Makassar Fishermen to Receive Funds and Free Boats

Tempo Interactive, Monday, 18 January, 2010 | 19:30 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Makassar: Head of the Makassar Maritime, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Office Syaiful Saleh has promised to provide five boats complete with engines and fishing equipment to two fishermen’s groups in Lanjukang and Langkai Island at the beginning of March.

The office will also provide a fund of Rp500 million to 54 fish traders in Tallo District.

“This is a government effort to increase coast residents’ welfare,” said Syaiful Saleh on Saturday.

The procurement of the boats and their equipment uses Rp400 million from the 2010 Makassar Regional Budget.

The rest of the funds will be used to train fishermen to increase their fish production.

“Similar training sessions were held last year in Kodingareng and Barrang Caddi islands,” he said.

Meanwhile, the funds for fish traders come from the central government.

The funds are being used to buy 25 rickshaws, 25 bikes and 4 motorbikes for fish traders.

The procurement of the transportation equipment, managed through the PNPM Mandiri micro credit program, is aimed to facilitate traders in transporting fish to markets.

Last year, funds from the central government PNPM Mandiri program were also disbursed.

Some Rp430 million in funds were distributed to 270 residents living around Tallo District coast.

“The funds were utilized for fish cultures and the rest for fishing equipment, like boats and fish hooks,” he said.

A member of Makassar Regional House of Representatives Welfare Commission Muhammad Ikbal Djalil asked the government to observe fund disbursement carefully.

He said he hoped that the funds would be disbursed to the most destitute fishermen.

The House of Representatives, he said, also promised to monitor fund disbursement to fishermen.

“The Maritime, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry must provide clear data on fund disbursement,” he said.

TRI SUHARMAN