Articles Search

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Sept. 28) – The Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) has urged the Government to fast-track the implementation of major development policies after recording another budget surplus.

According to the central bank’s Quarterly Economic Bulletin, there was continued economic activity in the first half of this year due to high commodity prices on the international market and an increase in Government expenditure and commercial bank lending to the private sector.

Consequently, the continuing high in export prices has resulted in a surplus in the Government’s fiscal operations and balance of payments.

"The overall surplus in the balance of payments was PGK400 million [US$141.2 millioni] for the first six months of 2007, compared to a higher surplus of PGK675 million in the corresponding period of 2006.

This outcome was the result of a lower surplus in the current account, which more than offset an improvement in the...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Sept. 28) – The United States Embassy is looking forward to continue its work with local organisations and institutions to preserve cultural heritage in Papua New Guinea.

U.S. Ambassador to PNG Leslie Rowe said this following the dedication of the historic Kafiavana Rock Art site in the Lufa area of Eastern Highlands province recently.

Ms Rowe travelled to Goroka during the independence weekend to watch the Goroka Cultural Show.

While in Goroka, she visited the Raun Raun Theatre and the Melanesian Institute and had the opportunity to talk to local high school students about the importance of celebrating and preserving their cultural heritage.

Ms Rowe said they (US embassy) were proud to participate in the JK McCarthy Museum’s dedication of the Kafiavana Rock Art Site.

The chief curator of the museum Vincent Po had worked closely with the US Embassy last year to put forward a proposal to the State...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Sept. 28) – Porgera mine manager Mark Fisher on Tuesday denied engaging armed police officers to remove villagers who were demanding compensation before the company could repair a pothole along the Highlands Highway in the Enga province.

"The road by Porgera Joint Venture over the weekend was done with full backing from the Miso landowners. The pothole was hazardous for vehicles travelling along the road," he said.

"The police personnel were present to ensure the safety of the machinery used for the road works."

Mr Fisher also denied using the same armed officers to force Laiagam settlers living near the mine to recover a semi-trailer that the settlers had confiscated over the death of a fellow settler, who was said to have been run over by that vehicle.

"The vehicle held by the settlers does not belong to PJV but belongs to Mapai Ltd, a contractor."

[PIR editor’s note: Numerous alleged killings of...

By Giff Johnson

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Marianas Variety, Oct. 1) — Taiwan and Vanuatu flagged tuna fishing boats were arrested Thursday as a big Pacific area fisheries surveillance mission wrapped up.

The Eastern Star, a Taiwanese purse seiner registered in Vanuatu, was arrested for illegal fishing operations in the Federated States of Micronesia just north of the equator Thursday, and fined US$200,000, which the vessel paid immediately to secure its release, said Lt. Cmdr. Mitch Edwards, a Royal Australian Navy advisor in the Marshall Islands.

A second Taiwan purse seiner, the Ching Feng, was also detained in Pohnpei, the capital of Micronesia, and an investigation was ongoing with no charges filed on Friday.

The arrests capped a 10-day, $15 million surveillance effort involving nine nations. Dubbed operation "Big Eye," the annual surveillance mission is "one of the best examples of cooperation in the Pacific to achieve common goals," said Pohnpei-...