P.N.G. Gossip Newsletter - 26 Oct 2004

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PNG Gossip Newsletter Meri Milne Bay

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Papua New Guinea Gossip Newsletter


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PNG Gossip Blog

 

 

 

Neo Melanesian

"Pidgin English"
kala colour
blakpela black
blakpela sos barbecue sauce
blaksos / blakpela sos / soisos soya sauce
blu blue
blut blood
braun / braunpela brown
braunpela loli chocolate (candy)
soklet chocolate
dak or tudak dark
gol gold
gre grey
grin / grinpela green
hap half
hap ret purple
klia clear
lait light
makmak multi-coloured
pure klin
ret / retpela red
wait / waitpela white
waitman white man / European
yelo / yelopela yellow

 

 

Remember that this mailing list is mainly meant for people who have an interest and already know a little bit about the people and geography of Papua New Guinea. The PNG Kina, which is mentioned from time to time in this newsletter, is currently worth around 29.75 - 30.25 United States cents but varies on a daily basis.

If you are really keen on finding out what the Kina is worth a currency converter for most world currencies can be located at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/moni.html

Want to find out more about Papua New Guinea? Try searching at http://www.michie.net/pnginfo and http://www.michie.net/png_faqs. The PNG Business and Tourism Directory located at http://www.pngbd.com is also an excellent place to look for PNG information.

For those who are not so familiar with the geography of Papua New Guinea I suggest taking a look http://maps.expedia.com and then click on the find a map option. Go to this link for a quick start to a link to a map of Port Moresby. http://www.michie.net/pnginfo/pom-map.html

Also remember that the accuracy of the information in this newsletter should not be relied upon - it is, after all, a gossip newsletter.



Links

Jane's Oceania Home Page Newsletter -- http://www.janeresture.com/png_home/index.htm -- See article below about HIV/AIDS in PNG reprinted from Jane's newsletter.


http://svc015.wic118dp.server-web.com/www/html/1509-home-page.html -- The Law and Justice Sector website has been developed to provide easy access to information and services provided by the agencies and partners within the sector. The sector strategy focuses on the implementation of positive change associated with the many aspects of law and justice within PNG. A shortcut to the site can be found at -- http://www.lawandjustice.gov.pg


http://www.justice.gov.pg -- The Department of Justice and Attorney General delivers a diverse range of services that contribute to a just, safe and secure social environment for all people living and working in Papua New Guinea.


http://www.datec.net.pg/~phowley/ -- Restorative Justice - Papua New Guinea Style web site


http://www.postcourier.com.pg/misc/b3recs1.pdf -- Australian Report on PNG Aid (Post Courier)


http://www.pngonline.gov.pg -- Papua New Guinea Government Online


http://www.upng.ac.pg -- University of PNG


http://www.bankpng.gov.pg -- Bank of Papua New Guinea


http://www.pngembassy.org -- Embassy of Papua New Guinea to the Americas, Washington, DC


http://www.pngtourism.org.pg -- Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority


http://www.unitech.ac.pg/ -- Papua New Guinea University of Technology Home page


http://www.pngbd.com/ -- Papua New Guinea Business Directory and Tourism Information


http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/papua_new_guinea.html -- PNG Maps, County Maps, Historical Maps


A new web site for the National Disaster Centre has just come on line. It can be found at -- http://www.pngndc.gov.pg -- worth taking a look.



Internet Service Providers



Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Data Nets -- http://www.online.net.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.net.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg



Computer Companies in PNG



Able Computing -- http://www.able.com.pg
Comserv Computer Centre -- http://www.comserv.com.pg
Daltron -- http://www.daltron.com.pg
Data Nets -- http://www.datanets.com.pg
Datec -- http://www.datec.com.pg
Global Technologies -- http://www.global.net.pg

Don't forget the rumours that Daltron has put in a bid to buy Datec and Datec has also put in a bid to buy Daltron. Further rumours have it that DataNets and Datec and a few other companies around town have put in unofficial bids to buy ConXions a local communications company specialising in Ericsson telephone equipment.


 

 

News Items


Governor General



The Governor General, Sir Paulias Matane, has retuned from Buckingham Place after having his position officially sealed by the Queen. Sir Paulias has said that the Queen was keenly interested in the nation's economic situation and education development. She was also interested in the proposed celebrations for the 30th anniversary of Independence next year.



Aussie Heavies



A high-powered delegation from Australia consisting of political heavies, Australian Treasurer Peter Costello, Aussie Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister, Alexander Downer is heading PNG way. The two heavies and five other ministers will be in Lae, Morobe Province for a single day ministerial meeting with their PNG counterparts on the 15th of December. The visit has prompted Lae to rethink its position on the deteriorating condition of the roads in and around Lae. Lae residents are hoping that a magic wand can be waved to get some of the main roads repaired in time because there is not other way the roads could be repaired in such a short space of time.



Manam Island



The volcano on Manam Island in Madang province has erupted with a massive bang. It has been reported that the volcano sent clouds of thick smoke 6,000 metres about 20,000 feet into the air and tonnes of red hot lava has flown down into the sea. At the moment there is no immediate danger to the villagers living on the island.



Holiday Inn



The Holiday Inn upset one of its customers the other day. It seems that if you are a National the housekeeping staff come into the room and remove the contents of the bar fridge except this time housekeeping did while the guest was in the room. To the person on the receiving end it seems like discrimination is alive and well in Port Moresby. The guest wondered if an overseas visitor would have been treated the same way.



Airways Hotel



A gourmet shop has been opened at the Airways Hotel at seven-mile near the airport. The shop called Deli KC is yet another move by the hotel to develop the hotel and apartment complex. Many of the products will be imported but the hotel will manufacture others locally. Cheeses will be imported from suppliers in New Zealand and Australia.



Guam



Steps are underway to remove an unwelcome visitor from Manus Province that has found its way to Guam. The Manus Island brown tree snake has run amok in the US island territory of Guam. The snakes are causing power blackouts and wiping out much of the island's native bird population. It is believed that the snakes stowed away on a military cargo ship in the 1940's from Manus Island, where the US military had a major base during the Second World War. The snake has no natural predator in Guam and has spread quickly. It has been estimated that there are as many as 1300 brown tree snakes per square kilometre on Guam.



Political Merger



Rumours of a political merger of parties to topple the Somare led coalition have been denied by one of the players mentioned in the newspapers. Melanesian Alliance Cabinet ministers Sir Moi Avei and Lady Carol Kidu have denied the rumour emphatically.



HIV/AIDS in PNG



The following article has been reprinted from Jane's Newsletter and is about HIV/AIDS -- http://www.janeresture.com

Of increasing concern is the evidence that Papua New Guinea is in the grip of a burgeoning AIDS epidemic on a scale already being compared to that experienced in some African countries. Official records point to just under 9,000 people having been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea, but some health authorities have estimated that the numbers could be as high as between 50,000 and 80,000. Indeed, Australian experts have predicted that more than one million people may have the disease in six years. In a country with a population of about 5.4 million, this is a frightening statistic.

Sadly, it is the women of Papua New Guinea who seem to be most affected. For example, in the 15-29 year old age group, twice as many women have been infected as men, according to 2003 statistics from Papua New Guinea's National AIDS Council Secretariat. More than one in every 100 pregnant women has tested positive to the virus. The main cause of infection is heterosexual transmission followed by parent-to-child transmission.

Indeed, 90 per cent of Papua New Guinea women have contracted AIDS from their husbands. The women know that their husbands have more than one partner but they do not know who the other woman is and, if they talk about it, they can be beaten up. Sadly, these women simply have no control over their sex life.

http://www.janeresture.com/png_home/index.htm



HIV/AIDS Update



PNG has over 9000 confirmed cases of HIV/AIDS out of a population of approximately 5.5 million. This is the highest number of confirmed cases in the Pacific region. It has been reported that 14 people die of AIDS every day at the Port Moresby General Hospital and a further 115 new cases are diagnosed every month at the same hospital.



Chimbu Province



AusAID under the Australia PNG Aid Programme plans to upgrade 35 primary schools in Chimbu province over the next two years. The programme will fund 17 new double classrooms and 43 houses for teachers creating a further 1,300 additional primary school places at an estimated cost of K7.4 million. This follows ion from a successful pilot program in the province that saw 18 classrooms and 6 teachers houses built.



Sir Pita Lus



Controversial ex-politician Sir Pita Lus may be out of politics but he still manages to get his name mentioned in the press. This time the Boroko District Court has placed Sir Pita on a six-month good behaviour bond for assaulting the Minister for Works, Gabriel Kapris, at Morauta Haus in Port Moresby on the 31st of August. Sir Pita was the longest serving politician until he lost his seat in the 2002 General Elections.



India Night



The Indian Association has recently held a very successful India Nite for 2004 at the Holiday Inn ballroom. The Governor General of PNG, Sir Paulias Matane, Lady Carol Kidu, the Indian High Commissioner to PNG along with other dignitaries and over 400 other people attended the function. After the obligatory speeches the evening was toped off with a splendid Indian buffet .The Indian Association donated K40,000 to charity last year and was able to increase this to K57,000 this year. The association also celebrated 25 years of being in PNG.



Coconuts and Tearooms



Do not forget to try and get a copy of an excellent book that covers an attempt by one person to record some of the history of coconuts, tearooms and Rabaul. The book, called appropriately Coconuts and tearooms, covers the eruption of the volcanoes around Rabaul in 1937 and the preface covers the reason why Pat's book is of extreme historical value. In 1942 the Japanese invaded Rabaul and destroyed irreplaceable records. I recommend that you somehow get to a library and grab a copy of the book titled "Coconuts and Tearooms" by Pat Boys. National Library of New Zealand ISBN 0-473-01724-5

It is copyrighted in 1993 but covers a six-year period in the 1930's. The book started out as ten foolscap, single-spaced pages that Pat's mother had written about her experiences. With this meagre beginning an a keen interest to preserve a little bit of the history of the Rabaul area and helped by over 200 photographs taken by her father Pat has been able to produce a wonderful 140 plus page book. The only complaint I could find about the book was that I wish the photos were in colour! Now if I could only buy a plantation for the price mentioned in Pat's book but using the money I earn today without subtracting anything for inflation!



PNG Defence Force



The PNG Defence Force has recently conducted war games in the bush around Brown River in Central province. Soldiers based at Taurama barracks spilt into two platoons. One platoon carried out the offence against the others who waited in ambush for the first group. The exercise was used to rate each individual soldier and let them now how they performed during the training. The PNG Defence Force is often ill equipped to perform even the simplest of tasks but all soldiers performed well in the war games.



Coming Events



Miss Warehouse Corporate Fundraising event for the PNG Red Cross Quest will be held on the 29th of October at the Grand Palace Restaurant in Port Moresby. Tickets are K79.50 each.

The 2004 Morobe Show will be held on the 30th and 31st of October at the Showgrounds in Lae city.

The eighth PNG Mining and Petroleum Investment Conference will be held at the Sheraton on The Park Hotel in Sydney, Australia on he 6th and 7th of December this year. A brochure and online registration form can be found at -- http://www.pnginvestment.cia.com.au.

Do not forget the coming Milne Bay Canoe Festival to be held from the 5th to the 8th of November 2004. Please contact Tim Seeto at Alotau Enterprises (+675 641 1246), Eimi Kigolena at the Milne Bay Visitors' Bureau (+675 641 1503) or Gretta Kwasnicka on telephone number is +675 641 1290 or +675 641 0588 for more details.



PNG Provincial Governors



Hon. Bill Skate, MP -- National Capital District
Hon. Alphonse Moroi, MP -- Central Province
Hon. Dr Bob Danaya, MP -- Western/Fly Province
Hon. Christopher Haiveta, -- MP Gulf Province Hon. Timothy Neville, -- MP Milne Bay Province
Hon. Bani Hoivo, MP -- Oro Province
Hon. Luther Wenge, MP -- Morobe Province
Hon. James Yali, MP -- Madang Province
Hon. Henry Ariro, MP -- East Sepik Province
Hon. Carlos Yuni, MP -- West Sepik Province
Hon. Ian Ling Stuckey, -- MP New Ireland Province
Hon. Dr Jacob Jumugot, -- MP Manus Province
Hon. Leo Dion, MP -- East New Britain Province
Hon. Clement Nakmai, MP -- West New Britain Province
Hon. John Momis, MP -- Bougainville Province
Hon. Mal Kela Smith, MP -- Eastern Highlands Province
Hon. Peter Launa, MP Simbu Province
Hon. Paias Wingti, MP Western Highlands Province
Hon. Peter Ipatas, MP Enga Province
Hon. Hami Yawari, MP Southern Highlands Province



Enhanced Co-operation Program



The Australian Assisting Police Commander has made an assurance to the Governors at the recent Governors Conference in Madang that Australian police officers seconded to PNG will work with their PNG counterparts to improve the law and order situation - not to replace them. He went on to say that they would share their experience with their PNG counterparts and help to build up the capacity of the Royal PNG Constabulary .



Coin Shortage



Port Moresby and the rest of the country seems to be still suffering a shortage of coins despite the banks advertising that they need them returned. Many shops in town are rounding the cash register amount so that they do not need to give back one or two toea's in the change whilst other shops have even attempted to give out lollies instead of the copper coins.



Elections



The one-day Monday polling for the Moresby North East seat managed to cripple many businesses as individual workers were released to try and find what polling booth their name was registered at. Many workers came back telling stories of visiting three or four booths until they were allowed to vote. Many school children, who were scheduled to sit their all important grade ten exams, were also disrupted due to a polling booth being located in the local school hall. In the midst of all this Moresby experienced several downpours just enough to dampen the roads but not the spirits of the voters. The results of the poll will be known in several weeks time.



Cape Gloucester



An aid post has been opened at Kandoka in the Cape Gloucester district of East New Britain province. The post will serve over 7,000 people in the area as well as people from Kou, Talgone and other neighbouring villages. The aid post cost K100,000 to be built and was funded with money from the Kandrian-Gloucester Member of Parliament.



2004 Miss PNG Contestants



The following girls have entered the Miss PNG Red Cross contest for 2004 -

Ashwin Samson -- Miss Warehouse
Dani Kunia -- Miss Koiari
Julie Joseph -- Miss Rabaul Travelodge
Linda Natera -- Miss NCD/Central Province
Maria Boromu -- Miss Vanimo Beach Hotel
Priscilla Daniels -- Miss WHP PNGRC
Sheryn Bernard -- Miss Manus



Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's)



It is hoped that chemicals that affect the ozone layer and are still in use in PNG will be phased out by the year 2010. Some of the chemicals contain Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) and other such as methyl bromide is used by quarantine for pre-shipment purposes and various pesticides. These chemicals destroy the ozone layer. It is expected that CF's will be able to be withdrawn by 2008 and methyl bromide by 2010. The phasing out of CFC's by 2008 is two year ahead of a general international agreement of 2010.






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-- THE END --

Some of the ways of saying "that's all" are courtesy of Liz and her friends at the University of Technology in Lae. http://www.unitech.ac.pg

If you can add to this list then please send email to PNG-News@pnggossip.com

 






Created 26 Oct 2004
Updated 6 Nov 2004

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