSF presses PNG on rampant sexual violence -- http://giaman.com/pg/?429fa6
PNG halts attempts to create rice monopoly -- http://giaman.com/pg/?3e409e
PNG government seeks 50% stake in LNG project -- http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-16/an-png-lng/4375220
Calls to reopen search for missing PNG scientists -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1151e2
Misc. PNG Links
PNG Travel -- http://www.pngtravel.com.
Lae secure second title -- http://giaman.com/pg/?a99859
Country Travel Advice and Advisories from the Government of Canada -- http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/papua-new-guinea
Plans for Maprik people -- http://www.pngfacts.com/1/post/2012/11/plans-for-maprik-people.html
Grassroots approach to better sanitation in Goroka -- http://giaman.com/pg/?c0e5f1
Lae Liquor ban to be lifted if Tutumang agrees -- http://giaman.com/pg/?e8efb7
Hargy Oil Palms Limited (HOPL) -- http://www.hargy.com.pg
PNG Images
US troops unloading, Port Moresby -- http://giaman.com/pg/?ac0532
Dried fish at the Lae Market -- http://www.afar.com/highlights/dried-fish-at-the-lae-market
PNG Through the Lens -- http://giaman.com/pg/?64b057
Kundiawa long Kegsugl by Jason Daniels -- http://365project.org/bobfoto/365/2012-11-18
EMTV Photo Gallery -- http://www.emtv.com.pg/component/joomgallery/
Smoke on the water -- http://giaman.com/pg/?dfa271
PNG Related Blogs
Family history across the seas -- https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2012/11/13/return-to-milne-bay
PNG Agricultural News -- http://pngagrinews.wordpress.com
Tom Nixon, Madang -- http://tomnixon.co.uk/tag/madang/
A family sailing the world: Kicking around in Kavieng -- http://giaman.com/pg/?b69e6e
Ramu NiCo makes first shipment -- http://ramumine.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/ramu-nico-makes-first-shipment/
News Items
"Kokoda: That Bloody Track"
Clodagh Mulcahy from -- http://www.kokodahistorical.com -- has recommended "Kokoda: That Bloody Track". Writing it is a factual graphic novel (or traditional comic) that tells the true story of the Kokoda Battles in July and August 1942. "Kokoda: That Bloody Track" engages children and adults alike. The colourful format and engaging artwork is designed to encourage new readers.
The author, David Howell is an expert on the Kokoda Track. He regularly escorts school groups to Kokoda and Isurava. David is a Returned Serviceman and served in the Solomon Islands on peacekeeping operations. The forward is written by General David Hurley, Chief of the Defence Force.
"Kokoda: That Bloody Track" is a quality book - 48 pages colour - with spine and cardboard cover. RRP AU$9.95. Image of the cover is attached and we can provide some sample pages if required.
Copies can be ordered by emailing -- info@kokodahistorical.com
-- http://www.kokodahistorical.com.au
Fiji PM arrives PNG
Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has arrived in Port Moresby for the special Pacific African, Caribbean and Pacific (PACP) meeting. Commodore Bainimarama was received by the PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato and other government officials on arrival at Port Moresby's International Airport.
Bainimarama welcomes ACP decision -- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121122/news03.htm
Solomon Island's Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo also visited Port Moresby to attend the Special PACP leaders meeting.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?a5316a
Free Trade Deal
PNG, as part of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, has begun to introduce duty-free status to products traded with Vanuatu, Fiji and Solomon Islands with the exception of mackerel, salt and sugar. The move has come almost seven years after the trade deal between Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and PNG was finalised.
Lae Port Extension
PNG's biggest port project now underway in Lae will see its wharf extended to cater for the increasing shipping traffic in the nation's industrial city.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?c251da
Domestic Violence
The local campaign to end violence against women has received a boost from the United Nations Trust Fund.
Papua New Guinea would receive some funding from the US$8 million (K16.5 million) the UN had made available to 18 countries to help local initiatives, including raising awareness about violence against women and girls.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/41678
PNG pushed to solve domestic violence crisis -- http://giaman.com/pg/?1988c4
Hunting For New Species
After two years of preparation Olivier Pascal and Philippe Bouchet have arrived in Madang ready to embark on a new chapter in their inventory of the world's biodiversity. The expedition will last three months and will include almost 200 scientists of 21 different nationalities. The final objective for the pair is to come up with a new estimate of the number of species currently living on Earth.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?56a0c4
Missing Scientists
Police Minister, Nixon Dubai has announced in Parliament that police will reopen an investigation into the disappearance of five scientists near West New Britain's capital, Kimbe, 12 months ago.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?f82dfb
Vanimo
The cost of servicing anything in PNG is high. The cost of transporting spare parts around the country can be expensive especially to provinces where there are no roads linking even the next town or village let alone the next province. Many provinces are lucky to have access to sea transport but for many the reliance is high on air transport and the associated costs. The Manager of Ela Motors in Vanimo, Gerald Moere has expressed concerns over Air Niugini's monopoly service to the West Sepik town. I assume that if it was profitable the other airlines would already be there offering a cheaper service.
-- http://www.pngfacts.com/1/post/2012/11/vanimo-services-too-high.html
Airlines PNG
The Chief Executive Officer of Airlines of PNG has stepped down from the role on 21 November, 2012. Mr Toomey took office as the CEO in August 2009, and with his contract term drawing to a close and the company entering a new development phase, the Board has considered to be an appropriate time for the best interest of the company, its shareholders and employees. Airlines PNG new appointed CEO, Mr Muralee Siva, took office on the 21st of November.
-- http://www.emtv.com.pg/businesspng-app/item/airlines-png-ceo-to-step-down
Smaller airlines in Pacific feel shut out by big players -- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=72425
Air Niugini - Freight
Air Niugini has wet-lease a first freighter, ATR 42-300(F) HB-AFC (c/n 87), from Swiss charter and cargo operator Farnair Switzerland It plans to add two additional ATR 72-200(F)s from its new Swiss partner over the course of the next couple of weeks. The ATR cargo aircraft will be operating on domestic routes from Port Moresby.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?2ac250
Deficit Budget
The Treasurer has described the record K13 billion budget as the people's budget. It targets provinces and districts and PNG's ailing infrastructure. The 2012 was estimated at K10.560 billion. The new provinces of Hela and Jiwaka will receive recurrent funding for the first time in 2013.
From 2013 onwards, each district would receive K10 million each year (totalling K890 million per year).
Provinces will receive K5 million per district (totalling K445 million per year), in addition to the existing functional grants. LLGs will receive K0.5 million each (totalling K157 million per year).
The education budget for next year has been increased by K483.5 million to K1.8446 billion.
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121121/news01.htm
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?ecdfa9
Usino-Bundi District
People from the Usino-Bundi District of Madang have taken banking service right to the doorstep of the people living in the Usino-Bundi district by opening a branch at the District headquarters at Walium
-- http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20121121/news20.htm
Aussie Bird Flu
The chicken industry has renewed calls for tighter quarantine controls on uncooked Australian chickens after an outbreak of bird flu in New South Wales. The general manager of Zenag Chicken in PNG, Stanley Leahy says the country needs far stricter quarantine protocols so that potentially infected imports can be kept out.
-- http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=72318
PNG LNG Project
Esso Highlands Limited, operator of the PNG LNG Project, has announced that the Project capacity has increased by 5 per cent to 6.9 million tonnes per year from 6.6 million tonnes per year. -- http://giaman.com/pg/?7d9c77
Death Penalty
Justice Minister, Kerengua Kua has directed the Secretary for Justice to look into the death penalty issue. Mr Kua said the law does exist and there have been death sentence penalties that are still awaiting implementation of the execution process. The execution of the death sentence penalty has not been enforced.
Parliament has been that a number of Papua New Guineans have expressed their interest in executing criminals facing the death penalty in the country.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/41671
Asylum Seekers
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato has said the first of 19 asylum seekers (eight adults and four children from Sri Lanka and seven adults from Iran) have arrived in Manus. Officials who witnessed the arrival of the asylum seekers were the Manus provincial government chairman of infrastructure John Popot, provincial administrator Kule'en Hamou, army chief-of-staff Capt. Tom Ur, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Margaret Adamson and the chief migration officer and administrator of the Manus regional processing centre, Mataio Rabura, who coordinated the arrangements.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/41600
Aussies Given Deadline
Landowners on Manus Island have given Australia and PNG notice to meet their demands surrounding its asylum seeker detention centre. landowners want a chance to be given some of the contracts at the Asylum Centre so that they can receive benefits from the economic spinoff of the processing centre. Landowners have previously shut down the airport on Manus Island over the demands for work.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?465fbc
Religion in PNG
Member of Parliament Wera Mori, representing Chuave in wants parliament to pass a law banning other religions to maintain the country's stand as a Christian nation. Mori made the call in parliament recently after the Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development, Loujoya Toni, gave her ministerial statement. PNG is predominantly a Christian country.
-- http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/41594
Yangoru-Sausia Electorate
A report by the Finance Department has alleged over half a million Kina belonging to the Yangoru Sausia people has been misappropriated between January and June this year. The investigation, at the request of the present Member for Yangoru-Sausia, was as a result of numerous public complaints of corruption, theft and misappropriation levelled against the former Member, Peter Waranaka and the former District Administrator and the former District Treasurer.
Misima Plane Crash
Pilot error and the weather have been blamed for the August 2010 crash of a Cessna Citation at Misima airstrip in Milne Bay province. Three Australians and a New Zealander were killed in the incident.
-- http://giaman.com/pg/?ff0da9
Wear Red
World AIDS Day is on the 1st of December 2012. To show your support join BAHA to WEAR RED or HANG RED on Friday the 30th of November (in lieu of December 1st). -- http://baha.com.pg
Fifth PNG Games
Resorts, lodges, guests houses and hotels in and around Kokopo are reportedly fully booked for the period of the games. It has been estimated 8,000 athletes and officials including visitors from all over country have come for the games. Not only are providers of accommodation happy but local eateries, market vendors, bus drivers, tucker shop owners and supermarkets are cashing in.
Coming Events
Note: please verify any date mentioned as dates change and events can sometimes get cancelled. Of course I may also put down a wrong date.
Fifth PNG Games, East New Britain - on now in Kokopo
Financial Inclusion Expo - 30th November to 1st December at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium, Lae.
World AIDS Day - 1st December. The Theme for this year is the same as last year and will be the same until 2015. The theme is "ZERO HIV IN PNG - Protect Yourself, Protect Your Family" - Test Your Blood Today, Know Your Tomorrow.
12th PNG Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference, Sydney Hilton Hotel - 3rd to 5th December 2012
Ahi Festival, Lae - 13th - 16th of December (includes Miss Ahi Quest)
Christmas Day - 25th December 2012
New Year's Day -- 1st January 2013
Rabbitohs to play PNG Kumuls -- 9th of Feb 2013
Pacific Mini Games - Wallis and Futuna 2013
2013 Pacific Netball Series (hosted by Fiji)
Goroka Show 2013 -- http://epictomato.com/inspiration/the-goroka-show-papua-new-guinea/
Full Pacific Games - PNG 4th July to 18th July 2015 -- http://giaman.com/pg/?081f78
Pacific Mini Games - Vanuatu 2017
Do you have an event that you want advertised? - Use the submission form located at -- http://www.pnggossip.com/misc/ctc.html
PNG Media
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