Kokopo international hotel to be opened in April

Picture of new hotel with the original steps of Queen Emma’s residence which have been retained and developed as a tourist attraction. - Picture courtesy of NAMBAWAN SUPER

The historic site of Queen Emma’s residence at Ralum near Kokopo in East New Britain will soon become an impressive three-storey hotel called Gazelle International which will be opened in April this year.
All rooms will have spectacular views over-looking the blue waters of Blanche Bay and looking up to the green hills of Kokopo.
Construction work started early last year on the multimillion kina hotel which is jointly owned by Nambawan Super which has majority shareholding, plus Airways Hotel and East New Britain provincial government.
The owners of the new development have taken into account the invaluable historical significance of the hotel site and have modeled the design of the hotel to reflect as much as possible Queen Emma’s original house.
This included renovating the original steps of the Queen Emma residence as a draw card and a major tourist attraction.
The steps are still located on the hotel property leading towards the golf course.
The hotel will comprise a reception, lobby shop, coffee lounge, restaurant, bar and poker machines all on the ground floor, while a total of 52 rooms make up the two upper floors.
Other amenities will include a resort pool, and a separate conference building which will seat up to about 150 persons.
In recent years, an influx of people have been attracted to Kokopo for conferences and a real need for good facilities have been unavailable to cater for their needs.
The builders for the hotel are Lamana Development Limited while the architect is Peter Kubli of Cairns.
According to the builders, the Gazelle International Hotel is designed to cater for a mix of customers, international tourists as well as conference people and weekenders.
All rooms will have spectacular views over-looking the blue waters of Blanche Bay and looking up to the green hills of Kokopo.

Henry Kila dies

Well-known Papua New Guinea Henry Kila died at 2pm yesterday from a suspected heart attack.

Mr Kila was a well-known insurance man, leading sports personality and a prominent figure in government and private sector relations.

LNG projects open floodgates for massive building and construction boom in Papua New Guinea

The green lights for the two massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Papua New Guinea (InterOil pictured above) has opened the floodgates for a massive building and construction boom to take place all over the country.

The US$15 billion (K42b) PNG LNG project last Dec 8 got the okay from project developers Esso Highlands Ltd, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corp and partners Oil Search Ltd, Santos Ltd, Nippon, Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC), and Eda Oil.

Just before Christmas, the Project (Gas) Agreement for the US$6b (K17b) Elk/Antelope LNG project from Gulf Province was signed between the Government and developer InterOil Corp. 

Papua New Guinea is expecting a third massive LNG project to come out of Western province to be developed by Canada’s Talisman Energy.

Prominent building commentator George Tipping, a past president of the PNG Institute of Builders, must have had a crystal ball in hand when he boldly predicted last year that the approval of the LNG projects would be the impetus for a massive building and construction boom never before seen in this country.

“What does the future hold for the building and property industry in PNG?” he said then.

“The following prediction excludes the impact of both Exxon Mobil and Interoil LNG plants and is based on supply and demand and other influences that are occurring now as well as known planned projects.

“Despite the internal impediments of higher interest rates, inflation, hesitation by some PNG investors due to the global economic conditions (GEC), slow National Capital District Commission and utility service providers’ approvals, it is my prediction that the current building and property boom will continue at a high level of activity, particularly for large projects.

“How long will this boom last? That is the hard question to answer.

“My crystal ball suggests we have another three to four years before the boom slows to more-manageable levels.

 “However, if the Exxon Mobil LNG project is confirmed, then we will have a scenario of a much larger building and property boom making the current boom seem small by comparison.”

Port Moresby's fountain of youth

All over Port Moresby, new recreational facilities (pictured)  are sprouting up, thanks to the very visionary leadership of National Capital District governor Powes Parkop.

For instance, at Gerehu Stage Two, a fountain was opened on Christmas night by Mr Parkop to a spectacular display of fireworks.

This was the second such fountain after the first one at Five-Mile.

Last year, two year basketball courts and two volleyball courts went up, which gave young people something useful to keep them occupied.

Towards the end of 2008, playground facilities were set up, bringing so much joy and enjoyment to children.

The NCD Commission spends a lot of money on facilities, and the least we can do, as responsible citizens, is to have a sense of ownership and take care of them.

Such facilities also keep our young people occupied and away from a life of alcohol, drugs, and crime.

Chinese style assassination attempt in Port Moresby

By JULIA DAIA BORE in The National, Papua New Guinea’s leading daily newspaper

 

TWO Chinese nationals have been arrested for attempting to murder a prominent Port Moresby businessman and police yesterday linked the murder attempt to an alleged under-world Chinese triad operating in Papua New Guinea, The National reports.

The suspects currently behind bars at the Boroko are from Fujian province, China.

 Both men cannot speak any English or Tok Pisin although police said one of the suspects worked in a Port Moresby night club while another was unemployed.

Police yesterday also said both suspects’ entry into the country is also under investigations.

The businessman who escaped with injuries to his arm is Jason Tan, the managing director of Erima J-Mart.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Awan Sete told a media conference yesterday Mr Tan was shot at five times as he was driving into his home at Paga Hill in Port Moresby.

Sete said Mr Tan unknowing drove into the driveway of his home.

As he approached his home at about 3.30pm last Saturday, two gunmen concealed themselves in the vicinity and fired five shots at his car.

One bullet from one of the five shots wounded Mr Tan on his arm, Mr Sete said.

The gunmen escaped in a car.

Mr Tan immediately alerted the police and a mobile squad intercepted the suspects at Baruni.

Two semi automatic handguns and ammunitions were found in their vehicle.

Changjiang Gao, 36, and Xue Zhufu, 38, were charged with attempted murder and are awaiting court appearance.

Mr Sete said: “This latest incident confirms the existence of Asian Triad operatives in Port Moresby.”

He said one of the firearms was registered to an individual whom they refused to identify. He said they were checking the ownership of the second gun.

Police are using an interpreter to interview the suspects.

The Chinese Embassy has been informed of their arrest.

He added that this attack comes a few weeks after assassins’ attempt on the country’s Chief Ombudsman Chronox Manek, “indicating that criminals are being used to assassinate people. I reassure residents in Port Moresby that all measures would be taken to fight this ugly trend of crime”.

Mr Sete commended his men for the quick response to apprehend the suspects and also called upon the public with any information on the incident to assist the police.

Metropolitan superintendent Fred Yakasa said he was worried about a new trend in crime in which people were being paid to kill.

“It is a frightening situation. It is involving Asians against Asians, or Asians using Papua New Guineans to kill.”

Mr Yakasa said if these two suspects were not caught, people would have pinned the blame of the attack on Mr Tan on Papua New Guineans, and even link it to the anti-Asian emails that have been going around.

“This (murder attempt) could be linked to business jealousy. We have to be concerned about the trend.”

He said they have identified two names of suspects in connection with the attempt on Mr Manek’s life, and were continuing their investigations.

 

 

 

 

 

Rudd sits on hands while Papua New Guinea relations languish

By KEITH JACKSON in A PNG Attitude

AFTER AN energetic start to repair what was a fraying relationship between Australia and PNG, prime minister Kevin Rudd appears to be running out of puff.

Following his election a little over two years ago, Mr Rudd moved swiftly to renew ties between the two neighbouring countries.

He held out the hand of friendship to prime minister Somare and appointed PNG veteran, Duncan Kerr, to the Pacific Island Affairs portfolio.

But there are signs that fatigue has crept into the relationship.

Mr Kerr stepped down as parliamentary secretary in November and so far no replacement has been announced, even though the government had some months warning of the resignation.

Similarly, a new high commissioner to Port Moresby was expected to have been appointed more than a month ago, but the wires have gone strangely dead.

Australia's hapless aid agency AusAID has, inter alia, been recently taken to task by a Federal parliamentary committee and the subject of a critical report by the Australian National Audit Office without so much as a breath of comment from the government.

The civil situation in PNG, in a progressive state of decline despite an incipient resources boom, has so far not attracted any public commentary from the Australian government.

Meanwhile, the influence of the Chinese government grows rapidly in the Pacific, with PNG now looking to China to contest Australia's influence in the region.

And Somare saw fit to cock a snook at the Australian and New Zealand governments over Fiji, as a new and cavalier Melanesian brotherhood formed.

Pacific diplomacy Howard style was to look down on the islands from 40,000 feet as an interesting piece of geography on the way to the US.

Pacific diplomacy Rudd style seems to be to make sympathetic noises and then do nothing.

I hope I'm wrong and that a regiment of public servants is even now washing the Bateman's Bay sand from its hair ready to embark on a cunning plan to better equip the relationship for a robust future.

How green is Port Moresby

With the recent rains, Port Moresby is looking so green, and pretty as a picture.

This augers well for the year and all things point to a very good year for the capital city and Papua New Guinea as a whole.

 

 

NARI wins three EU-ACP grant awards

By SENIORL ANZU of NARI

 

Papua New Guinea’s National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has successfully worn three major ‘capacity development’ projects from the European Union, valuing EURO 2.8 million (K 11.5 million).

The projects under the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Science and Technology (S&T) Programme will be implemented in three Western Pacific Countries - PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu - over three years starting in early 2010.

NARI Director-General Dr Raghunath Ghodake (pictured) revealed this last week saying “it has been a superb achievement by NARI to win funding for three capacity development projects in this highly competitive call from the European Union to the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of states”.

“This is a Christmas present to PNG, NARI and its Western Pacific partners,” Dr Ghodake said.

“The ACP Science and Technology (S&T) Pro­gramme is an ACP-EU co-operation pro­gramme to support ACP coun­tries in strengthening research, development and innovation as well as in formulating and implementing S&T policies for sustainable development and poverty reduc­tion.” 

A total of nine research and development (R&D) organisations from these countries will benefit from the initiatives.

The award winning projects are:

·        Capacity development for research planning, programming and implementation in agricultural R&D institutions in PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu;

·        Capacity development in conservation and utilization of invaluable plant genetic resources; and

·        Capacity building in core research-related competencies and networking among staff of the agricultural research institutions.

Dr Ghodake said appropriate human resource capacity was essential for conducting and promotion of agricultural innovations for enhancing productivity, efficiency, and sustainability of the smallholder agricultural sector.

“However, most research and development institutions in the Pacific lack this capacity and the projects will address this problem,” he added.

While NARI is the project leader, the regional partners are the Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Technical Centre.

The project associates are the Fresh Produce Development Agency, Coffee Industry Corporation, Cocoa Coconut Institute, PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation (PNG), Kastom Gaden Association (Solomon Islands), and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Vanuatu).

 The projects will be co-ordinated from a newly-established office at the NARI headquarters in Lae with project offices in Honiara (Solomon Is) and Port Vila (Vanuatu).

The project call was open to national and regional science and technology organizations, universities, and research networks in 79 ACP member states, 27 member states, three candidate countries of EU, and the three mem­ber states of the European Free Trade Association.

“This is a unique achievement for PNG, NARI and its partners.  We sincerely thank the EU-ACP S&T Programme for awarding these projects,” Dr Ghodake said.

The bid was made in March 2008.

 

Rice growing takes off in Gazelle

Caption: Farmers from Lasul Bainings area at NARI Keravat with their rice for milling.-Picture by GADI LING

By GADI LING

It’s the festive Season and cocoa pod borer (CPB)-affected farmers within the Gazelle area of East New Britain province are rushing with their harvested rice to find mills for milling.

 With the presence of the destructive cocoa disease, these farmers will have less income this festive season to spend on rice, a staple food.

As an alternative solution, they have started growing rice themselves in a bigger way for household consumption, including sustaining intake during celebration periods such as this Christmas/New Year season.

Rice is one of the important crops targeted for food security and income generation in cocoa integrated cropping systems in ENBP.

This is now identified as part of CPB management strategy for smallholders in East New Britain by the CPB management committee.

The promotion on dry land rice farming is being done by various research and development organisations in the province such as National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), Organisation for Industrial Spiritual & Cultural Advancement (OISCA), END division of primary industry (DPI), Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), Cocoa Coconut Institute (CCI and University of Natural Resources and Environment’s (UNRE) Integrated Agriculture Training Programme (IATP). under Vudal University’s IATP training programme.

NARI’s Islands Regional Centre at Keravat and DAL Islands region have combined their efforts in promoting dry land rice growing in ENBP through  multiplication and supply of quality seeds and providing a milling service to smallholders.

 So far this year, NARI has supplied over 200kg of recommended quality rice seeds and milled well over five tons of harvested rice.

For the last two weeks, well over one ton was milled for the festive season alone.

Pictures of Rainbow Market, Port Moresby

These are pictures from Rainbow Market, Gerehu, Port Moresby, which were taken yesterday. Port Moresby is now into a brief respite during the December to March period, when the rain comes down in buckets and vegetables abound all over the capital city, as evident in these pictures. During this period, vegetable gardens can be seen all over the city, including precarious hillsides. Apart from the vegetables, you can buy fresh seafood such as fish, squid, octopus and sea shells as well as inland delicacies such as magani (wallaby) and tilapia, to name a few.

Leahy family helped open up Papua New Guinea Highlands to the outside world

By Rowan Callick, Asia-Pacific editor of The Australian

 

THE plane in which veteran pilot Richard Leahy almost died on a Papua New Guinea mountainside was appropriately registered as P2-MJL, the initials of his father Mick James Leahy - one of Australia's most colourful and successful explorers.

This was the feisty figure who led the expeditions in the early 1930s that established for the first time that the Highlands of PNG were not "empty" but packed with vibrant cultures.

Richard was born in Sydney in 1941 but soon with mother Jeanette joined his father, who had been in PNG since 1926.

His first wife Robin said yesterday: "He's been an aircraft fanatic since the age of four, it's his great love and interest. Practically every photo he has taken has an aircraft in it somewhere."

He extended this passion into his interest in history, discovering and photographing World War II plane wrecks all over the Pacific.

Richard learnt to fly in a Tiger Moth in Lae 50 years ago, and completed his training in Australia the following year, 1960. He bought his first Cessna - it was a Cessna in which he crashed on Wednesday - in 1967.

His father Mick - known widely as "Masta Mick" - died 30 years ago at Zenag, on a mountain top in Morobe province, where he is buried.

Born in 1901, he was the fourth of nine children of Irish migrants who had settled in Toowoomba. He and his brothers Paddy, Jim and Danny rushed to the Edie Creek gold strike in PNG in 1926.

There, writes historian Jim Griffin in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, "they learned the skills of prospecting and survival".

In 1930, seeking to trace gold upriver, he persuaded the Australian authorities to allow him to embark on the first of what were to become 10 expeditions into the Highlands.

Conventional wisdom held that the Highlands were virtually unoccupied, because the climate was too cold for tropical people. On an expedition with his brother Danny and Charles Marshall, they gazed over the Wahgi valley that was and remains one of the most populous parts of PNG - the first outsiders known to have ventured into the heart of the Highlands.

They found substantial gold only at Kuta in the Western Highlands. Mick summed up the Highlands to fellow expeditioner Jim Taylor: "Jim, good country, good climate, good kanakas, too good to find gold in."

Danny went on to become a coffee farmer, marrying a Highlander and establishing a separate dynasty that included Joe Leahy, the central figure in the widely applauded films of Bob Connolly and the late Robin Anderson, Joe Leahy's Neighbours and Black Harvest.

Connolly and Anderson had earlier made First Contact, which included footage of early expeditions of the Leahys.

Another Danny Leahy, a nephew of Masta Mick, who co-founded a distribution company, Collins and Leahy, became a major figure in rugby league and died a year ago as Sir Danny Leahy, the only member of the extraordinary family to be knighted - so far.

 

 

Hello, my name is Keith

Hello, my name is Keith Nalu, and I'm two years old, the baby of the Nalu family.

Dad took these pictures of me yesterday - New Year's Day - at our place with my red ball.

Dad took my sister Moasing, brother Gedi and me to the recreational park at Gerehu Stage Two yesterday where we had fun while he took pictures.

The eldest in our family, Malum Jr, is still in Lae where he has been since Grandma's death last September.

Dad then took us for a bus ride to his office at The National newspaper at Waigani, and after that, he treated us to ice cream at Big Rooster.

We caught a bus back home to Gerehu and Dad took pictures of us at the new fountain.

A Happy New Year to you all!

An icrecream for the New Year

I treated my three children Moasing (left), baby Keith and Gedi to a generous serve of icrecream at Big Rooster Waigani, opposite where I work at The National newspaper, for New Year's Day.

My eldest son, Jr Malum, is in Lae with my family and will be back in time for school.

International peacekeeping is not national priority

BY REG RENAGI

 

Madeline Arek’s recent National newspaper report, “PNGDF for peacekeeping duties” and Defence Minister Dadae’s media statements compels me to add that international peacekeeping is not a national priority as discussed here. 

 According to this news report, Parliament also recently passed the PNGDF Amendment Bill 2008 to allow among other things, committing our military to international peacekeeping duties in future.  A youth and school cadet programme towards nation building and national security are also in the pipeline. 

 The Minister’s statements have important strategic implications for PNG.  It surprisingly comes amidst no real parliamentary discussions on this issue and on related national security matters. 

 This important Defence Bill and others over the years are passed with little or no in-depth debate by politicians in parliament, and excludes the public.  Ongoing public opinion do determine much of our public policy considerations in formulating strategic government policies, hence, it is most crucial parliament fully debate all strategic implications with this bill before any legislative decisions can be made for obvious reasons.  

Defence must plan its future roles and activities better from here on as despite two Defence White Papers in 1996 and 1999 respectively and a near 62% cut in 2001, core Defence capacity has substantially eroded.  This seriously has affected Defence’s effectiveness to rapidly respond to national emergencies in recent years.  Here is the way ahead. 

 First of all, overseas peacekeeping missions for the PNGDF should not be a national priority at this stage.  Today’s national priority must be to now focus on homeland security by seriously addressing the most basic things lacking with our military.  The government must fully ensure the PNGDF is well equipped to deal with the many transnational security concerns PNG has now.   

 Secondly, get the PNGDF to start doing its basic functions well and fully resource it with a realistic budget of some 2.8% of GDP.    

 Thirdly, implement a realistic action plan now to systematically upgrade all three force elements in the next decade sound management synergies with all levels of the Defence organisation. 

 Fourthly, rather than deploy troops on peacekeeping duties overseas, get our Defence Force to do more national development programs in rural PNG.  The government must immediately establish a “Reserve Force” to directly contribute towards national security and development.  A ready reserve scheme can be activated immediately today in the provinces to ensure effective management of government goods and services to all provinces. 

 Last but not the least, develop and implement a creative youth and school cadet programme.  We must inculcate general, positive attitude and strong committed ethos of service to others by our young people.  It is time we fully harness them in leadership endeavours. 

PNG can now adopt a military reserve force concept to develop the mindset of our growing young population to serve their country to their fullest potential with pride, dedication and commitment.  This is one good way to protect PNG as a well secured and developed nation tomorrow.

Notwithstanding, I want to commend Minister Dadae in trying his best these past two years to improve Defence under very difficult conditions.  Defence is a difficult portfolio for any MP in recent years to successfully manage, especially when the government and parliament clearly lacks the required knowledge and skills in most matters concerning national security of PNG.  What Defence Ministry urgently needs now an immediate increase in manpower and budgetary support from the government and parliament, the department and defence force, Industry and general community. 

·        The writer is a former Defence chief, now a maritime school trainer and  freelance writer

 

What will it take, Papua New Guinea, to open the can of worms?

By REGINALD RENAGI

 

A popular Papua New Guinea blogger recently raised some pertinent questions: what will it take, what is the PNG Ombudsman Commission doing about this; and whether a written deal exists between the government and this public watch dog not to go after certain MPs referred to it for investigation? 

It embarrasses many Papua New Guineans to explain to anyone why the average politician in his/her country seems undeterred by public opinions of any kind.  Unlike some democracies, where politicians caught in misconduct cases will either resign, or step down to be investigated, but not so in PNG.  

In such cases to date, an implicated MP usually denies publicly any adverse reports about his alleged actions.  The errant politician will accuse the media of being misrepresented, misquoted by inexperienced journalists; and that local papers are spreading false stories to discredit his reputation. 

The MPs involved do not even feel disgraced at all, or feel compelled to temporarily step down from office to await  investigations (if any).  Despite public outrage, politicians unashamedly hold on to their jobs with the prime minister failing to take tough action to ensure parliamentarians (mostly in government) do the ‘right thing’ under the circumstances.   Over the years, successive prime ministers have all failed in this regard.

The citizenry today do not even bother about writing another useless letter of complaint to their local MP.  It is a complete waste of time.  Except for a handful, most ‘pollies’ are just big disappointments to their electorates.  The so-called ‘big men’ are either too busy doing something unrelated to their constituent’s interests, or simply ignores the complainant as a mere trouble-maker.

As for the PNG Ombudsman Commission (OC), it may soon be made powerless if the government has its way.  The OC started off well with a new Chief Ombudsman's (CO) appointment with ’gusto’. The new incumbent discontinued master’s studies in Australia to take up his political appointment under a newly elected government after the 2007 elections. From the outset, the CO publicly reminded the 'pollies' and senior beauracrats; the commission will do its job without fear or favour and keep public office holders on their toes.  This message was fully embraced by the public. But in recent times, this earlier passion may have somewhat waned.  This must not be so.

The familiar trend under all former COs repeats itself as political inertia takes over.  This sound familiar and the government know this.  It is a real pity it won’t fix the problem as the whole thing works in its favour.  As with most state institutions, the commission has limited resources with so much to do to clear a huge backlog of outstanding cases.  With little capacity and money, the OC has become like other state agencies waiting to be given adequate resources to do its job well.

Is there any secret written deal between the government and OC?  I do not believe there is, even if that is a perception now. The CO has found out what all his predecessors were frustrated about.  He is doing his best but is being swamped by the magnitude of the job.  

On the whole, the OC has to date done a sterling job, but it must do more than what it is doing now, or not doing; to put away some bad politicians behind bars.  It will need the help of the Attorney General’s office and all law enforcement agencies working as one team.

However, if that is not bad enough, the government now plans to pass a bill to further regulate the watch-dog.  It shows the government has something to fear to curb the powers of the commission. If this regulation bill is ever passed in parliament then PNG will experience more gross political abuses of power.  The end state will be the PNG Ombudsman Commission becoming a mere ‘paper tiger’ with no powers to stop ‘crooks’ occupying public offices in future.

In addition, PNG needs a chain reaction to be started by committed Department secretaries, government board chairmen, public and private sector, civil society and the general public to point-blankly tell their MPs just …’where to stick it’.  This may be just what it will take to stop them.  

Pictures of Port Moresby's new fountain

I celebrated New Year's Day with my three children (Moasing, Gedi and Keaith) in the recreational park at Gerehu Stage Two in Port Moresby, including the new foundation - opened on Christmas Day by National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop - which is a crowd puller every day and night, when it looks spectacular with an explosion of coloured lights.

This is the second fountain in Port Moresby, the first being at Five-Mile.

Port Moresby has certainly come a long way in 2009, and in 2010, promises to be an even better and beautiful city, especially with the massive LNG project coming on stream.

Pilot is part of the great Leahy dynasty

From JOHN FOWKE

 

Richard Leahy (pictured) is one of the sons of the late Mick Leahy and Mick's widow, Mrs Jeanette Leahy, who has only recently retired to Sydney from PNG despite being in her late eighties.

They built up the Zenag Farm business which is a major chicken and beef supplier in PNG situated at Mumeng, halfway along the road between Bulolo and Lae. This is run by Mick's son Philip who, with Richard, has remained in PNG.

Richard has for many years operated an air charter service out of Lae (Nadzab) and is one of the most experienced pilots operating in PNG.

His plane developed engine trouble on a trip to a remote airstrip in Morobe Province. Richard issued a mayday call and stated that he was going to put the plane down as best he could.

The plane was extensively damaged and caught fire immediately it hit the ground. The six passengers, all from villages in the area he was heading to, died.

Richard managed to drag himself out and get away from the flames but suffered a broken spine and major burns to his legs and the lower part of the body.

He is in Royal Brisbane Hospital, where he was operated on yesterday.

His son Nick - from Richard's first marriage - is looking after things in Lae and minding his small half-sister, as her mother has gone to Brisbane to be with Richard.

Richard has been flying small planes in PNG for the past 40 years. Luckily there was a helicopter in the air nearby at the time of the crash and it was able to land near the crash site and uplift Richard to Lae.

New Year's Day in Port Moresby

Contrary to what people have been saying, there was no trouble in Port Moresby last night, with people celebrating peacefully all over the city.

This morning, I took my kids to the park at Gerehu Stage Two and here are some pictures.

Happy New Year 2010

A Happy New Year 2010 to readers and followers of this blog from all over the world from me and my four young children Malum Jr (9), Gedi (7), Moasing (5) and Keith (2).
Thank you for your support in the past and I look forward to even more support from you this year as I strive to bring you the best (and the worst) from Papua New Guinea.
God Bless You All in your various endeavours this year.
You can email me at malumnalu@gmail.com with your thouughts and comments, otherwise, just make a comment at the bottom of this posting.

Malum