Gorontalo inaugurated as the country's 32nd province

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja installed Tursandi Alwi on Friday as acting Governor of Gorontalo and inaugurated the region as the country's 32nd province.

"I expect Pak Tursandi to immediately establish the organizational structure for the province within the next six months.

"I believe the term will be enough to establish the whole structure of this province, including the appointment of clean government officials and preparations for the gubernatorial election...who is supposed to be the Gorontalo's best son," Surjadi said as quoted by Antara.

Tursandi is currently chairman of the Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy.

Last week, Surjadi officially declared Bangka-Belitung as the 31st province of the country. The government has said that it was processing 10 other proposals, demanding provincial status for 10 regions.

Surjadi said the birth of Gorontalo province was proof of serious efforts among all components of the nation in promoting democratization.

"This event also shows the central government's trust in the local people," the minister said.

Present at the inaugural ceremony, which was held at the Taruna Remaja field, were North Sulawesi Governor A.J. Sondakh and legislators of the House of Representatives (DPR) and local legislative council (DPD). The ceremony was witnessed by about 30,000 local people.

Meanwhile, North Sulawesi governor A.J. Sondakh voiced his support for the birth of Gorontalo province.

"As the 'old brother' of Gorontalo, the North Sulawesi administration has never restrained any single effort conducted by the Gorontalo people to have their own province," Sondakh said.

Before being declared a new province, Gorontalo was one of the four regencies of North Sulawesi province. Other regencies are Bolaang Mongondow, Minahasa and Sangihe Talaud.

Gorontalo has a total area of 12,150.65 square kilometers or occupies about 44.20 percent of North Sulawesi. It has more than 800,000 residents, some 85 percent of whom work as farmers with soya beans, coconut and clove as its main crops.

During the ceremony, Surjadi also donated Rp 25 million (US$2,631) to local people who were affected by floods on Jan. 25.

Meanwhile another donation amounting to Rp 30 million, 300 boxes of noodles, 3 tons of rice and blankets were delivered by the Jakarta-based Gorontalo community.

Antara earlier reported that the total damage of last month's disaster reached Rp 32 billion. (02)