20 Offered to Private Small Island

Enggano Island

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT executive summary By Darmansjah
20 Offered to Private Small Island
Saturday, January 22, 2011 | 3:34 pm

Jakarta, Kompas - The government is offering the management of 20 small islands to the private and state owned enterprises. Private contributions are expected to empower the people on the island.

Director General of the Marine, Coastal and Small Islands Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sudirman Saad in Jakarta, Friday (21 / 1), said the participation of private and state owned enterprises (SOEs) are expected to drive the local economy.

The islands offered are Lepar Island, Island Enggano, Kemujan Island, Island Maradapan, Maratua Island, Sebatik Island, Island Siantar, gilik Belek, Island Market, Dullah Island, and Island Koloray, execept Bali.

In addition, the island of Alor, Mansuar Island, Island Battoa, Selayar Island, Island Samatellu Pedda, Lingayan Island, Manado Tua Island, Island and Island Mentehage Ganges.

"There is a possibility outside the island can be empowered, too,"said Sudirman.

According to Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Fadel Muhammad, the program prioritized the adoption of the island in an environmentally friendly development, and empower coastal communities and small islands.

Private contributions are expected to part of corporate social responsibility (CSR). As for the state was part of a partnership program and community development (CSR).

The government, said Fadel, providing support in the form of basic infrastructure development. This, among other things, a solar power plants worth USD 13 billion, and development of facilities in the small island of Rp 15 billion.

Secretary General of the People's Coalition for Justice Fisheries (Kiara) Riza Damanik warned the government not to hand over management of the island on the companies that proved damaging to the environment.

"It is inappropriate to delegate the state's obligation to provide welfare and protect the citizens of the islands just to the company, which obviously do destruction to the environment," said Riza.

Previously, BUMN(State-Owned Enterprises | BadanUsahaMilikNegara) Minister Mustafa Abubakar argued, CSR-CSR funds in BUMN(State-Owned Enterprises) reached Rp 1.5 trillion, Rp 2 trillion. The uptake of these funds for marine and fisheries sector is still small. (hdg)