COLUMN I

GREETINGS, as Christmas comes ever closer. Tonight, just put the feet up and get into seasonal mode with the 1994 hit, The Santa Clause. Santa falls off the roof of his house and an advertising executive takes over – only to find he’s stuck with the job. Just ima­gine grunting ho, ho, ho for years on end … 7 Central tonight at 8.30.
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AT last the incredible saga of Rai Coast Open has, we assume, ended. A new member has at last been elected and now the people of this peaceful Madang electorate will be able to return to their normally quiet life and hopefully have quality representation in the House.
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AUSTRALIAN authorities responding to Torres Strait Islanders pleas are targeting illegal Papua New Guinean residents on the islands. “All the islands seem to have more PNG nationals living there than local islanders,” the Thursday Island Mayor said, adding: “They’re coming and taking over all the businesses.”
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PNG has shown scant sympathy towards aliens and border crossers, many of whom claim to be seeking political asylum. Some have been hustled out of the country before they’ve had a chance to make use of our judicial system. Looks like that will now happen in Oz with our people being unceremoniously booted out …
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PLEASANT indeed to welcome the Duke of Gloucester to our shores; his position as Grand Prior of the Order of St John makes him doubly welcome. The public face of the Order in PNG is the St John’s Ambulance service but the Order is one of the oldest in the world. Sir Michael Somare is one of a small number of PNG Knights of the Order of St John, or K.StJ.
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PROPERLY called the Sovereign and Military Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem, the Order continues its traditional role of providing medical services to the sick and needy in many countries. Access http://www2.prestel.co.uk/church/oosj/luke.htm for more of the Order’s 1000 year old history.
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FINAL reminder: Show your support for the campaign against HIV and AIDS today by wearing red – and be part of any activities in your community tomorrow, World AIDS Day 2007. Cheers!
– Dee Nesenolis

 

 
 
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