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PNG HOSPITAL ACCUSED OF MISTREATING PATIENTS
Port Moresby hospital said to abuse elderly rights
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Dec.30, 2008) – Public hospital chief executive officers will be held accountable if their officers continue to mistreat disabled persons, old people or others who are exempted from paying fees to seek medical attention.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sasa Zibe issued the warning yesterday when he was contacted to comment on allegations by former executive officer with the national mental health services Paulus Kororo about hospital staff failing to uphold the general medical ethics at workplaces.
Mr. Kororo, who retired from the department in 1990, claimed discrimination against people living with disability, old people and others exempted from paying medical fees at the public hospitals in the country was rife.
He said this after witnessing at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) accident and emergency ward on several occasions while accompanying his...
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CNMI VISITORS DROP 45 PERCENT IN 2008
This year's total of 396497 dwarfed by 726,690 last year
SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Dec. 30, 2008) – Visitor arrivals to the Commonwealth have dropped by nearly half for fiscal year 2008 from the all time high in 1997, records show.
In 2008, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) saw a total of 396,497 visitors-a 45 percent decrease from 1997's total of 726,690 visitors.
But there is a bright spot. Tourism numbers increased from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2008-albeit by less that 1 percent. And numbers have jumped exponentially since 1978, when only 86,708-all from Japan or the United States-visited the CNMI.
"Beginning in the late 1980s, the Commonwealth's visitor industry experienced a decade of phenomenal growth. Grand openings of new hotels, fueled by Japanese and Korean investment, were a regular occurrence during the decade," said Marianas Visitors Authority's managing director Perry Tenorio said in his declaration...
WORLD OIL PRICES HEADING BACK UP
Asian market reacts to OPEC cuts
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Dec. 30, 2008) – Singapore: Oil prices rose in Asian trade yesterday on evidence that OPEC members have begun complying with agreed output cuts, rebounding slightly from four-year lows before the Christmas break.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for February delivery, rose $US1.69 to $US39.40 a barrel, on top of a gain of $US2.36 to $US37.71 in US trades on Friday.
Brent North Sea crude for February delivery rose $US1.64 to $US40.01, after rising $US1.76 to $US38.37 in London on Friday.
Analysts said the surge in prices was partly due to evidence that OPEC was cutting output as announced two weeks ago.
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is starting to notify customers about the extent of production cuts, said Dave Ernsberger, Asia senior editorial director of Platts, an energy information company.
"People are starting to...
TWO IN CAR 'CHOPPED UP' NEAR PORT MORESBY
Angry relatives attack after car hit man
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 30, 2008) – Two occupants of a vehicle have been murdered in Papua New Guinea after the car they were in ran down and killed a man.
The accident occurred on the Hiritano Highway near Port Moresby on Christmas Day.
The Post Courier newspaper reports Police Chief Inspector, Andy Bawa, saying bystanders and relatives of the accident victim attacked the two men, who were both employees of the same company, and chopped them to death.
He says people need to let the law take its course because there are now three lives lost and those who participated in the killings will face charges of willful murder.
Mr Bawa says police have issued a warning to elders in the area to identify the suspects and hand them over so appropriate charges can be laid.
NEPAL CYCLIST MAKING WAY AROUND THE WORLD
Promoting peace on Earth
SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, Dec. 30, 2008) – A man from Nepal who has been touring the world using a donated bicycle is currently on Saipan to promote his personal journey for peace on earth.
Pushkar Shah made a courtesy call on Mayor Juan B. Tudela yesterday, saying he is making Saipan his 139thth stop in his odyssey on wheels.
The 40-year old graduate of education said he has been doing this since 1998.
He previously visited 138 countries in six continents, including the remotest places and the most dangerous jungles in Africa.
He just came from the Philippines, Palau, and Guam before flying to Saipan. He will fly back to the Philippines on Friday.
Shah said he doesn't need any money for this but accepts whatever kindhearted people would offer.
All his travel expenses, including food, airline tickets, clothing and even his bicycle are all donated by Good Samaritans.
Shah, whose father was killed by...
EMERGENCY LANDING AT NADI AIRPORT
Qantas Airbus A380 is biggest plane in world
SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Sun, Dec. 29, 2008) – A Qantas Airbus had to make a medical emergency landing at Nadi International Airport after a passenger suffered a stroke on the flight from Los Angeles to Sydney yesterday morning.
The passenger was stabilised and taken to Nadi Hospital before the superjumbo was to have returned to Australia 4am today.
AFL CEO Ratu Timcoi Tuisawau said the landing of the Qantas Airbus A380 was a historic aviation achievement for Fiji.
Ratu Timoci said their facilities were put to the test by the largest airliner in the world.
He said this proved that Airbuses could land in Fiji but for frequent stopovers they would need improvements made to the infrastructure at Nadi Airport.
"Really from our point of view as airport operators we are happy that our facilities were tested," said Ratu Timoci.
"We are an alternative airport to airbuses flying through. "We were prepared...
TAIWAN DONATES RICE TO KIRIBATI
200 tons of rice to help relieve food shortage
TAIPEI, Taiwan (Central News Agency, Dec. 27, 2008) - Taiwan has recently donated 200 metric tons of rice to Kiribati in a bid to help relieve a food shortage in the Pacific nation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Saturday.
The rice, which was handed over to the Kiribati government on Christmas Eve, is intended for distribution to hospitals, clinics and public boarding schools, MOFA officials said.
The officials quoted Republic of China Ambassador to Kiribati Chen Shih-liang as saying that the rice arrived just in time for Christmas and demonstrates Taiwan's care and friendship for the people of Kiribati.
In the future, Taiwan agricultural missions will continue to promote farming, stockraising and aquaculture in Kiribati to help resolve the country's food shortage, the officials said. According to the MOFA, few crops are grown in Kiribati because the country is comprised mainly of coral atolls,...
DOCTOR'S FINE $500 IN DEATH OF FIJI BOY
DOCTOR'S FINE $500 IN DEATH OF FIJI BOY Parents of Shavneet Kumar outraged
SUVA, Fiji (Fijilive, Dec. 29, 2008) – Two doctors who worked on Shavneet Kumar, the 5-year-old boy who later died, have been fined $500 and $250 respectively.
The Public Service Commission found Dr. Luke Nasedra and Dr Teresa Lum guilty of negligence, and had informed them of their sentences last week.
Shavneet died at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in September 2007, following a minor surgery on his arm.
The fines have been criticised by Shavneet's parents who are now looking to seek justice in the High Court.
However, PSC chairman Rishi Ram is standing by the ruling.
"After a thorough and careful consideration of all the submissions received during the hearing reports, documentary evidences the commission found both doctors guilty of committing disciplinary offence within the meaning of section 6(2) of the Public Service Act which states: an employee must act...
PNG GOVERNMENT WARNS OF COMING KING TIDES
Coastal villages at risk for next several weeks
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, Dec. 29, 2008) – The National Disaster Centre has reiterated calls for coastal communities to take extra precaution between this week and middle of next month.
This is because this is Spring tides season, or what is commonly referred to as "king tides" occurring throughout the country.
National Disaster Centre (NDC) acting director Martin Mose said spring tides were expected throughout PNG coastal waters from next Wednesday until Jan 14.
"Therefore, coastal communities should take extra precaution during this period," Mr. Mose warned.
NDC chairman Manasupe Zurenuoc said the National Weather Service (NWS) had advised that late December and early January was when high tides would be higher and low tides lower.
NWS assistant director Jimmy Gomoga warned in a letter to NDC that tides would reach a high of 2.5m starting at the PNG-Indonesian border...
PNG COASTAL TOWNS NOT READY FOR ANOTHER SURGE
Submitted by piradmin on Tue, 12/30/2008 - 00:00
PNG Post Courier
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (Dec. 30, 2008) – We are possibly one of the most disaster prone countries in the world and yet 75 per cent of our provinces are judged to be unprepared for such things!
That was the summation that came from discussions among disaster prevention staff, provincial officers and their headquarters bosses.
It is worrying reading to see that 15 of the 20 provinces are regarded as not being prepared properly for handling natural disasters.
Only four are up to the job of coping, the officials say: Morobe, East New Britain, West New Britain, Milne Bay and New Ireland.
This emerged when the responsible bureaucrat, Manasupe Zurenuoc, carpeted Madang Administrator Joseph Dorpar for his province's dismal response to the recent high tides destruction. Mr. Zurenuoc, as chairman of the National Disaster Committee as well as being the Secretary of the Provincial Affairs Department which looks after...
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