Where's all the money they pledged, asks Bali administration
Where's all the money they pledged, asks Bali administration
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
The Bali administration questioned on Thursday the whereabouts of
the financial assistance promised by various parties, including
the central government, foreign countries and international
funding organizations, to help the province recover following the
Oct. 12 bomb outrages in Kuta.
Administration spokesman I Gede Nurjaya said on Thursday that
after the bombing many parties had expressed their sympathy and
support, and promised to extend assistance to help the province
revive its economy, which in the immediate aftermath of the
bombings was expected to virtually collapse.
Bali was one of the world's most popular tourist destinations
before the bomb attacks, which killed over 190 people, shattered
its image as a safe holiday destination.
The government has predicted that 800,000 people would lose
their jobs as a result of the slump in the province's tourist
industry.
"The central government, international donor organizations and
some foreign countries promised to help us but so far we haven't
received a penny," Nurjaya complained.
"Today, we (the governor and his officials) are supposed to
discussing our draft plan for Bali's recovery, but there's
nothing we can do without the funds they promised. There are
plans, both emergency, short and long term, that need to be put
in place in order to rebuild the province's economy," Nurjaya
said.
As part of its emergency plan, the administration is to focus
on helping the bomb victims, providing education allowances for
their children, repairing damaged buildings and improving
security.
One-and-a-half months after the bombings, economic hardship
has started to hit those who rely on tourism and its supporting
sectors. The current problems Bali is facing were foreseeable due
to the significant drop in the number of foreign tourists as a
result of the attacks.
Countries like the U.S., Australia, Britain and several
European countries have yet to lift their travel warnings
advising their nationals against visiting Bali.
Long before the bombing, Bali had received Rp 483 billion from
the central government through the Ministry of Resettlement and
Regional Infrastructure, and US$7 million from the World Bank and
the Asian Development Bank for development programs.
The local administration has also raised Rp 3.5 billion from
various sources, including local companies, and has disbursed
some Rp 355 million to the 13 hospitals that have been treating
the bomb victims, as well as other emergency units.
"The remaining funds will be allocated for improving the
security infrastructure in Bali," Nurjaya said.
The donations excluded Rp 1 billion received by Badung regency
from the Ministry of Social Affairs to pay compensation to the
relatives of the victims, the injured and the owners of
properties that were damaged in the bombings.
The Kuta tourist resort is located in Badung regency.