Limited help for isolated tribes

Limited help for isolated tribes

BANDJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The chief of the local social
affairs ministry, Umar Achmad, revealed here over the weekend
that the provincial government had located 8,750 families of
isolated communities in the province.

"So far, we are still handling only 2,500 families of isolated
tribes living on the slopes of Mount Meratus because of financial
restraints," he said at a meeting with several legislators on a
field trip to the province.

Umar said the majority of tribespeople lived under poor
circumstances, especially in the education and health fields,
while the funds allocated by the provincial government to assist
isolated tribes were enough for only 100 families.

"Under the present economic situation, it will take several
decades to modernize the isolated communities," he said. --Antara

Makassar delivers ordered vessels

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Asmar Jaya Pratama, a private
company manufacturing traditional vessels, has delivered two
ships ordered by Australia and Sweden.

The launching of the two ships worth Rp 1.2 billion was
conducted in a traditional ceremony at the Bontobahari dockyard,
Bulukumba, over the weekend.

Andi Sulthan, owner of the ship-manufacturing company, said
the two vessels each with 20 rooms and 400 horse-power engines
would be used as cruisers in the two countries.

"We spent 14 months in total and Rp 1.2 billion to manufacture
the two vessels," he said.

He said his company had received many orders, from both at
home and overseas, to build local phinisi (schooners). --Antara

Jambi stays alert to flood

JAMBI: The Jambi provincial government is taking measures to
minimize the impact of flood and landslides during the rainy
season.

Syahnikmat Nizam, spokesman for the provincial administration,
said related government offices, the local military, police and
the search and rescue agency were coordinating to draft maps of
areas prone to flood and landslides in the province.

"All related offices and agencies have been asked to
coordinate properly while all the people, especially those living
in areas prone to flood and landslide, have been called on to
stay alert in an attempt to minimize the negative impacts of the
rainy season," he said here on Saturday.

He said the province was prone to flash floods and landslides
because it was mountainous and had many rivers winding through
residential areas.
--Antara

Seafarers obliged to have safety certificate

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: As of February 2002, all seafarers
employed in ships plying domestic and international routes are
required to have basic safety training certificates in line with
a ruling of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

"All seamen in the province will be obliged to posses safety
training certificates as Indonesia is a member of IMO," said
Sabran Malisi, chief of the local transportation ministry.

He said that at least 800 seafarers in the province had yet to
undergo basic safety training and that his office would organize
safety training for seafarers early next month.

"We will coordinate with shipping agencies to send their staff
and seafarers to participate in the basic training. Such training
is needed by seafarers in facing emergencies in their workplace,"
he said. --Antara