Gorontalo people challenged to build the new province

Gorontalo people challenged to build the new province

GORONTALO, North Sulawesi (JP): Gorontalo officials welcomed
the establishment of the new province, cautious of the need for
qualified human resources.

Mayoralty secretary Gusmar Ismail said here on Wednesday that
the establishment of the province of Gorontalo was a challenge
for the people to build the new province.

Gusmar addressed the thousands of people, including students,
thronging the mayoralty to cheer the House of Representatives'
approval of the new province.

"The 12,215 square kilometer province has 800 million tons of
limestone deposits worth Rp 12 trillion, gold deposits of 500,000
kilograms worth Rp 16 trillion, and 3.4 million tons of copper
worth Rp 7 trillion. Smart and qualified human resources are
badly needed to manage all these natural treasures, " Gusmar
said.

All 10 factions at the House of Representatives (DPR) agreed
on Tuesday to the establishment of the province, formerly part of
North Sulawesi.

Gorontalo is the country's 32nd province after Bangka-Belitung
province in southern Sumatra and Banten province in western Java
were established during the last three months.

An acting governor will be appointed soon after President
Abdurrahman Wahid approves the new province.

The Gorontalo province, which covers the regencies of
Gorontalo and Boalemo and the mayoralty of Gorontalo, has a
population of about 800,000 people.

In addition to mineral deposits, Gorontalo exported a total of
1,040.69 tons of frozen fish from 1996 to 1998 worth
US$1,640,275.

"With that much natural resources and annual local revenues of
Rp 6 billion, Gorontalo is ready to become a province," Gusmar
said.

Yahya Hiola, chairman of the Gorontalo Families Association
(KKG), said in a separate interview that the new province needed
capable people. "I am optimistic there are many Gorontalo sons
qualified to work their own land. They will be able to make
Gorontalo province as big as other provinces."

Another local figure, Kadir Buloto, said that the separation
of Gorontalo from the North Sulawesi province was historically
understandable.

"It was January 23, 1942 when Gorontalo announced its
independence from Dutch colonial rule. Two years later Gorontalo
decided to join with the Republic of Indonesia fearing internal
friction due to the Dutch administrator's anger," said Kadir.

Kadir said the province has a total labor force of 638,112
with unemployment of more than 280,000. "With the new province,
job opportunities are expected to be wide open." (30/sur)