Governor sad over delay of plans for city beautification

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso expressed concern on Tuesday at the postponement in the implementation of many of his plans to beautify the capital. This was due to the prolonged monetary crisis.

"During my tenure as governor I actually have many plans, ranging from setting up more statues on every corner of the city's major thoroughfares, as well as river cleanliness through a regreening program," Sutiyoso said in a meeting with dozens of chief editors of the media.

"Unfortunately, however, all of the plans have now to be shelved as we have to concentrate first on how to provide cheap food to the needy who are hard hit by the impact of the crisis," he said in the meeting, which was also attended by Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman and Jakarta Police Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajusman.

As soon as the economic condition begins to improve, the governor said that he would revive all his plans again.

"For example, I will invite artists to design the most beautiful statues to be built on Jl. Thamrin and other major roads," he said.

Sutiyoso made the remarks while reflecting on the poor condition of the city, which was marked by a lack of artistic ornaments and the poor sanitation, especially along rivers.

Jakarta was left far behind by capitals of other modern countries, he said referring to a number of European cities he visited from Oct. 19 to Oct. 30.

The governor said that once the economic condition had improved he would order the city administration to create more public facilities, including toilets, in strategic locations throughout Jakarta, especially around the National Monument (Monas) park.

"We will promote Monas as a center of excellence in the city to attract foreign tourists," he said, adding that more toilets would be built there.

He explained that existing facilities in the area were far from adequate and their condition was so poor that they were not attractive to visitors.

"If these conditions prevail it will be impossible for any foreign tourists visiting the Monas park to utilize the toilets," he said.

Sutiyoso said that he was still ashamed to sell the Monas park to the foreigners given its poor condition. "Prospects are actually bright as the visitors will surely enliven the areas where they can buy products offered by vendors there," he said.

Commenting on the construction of the toilets, he said that he would employ street children, who were currently begging at major traffic lights, to collect money from every visitor who used the facilities.

"This will constitute one of the programs to empower them," he said.

The ministry of social services has allocated Rp 12 billion (US$1.5 million) to a city program helping street children in the capital, Sutiyoso said earlier.

"The allocation will supplement funds from the city budget and other sources, including aid from the Asian Development Bank, to finance the program helping street children," Sutiyoso said.

The city administration recently established a team to address problems faced by street children. One of the project's goals is to provide needy children with skills which would be of use to them in the future.

"We plan to go all-out in this program...and not to do this half-heartedly," the governor said, adding that older children, who badly needed jobs, would be given the opportunity to participate in training courses to improve job-related skills, while small children would be sent to school. (hhr)