PNGBLOGS

COUNTRYSIDE One of the joys of growing up in PNG is to the big sing sings that happen yearly or even the colorful church activities. I vividly remember Independence Day and the host of color from all part of the country. From the majestic plums drifting on the head pieces of the mighty men and women of the highlands, electrifying rhythmic chants and drums from the New Guinea islands, carvings and dances that depict mystical stories of the Momase people and the spectacular nautical innovations of the tribes from the southern region. Credit: Messer Smith (http://www.messersmith.name/wordpress So things are not the same, we have lost some of our old ways and we are sometimes accused of not honoring our culture. But we have been progressive and as a result, we have forged an identity that resonates a nation of many tongues. From Patti Doi and Betty Toea’s music booming in PMVs that are owned by Highlanders, colorful fabrics that depict tapa patterns from the Orokaiva worn by our sister

COUNTRYSIDE One of the joys of growing up in PNG is to the big sing sings that happen yearly or even the colorful church activities. I vividly remember Independence Day and the host of color from all part of the country. From the majestic plums drifting on the head pieces of the mighty men and women of the highlands, electrifying rhythmic chants and drums from the New Guinea islands, carvings and dances that depict mystical stories of the Momase people and the spectacular nautical innovations of the tribes from the southern region. Credit: Messer Smith (http://www.messersmith.name/wordpress So things are not the same, we have lost some of our old ways and we are sometimes accused of not honoring our culture. But we have been progressive and as a result, we have forged an identity that resonates a nation of many tongues. From Patti Doi and Betty Toea’s music booming in PMVs that are owned by Highlanders, colorful fabrics that depict tapa patterns from the Orokaiva worn by our

Source: DAN OAKES SMH PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S high commissioner has staged an astonishing attack on the Coalition and strongly endorsed the Gillard Labor government, throwing foreign affairs into the spotlight for the first time during the election campaign. Charles Lepani told the Herald that relations between his country and the Coalition had been severely damaged by the former Howard government, and that the opposition had made little effort to repair them since its defeat in 2007. Mr Lepani was speaking after a debate at the National Press Club between the deputy Liberal leader, Julie Bishop, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, in which Ms Bishop said that a Coalition government would repair relations with PNG. The diplomat said he was mystified by Ms Bishop's claim that the relationship between Australia and its former colony had deteriorated under Labor. ''There was no relationship left to repair when Labor was elected,'' Mr Lepani said. ''

Source: DAN OAKES SMH PAPUA NEW GUINEA'S high commissioner has staged an astonishing attack on the Coalition and strongly endorsed the Gillard Labor government, throwing foreign affairs into the spotlight for the first time during the election campaign. Charles Lepani told the Herald that relations between his country and the Coalition had been severely damaged by the former Howard government, and that the opposition had made little effort to repair them since its defeat in 2007. Mr Lepani was speaking after a debate at the National Press Club between the deputy Liberal leader, Julie Bishop, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, in which Ms Bishop said that a Coalition government would repair relations with PNG. The diplomat said he was mystified by Ms Bishop's claim that the relationship between Australia and its former colony had deteriorated under Labor. ''There was no relationship left to repair when Labor was elected,'' Mr Lepani said. &#

OP/ED WE have it on good authority that the third quarter school subsidies worth K3,134,125 for Central are now ready to be distributed to the five districts this week. We have it on good authority, too, that no school will get its share of subsidies if it has not submitted acquittals for its subsidy allocations for last year and for the first quarter of this year. A team from the provincial education division has issued stern instructions that no subsidy cheque ought to be paid unless and until acquittals are in.  “No acquittals, no subsidy,” provincial education adviser Titus Hatagen is quoted as saying in The National today. Hatagen appealed yesterday to school head teachers and boards of management to ensure subsidy acquittals are in. He has asked church agencies to help in this. The instructions will, of course, not go down well with many school headmasters and their governing boards. They are going to argue that the money is allocated by the government for their schools an

OP/ED WE have it on good authority that the third quarter school subsidies worth K3,134,125 for Central are now ready to be distributed to the five districts this week. We have it on good authority, too, that no school will get its share of subsidies if it has not submitted acquittals for its subsidy allocations for last year and for the first quarter of this year. A team from the provincial education division has issued stern instructions that no subsidy cheque ought to be paid unless and until acquittals are in.  “No acquittals, no subsidy,” provincial education adviser Titus Hatagen is quoted as saying in The National today. Hatagen appealed yesterday to school head teachers and boards of management to ensure subsidy acquittals are in. He has asked church agencies to help in this. The instructions will, of course, not go down well with many school headmasters and their governing boards. They are going to argue that the money is allocated by the government for their schools

By COUNTRYSIDE For the past 100 years, most of our iconic enterprises have been built on a pyramid scheme of boss man and his kago boi. From the perched plantations of the Niugini Islands to the cattle valleys of the Whagi Plain, it was all about the kago boi doing loads of work while boss yells every conceivable biological description of the female anatomy, to bring a sense of order. No knowledge building, no high end skill transfers, it was all about using our boys and girls as Lorries and trucks. I’d say not much has changed. Ok so we wear trendy clothes, have slick phones and work in air conditioned offices but guys, we’re still doing so much work for little remuneration. We’re still kago boi’ing around. But like anything in PNG, there are those who are making change in the most PNG way possible, Brukim Bush Tasol. Several years ago I befriended an influential lawyer who has been a dear mentor to me. He stands a mere 4,9 but you knew he was from the bar. With a shot gun o