Column 1 – The National

Pretty dozen
The 12 girls vying for the Miss Pacific crown held by Miss PNG Leoshina Kariha met Prime Minister James Marape yesterday and were praised for promoting their cultures. All wore colorful modern Western dresses.
Top quote
“We all live in a big blue space – that is the Pacific Ocean. We are placed in this place to radiate beauty, charm and excitement to the world and you young women are doing that.” – Prime Minister James Marape to the 12 girls vying for the Miss Pacific crown.
Missing vehicles
The Apec assets disposal exercise has been put on hold as the Department of Finance looks for the ones still missing. How many no one knows for sure. It is more than 12 months since we hosted Apec and the records seem to be all over the place. Another inquiry perhaps for Sir John Pundari’s public accounts committee?
Party loyalty
Colleague was shaking his head when reading the latest list of MPs in each of the four big parties as per the record at Dr Gelu’s office. Pangu has 27, People’s National Congress party has 22, National Alliance with 15 and United Resources Party with nine. He thinks the coalition government is fragile.
Ethics question
The question arises at this time of the year if it is ethically right for staff of state agencies and departments to accept donations – in cash or in kind – for their end-of-year parties.
Budget cut
It’s like children waiting for Santa Claus to bring what they wish for. Ministers and government departments hope Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey will have something pleasing for them in the 2020 budget.
Bus crew
The teamwork between bus driver and crew is something to marvel at. They have their own ways of communicating with each other, such as the “direct flight” shouted out when no one wants to get off at the next bus stop.
Black Friday
Friday Nov 29 is Black Friday – in the United States. It is the name given to the shopping day after Thanksgiving. It earned the name because the volume of shoppers created traffic accidents and sometimes even violence. In the 1950s, people began calling in sick the day after Thanksgiving to give themselves a four-day weekend.