Proof of the government`s seriousness to develop the island was the two-day working visit of Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi to North Sulawesi`s Karatung and Miangas islands on Saturday and Sunday (May 7-8, 2011).
With pride and high spirit the people of the two outlying islands in Talaud district welcomed the minister`s presence in their midst on Saturday and Sunday.
"For a long time, we have been longing for the central government`s attention, for its action to realize equitable development," Talaut district youth leader Tonny Lamagari said in the district town of Melonguane on Monday.
But he added that the people were proud of being visited by the home affairs minister for it was a good opportunity for them to express their aspirations to the central government.
"We really need central government attention for our social and economic welfare. It is a real fact that central government officials hardly ever visit us in these outlying islands but now the visit of the home affairs minister makes us aware that we are part of Indonesia," Tonny said.
Meanwhile, head of North Sulawesi regional border affairs Max Gagola said the home affairs minister visited the outlying islands to have first hand information about their infrastructure conditions and to hold a gathering with local administration officials and community figures.
Max said that at the meeting with Minister Gamawan Fauzi the local people asked for the central government to help build infrastructure facilities in Miangas such as seaport, roads, and bridges.
Meanwhile, North Sulawesi provincial administration spokesman Christian Sumampouw said the home affairs minister in the company of Deputy Governor Djauhari Kansil boarded MV Sangiang from Melonguane to Karatung and Miangas islands.
Sumampouw said that before leaving for the outlying islands, Minister Gamawan Fauzi conducted a seminar on "Outlying Islands Potential Development" with the involvement of the ranks of provincial officials.
According to Sumampow, North Sulawesi has 11 outlying islands to which the government intends to give greater attention in terms of economic development and people`s empowerment.
While in Miangas island, the minister dedicated a village hall and presented an oil tank for the local public interest, a quantity of medicines and 10 tons of rice for the people of the island.
He said Gamawan also officially distributed land compensation fee for the construction of an airport on Minagas island.
With the land compensation fee from the home affairs minister, Max Gagola expressed hope that he construction of the airport on Miangas island could be realized as soon as possible in order to facilitate transportation for the local community.
Meanwhile, Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) member from the electoral district of Sangihe and Talaud, Edwin Lontoh, said development in the outlying islands had so far always been constrained by various problems.
"Lack of equitable development has created very high numbers of poor people in the outlying islands in North Sulawesi, and this should be a serious concern of the government," Edwin Lontoh said.
The chairman of Democrat Party faction at the DPRD asserted that there should be additional seaports and airports on the outlying islands to facilitate transportation.
He said lack of basic necessity and fuel oil supplies to the islands had caused the local prices of these commodities to become exorbitant and to add the local people`s misery.
"So it is a good moment for the home affairs minister to visit the outlying islands to obtain first hand information about the local community`s social conditions," Lontoh said.
It is because Miangas island is offering an alternative destination for backpackers seeking a genuine sense of adventure.
Culture and Tourism Ministry researcher Bambang H Suta Purwana said in Jakarta in December last year that Miangas island was a suitable destination for backpackers because it concealed a million of attractions, especially its culture with local wisdom.
The island, located a few kilometers away from the Indonesia-Philippine borders, has well-preserved culture.
Citing an example, Bambang said the local people still withhold traditional norms called Eha and social custom called Mababeo in their daily life.
"For example, when they harvest coconut and catch fish they avoid cutting down mangrove. In carrying out any activity they always stick to local custom," he said.
Therefore another infrastructure facility that the government is trying to develop in Minagas island is a solar power plant (PLTS) which is expected to be completed in August 2011.
"The PLTS will have a capacity of 85 peak kilowatts in Miangas," General Manager of PLN for North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo (Suluttenggo) Wirabumi Kaluti said in Manado recently.
Wirabumi said the PLTS under construction in Miangas has a battery capacity of 300 kilowatts hour (KWh) or up to 85 KWp.
"The PLTS in Miangas is part of the development of electricity in 16 islands in North Sulawesi to meet the power needs of people in the remote areas," Wirabumi said. (*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
