Poverty Eradication

Photo: FirmansyahThe Long Term Development Plan (RPJP) suggests that until the year 2025 Indonesia should become an independent island state, advanced, powerful and based on national interests.

Based on the mandate of that law, the government is now working to raise the potential of the islands, especially islands in eastern Indonesia, which proved to have tremendous potential in all sectors development.

Through the Sail Banda 2010, the government is focusing to raise the potential sectors of the economy in waters banda that consisting of hundreds of exotic small islands and its abundant natural resources.

Photo: FirmansyahSail Banda 2010 is an annual series activities promoting Indonesia as a Marine country so the world will recognize more on the beauty of marine tourism as well as its great marine biological resources.

With the theme 'Small Islands For Our Future', this international event comprises of Operasi Bhakti Baskara Jaya (SBJ) or social services, yacht rally and yacht race, national and international seminar on marine and fisheries, fishery and marine food products also the declaration of Maluku as the National Fish Barn by the President of RI.

Photo: FirmansyahWhile the closing ceremony which is the commemoration of Indonesian independence day at the Kisar island or the small island bordering the East Timorese. In addition to these major events, other supporting activities will also be held, among others, water sports, art performances and tourist attractions, mangrove planting, disaster mitigation campaigns, cleaning the sea social work, the stocking of 10,000 mouse grouper as well as traditional sports festival.

The overall agenda of both the main agenda and supporting activities will take place starting in a row from July 12 until August 17, 2010 centered in Ambon, while the social work will be carried out in the neighboring islands such as Buru, Morotai,and Halmahera island.

Photo: FirmansyahOn Sunday (7/4) afternoon, the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Agung Laksono, Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Fadel Muhammad, Governor of Maluku Karel Albert Ralahalu, and KSAL Agus Suhartono, is pleased to release the Hospital Ship Navy's KRI dr. Suharso -990th in the dock of Kolinlamil, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta as a sign of the commencement of a series of Sail Banda 2010.

The ship will be used as floating hospitals on SBJ service operations which organizes medical missions, among others, general medicine, respiratory infection, diarrhea, skin, malaria, cataract surgery, cleft lip, providing free medicines and other treatments.

"In addition, this ship also brought aid and donations from the central government, state enterprises, institutions and individuals. So that SBJ service operations also includes the rehabilitation of public facilities and provision of goods, "said Agung Laksono.

Photo: FirmansyahThe rehabilitation is intended for the improvement of worship place, school, health facility, development and renovation of roads and sporting facilities. While the provision of relief items such as the Koran and the Bible, reading books and lessons, the tendons of the water, fishing equipments and others.

According to the Coordinating Minister of People Welfare, the budget allocated for this activity entirely reached to 180 billion rupiahs where the 20 billion will be used for the implementation and the rest budget is provided by some ministries of the central govt.

"The target of SBJ is to establish public awareness on law, state sovereignty and defend the country as well as improving the social health of the community," said The Chief of Naval Staff, Agus Suhartono.

Foto: FirmansyahSBJ devote operating targets on the island of Ambon spread in areas such as Morela, Mamala, Liang, Scouts camp field, Wai, Paso, Halong, Hutumuri and Ambon. While on the Buru island the activities will be centered in Namrole.

This event also supporter by fellow countries like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia. Even the largest ship hospital of USA NS Mercy T-AH19 also support completed with its medical and paramedical personnel.

According to the plan, about 2,010 pieces of bamboo torches will be installed in the coastal Bay of Ambon to enliven the welcoming event of participants and guests on August 3, 2010.

Foto: FirmansyahReflection to the implementation in 2009, the velocity of money was able to achieve Rp3-4 billion per day since the majority of visitors are tourists, and its not impossible if the Sail Banda 2010 could reap greater considering the increasingly global economy in post-crisis recovery.

Indeed, the lesson-learned of Banda Sail 2010 is more than merely material values, namely the establishment of the people welfare through the distribution of development, opening investment opportunities that will encourage the economy of society as well as introducing the Indonesian culture and its natural resources to the world.