Links
Warning:
PNG web sites seem to come and go. The fact of life is that it costs
money to host a web site and there is not much return on the outlay
to most businesses in PNG. If you do click on a link and use the services
or even have some comments to make then please contact the people at
the relevant web site and let them know so they at least know that someone
has gained some value from their efforts. If you are so inclined then
mention that you heard about them from this web site. -- The PNG Gossip
Newsletter.
Eastern Highlands
NEW -- http://www.easternhighlands.com.pg
-- Eastern Highlands Web Site
Superannuation Funds
The Association of Superannuation Funds PNG (ASFPNG) has a website
located at -- http://www.asfpng.org.pg
-- ASFPNG is an industry body established in 2002 by interested industry
participants with the common goal to protect superannuants retirement
savings within a regulated environment whilst fostering a competitive
industry.
National Statistical Office
The National Statistical Office has a web site located at -- http://www.nso.gov.pg
Ever wondered what is the population of various PNG towns? -- http://www.citypopulation.de/PapuaNewGuinea.html
-- makes a reasonable guess considering the last census held in PNG
was in the year 2000.
Lonely Planet
The Lonely Planet Guide to PNG can be found at -- http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/australasia/papua_new_guinea/
Education Related Links
Ela Murray International School -- http://www.elamurray.ac.pg
Institute of Banking and Business Management -- http://www.ibbm.com.pg/main.html
Institute of Business Studies -- http://www.ibs.ac.pg/
International Business Institute -- http://www.ibs.com.pg
International Education Agency -- http://www.iea.ac.pg
Korobosea and Boroko East School -- http://www.koroboro.ac.pg
Pacific Training Academy -- http://www.pta.com.pg
PNG Basic Education Development Program (BEDP) -- http://www.bedp.sagric.com/
PNG Curriculum Reform Implementation Project -- http://www.pngcurriculumreform.ac.pg
PNG International Training Institute -- http://www.iti.ac.pg
PNG Maritime College -- http://www.pngmc.ac.pg
PNG University of Technology (Lae) -- http://www.unitech.ac.pg
POM Institute of Matriculation Studies -- http://www.pims.ac.pg/
Tabubil International Education Agency School -- http://www.tis.ac.pg
The International School of Lae -- http://www.tisol.ac.pg/
University of Goroka, Eastern Highlands -- http://www.uog.ac.pg
University of PNG -- http://www.upng.ac.pg
Divine Word University -- http://www.dwu.ac.pg
Miscellaneous Web Sites
Bishop Brothers Engineering has a web site at -- http://www.bishopbros.com.pg/
Curtain Brothers a major civil construction company has a web site
ate-- http://www.curtainbros.com.pg/
A single page for Lohberger Engineering can be found at -- http://www.lohberger.com.pg/
The Markham Group of Companies have a web site located at -- http://www.markham.com.pg/
PNG Dockyard -- http://www.pngdockyard.com.pg
The Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce website is located at -- http://www.pomcci.org.pg
The Milne Bay Tourism website can be found at -- http://www.milnebaytourism.gov.pg
Papua New Guinea Institute of Accountants -- http://www.pngia.org.pg
Rotary Club of Boroko and Papua New Guinea -- http://www.rotary.org.pg
Friends of the Disabled Association -- http://www.foda.org.pg
University of PNG -- http://www.upng.ac.pg
Bank of Papua New Guinea -- http://www.bankpng.gov.pg
Aussie Travel Advisory
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has recently
changed the travel advice notices that they issue so that they are easier
to understand. You can read more about the travel advice changes by
reading the "Making Travel Advice Clearer and Simpler Fact sheet
and Travel Advice Frequently Asked Questions" located on the
Smart Traveller website -- http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/new_advisories.html.
News Items
ENB Mobile
The delay in extending mobile phone services to the province of East
New Britain has been attributed to a new seller of equipment being obtained
overseas. The equipment has arrived in Port Moresby and relevant staff
are now awaiting training in China. It is anticipated that the mobile
phone service will be introduced into East New Britain this year. Rabaul
and Kokopo will be the first to get connected in the New Guinea Islands
region service and this will be extended to Kavieng, Kimbe and Bougainville
later on.
O'Neill Cleared
The charges against the Opposition Leader, Peter O'Neill were dismissed
by the Waigani Committal Court recently due to a lack of credible evidence.
The evidence did not prove that the accused, Mr O'Neill, was trying
to defraud the National Provident Fund (now Nasfund). Magistrate Mekeo
Gauli said the prosecution also failed to prove that Japanese construction
company Kumagai Gumi Co Ltd paid money to Port Moresby First National
Real Estate (PMFNRE), allegedly owned by Mr O'Neill, for his personal
use. Mr O'Neill was cleared of one conspiracy and eight misappropriation
charges.
Air Niugini
The Industrial Tribunal has ordered Air Niugini to reinstate a former
union president James Anjo who was sacked in 2003. Mr Anjo was terminated
in 2003 after e led a union strike to force airline management to carry
out the Flight Attendants 1987 agreement. The tribunal also urged airline
management to stop all discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.
It also urged airline management to let the workers decide for themselves
whether or not they want to be on contract or remain under the award
scheme without pressure from the management.
Crocodile Hunting
There will be a crocodile-hunting safari to the country next month
headed by Mick Pitman. Mr Pitman, nicknamed "Crocodile Mick",
said they would be going after six killer crocodiles ranging from 4
to 5 metres that had reportedly killed 13 people. Mr Pitman has been
granted a 12-month hunting permit by the PNG Government. A PNG environmental
protection officer will travel with the safari. Any hunters wishing
to join the safari will have had to pass a target-shooting test.
Porgera Strike
A strike, over the proposed takeover of Placer Dome Inc by Barrick
Gold Corporation, a Canadian company, has lost many days of production
at the Porgera Gold Mine. The Porgera Joint Venture has described the
strike as "illegal" and said that even if the takeover happens
it would be "business as usual" for the mine workers
and no changes would be made to any existing contracts, employee benefits,
agreements and other business arrangements relating to the operation
of the Porgera Mine.
Bougainville By-election
A man has been killed and three ballot boxes hijacked in separate incidents
connected with the Regional Seat by-election on the Island of Bougainville.
The candidates vying for the seat include Simon Pentanau, Joel Banam,
Isaiah Moroko, Leo Hannet, Theresa Jaintong and Aloysius Tahun. Despite
these problems election officials are confident that the by-election
will be peaceful.
Price Increases
Due to the dilapidated state of the Mendi to Tari section of the Highlands
Highway prices of basic goods and services have increased in the western
end of the Southern Highlands province. PMV owners who are braving the
poor road are now charging travellers K50 for the Mendi to Tari leg
of the trip. This is up from the usual price of K20 per passenger. Passengers
travelling from Mt Hagen to Tari are now paying a total of K70 whereas
previously it was K40 per person. Police have said that even new motor
vehicles are breaking down caused by potholes on the highway
Telikom ENB Plan
Telikom has unveiled an action plan to improve telecommunication services
and rectify ongoing telephone traffic congestion problems in East New
Britain. The main issues are to stabilise telecommunication transmissions
at the various mountaintop sites including the Tomavatur repeater station
and provide enough space for telephone lines out of the province. At
the moment there is an overloading problem out of the province that
stops East New Britain communicating with other parts of the world including
the rest of PNG.
Bougainville Fijian
As reported several issues ago eight Fijians have been providing various
services to Bougainville-based fast money scheme operator Noah Musingku
on the Island of Bougainville. Their visas expired a while ago and now
they are staying illegally in the country. Two have now flown back to
Fiji after being deported for overstaying their visas. The latest to
leave was a telecommunication specialist who was invited by Mr Musingku
to set up a communications system in Bougainville's Tonu area. It is
not clear what are the plans of the other Fijians on the island.
Goroka School Discipline
A headmaster at a Goroka school is in trouble for allegedly demanding
that four grade six students lick the dust off the floor of their classroom
recently. Parents reported the matter to police and the resulting court
case attracted many interested people in Goroka after the headmaster
was charged under Section 7(b) of the Criminal Code. The case has been
adjourned until a final witness can give evidence. The teacher is out
on bail. He has denied the charges and stressed the need to maintain
discipline in schools.
Fuel Prices
Drivers are a little happier now that the price of fuel has fallen.
In Port Moresby, petrol dropped to K2.78 per litre, inclusive of GST.
Diesel is now K2.33 per litre, down by 11.89 toea while kerosene is
K2.22, down by 8.02 toea. Residents of Lae are now looking at K2.84
per litre for petrol, K2.31 for diesel and K2.29 for kerosene. The drop
has been attributed to a lower cost for crude as well as a 23 percent
drop in international ocean freight rates.
Buimo Clinic
The Buimo Health Centre in Lae has been close indefinetly. The clinic
has been suffering for ages with an acute shortage of staff. This shortage
has placed extreme pressures on the remaining staff so much so that
it has been reported that one nurse was attending to more than 150 patients
a day. Of course with this heavy workload the remaining staff have been
falling sick and not turning up for work. The clinic serves thousands
of people in Lae.
Rural Development Bank
A member of parliament, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mathew Siune,
is seeking support to change the status of the Rural Development Bank
into a commercial bank. It is said that the proposed National Rural
Development Bank of PNG would enable more Papua New Guineans to have
access to a bank and open bank accounts without hassle.
PM's Graveyard
A special graveyard is being prepared as a result of the death of Sir
William Skate. The special area set aside on Independence Hill will
be developed as graveyard once the necessary K4 million for the project
was approved by Parliament. A temporary area set aside for Sir William
will be developed further.
Sir William Skate
Many Residents of the National Capital District (NCD) attended Sir
William Skate's funeral service at the Reverend Sioni Kami Memorial
Church at Gordons. A public holiday (only in the NCD) was declared as
a mark of respect and also to allow residents to attend the State funeral
and burial of the NCD Regional MP and former Prime Minister.
Sir William was laid to rest in a special area set aside on Independence
Hill in Port Moresby at 2.15pm (Thursday 12th January 2006) facing Parliament
House. The three-hour funeral service was broadcast live on radio and
by the local television station - EMTV.
Pirate Textbooks
It has been alleged that many of the textbooks being used in PNG Schools,
have been pirated and reprinted in Indonesia and Malaysia. Police and
customs officials have raided and impounded large quantities of pirated
textbooks for subjects such as mathematics, science, home economics
and English. Raids have been conducted in Lae and Goroka and it is expected
that raids will also be conducted in Port Moresby. The PNG Teachers
Association has called for an investigation into the piracy.
Angau Morgue
The morgue is full beyond capacity at Lae's Angau Memorial Hospital
and the hospital is not accepting any more bodies. The hospital has
posted public notices around city as well as airing the notices on local
radio stations urging people to remove the bodies of their relatives
that have been in the morgue for long periods for burial. Compounding
the problem is that some patients have not used their proper name when
being admitted so there is no way of tracing who their relatives are.
A mass burial was not an option right away, but may take place if the
bodies were not removed after six months.
Sepik Gas
It has been reported that natural gas is leaking out of the ground
and creeks in the Maprik area of East Sepik Province. Apparently this
is occurring near two villages in the area and the villagers have piped
the gas to shore where they are using it to boil water. After seeing
bubbles coming out of a nearby creek, the villagers blocked the outlet
with a funnel. They then connected a bamboo to the funnel and piped
the gas to the village. Villagers have called on any exploration company
or the Mining and Petroleum Department to investigate the gas seepage
further.
This Newsletter
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and you would like to keep receiving free copies then please visit --
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Coming Events
Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games -- March 2006.
8th of April to the 16th of April 2006-- National Game Fishing Titles
PNG 31st Independence Anniversary - 16th September 2006
PNG Media
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