By: Devaryo Valarie )*
The government continues to accelerate optimal development in the Papua region. This is concrete evidence of the government’s efforts to improve the welfare of the Papuan people. Development in Papua is also proof that the government really pays attention to progress in Bumi Cenderawasih. With development in various sectors, people can enjoy conveniences to support their daily activities. This is because public services are increasingly being felt by the wider Papuan people. The government really ensures the sustainability of development in Papua to support the equitable national development program.
Vice President, Ma’ruf Amin said that the government would continue to pay attention to the development of the Papua region. This is because Indonesia is faced with the problem of equitable human development, especially in improving the equitable quality of education and training in remote areas, including Papua.
Regions in eastern Indonesia, especially in the Papua region, still face limited access to education, health services and also economic disparities. For this reason, the government will continue to pay special attention to development in this region by accelerating development and expanding access to basic services for the Papuan people.
Currently, the government has formed the Papua Steering Committee as part of efforts to accelerate development in the region. This agency will coordinate development programs in accordance with the master plan for accelerating Papua’s development which was launched in Sorong in June 2024.
Papua’s development will be carried out by involving indigenous Papuans and will focus on the fields of education, health and economic empowerment of local communities, as well as security so that it can provide real benefits. These programs are expected to reduce inequality between regions in Indonesia and increase national economic growth.
Vice President Ma’ruf Amin confirmed that the government would continue education, health and economic infrastructure development programs in these areas. Moreover, currently, Indonesia is faced with complex challenges such as global geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, health threats that impact food and energy security, as well as cyber security risks that will affect national resilience. The government will continue to ensure that educational, health and economic infrastructure development programs continue so that the benefits can be felt by all levels of society.
One of the developments in Papua was the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Papua Bangkit Vocational School Building and the Dutch Foot Football School which were simultaneously inaugurated at Mooipark Field, Saoka, West Sorong District, Sorong City, Southwest Papua. This received appreciation, support and concern from the Chairman of the DPD RI, AA La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti.
La Nyalla said that it was a very historic thing for him to attend because of his love for Papua and in order to support concrete efforts to improve human resources that are right on target, because he has actually been able to produce superior human resources, both in the world of education and in sports. This was done to provide support for Southwest Papua in welcoming the upcoming Golden Indonesia 2045. One example is the Papua Bangkit Vocational School, where there are areas of expertise in energy and mining. That means, this vocational school could be the answer to the comparative advantages of Papua, especially Southwest Papua in optimizing local human resources to be involved in productive economic activities in the mining sector.
La Nyalla emphasized that human resource development is also guaranteed to come from the world of sports which will be produced by the Dutch Football School, because football in the Land of Papua is like a second religion, so strong is the football DNA in the blood of Indigenous Papuans, as proof, football players from Papua has never been absent from the Indonesian National Football Team at various age levels.
LaNyalla emphasized that his party has more respect for players from the Land of Papua, rather than foreign football players contracted by clubs in Indonesia. Therefore, it is a source of pride for us, because we gave birth to the nation’s children who grew up in the land of Papua. For him, countries out there that have football achievements should be enough of an inspiration for us to learn. For this reason, he is optimistic that in the future there will be more black pearls born from the Land of Papua.
Meanwhile, the founder of the Dutch Football School and Papua Bangkit Vocational School, Paul Vincent Mayor, who is also an elected member of the DPD RI for the 2024-2029 term, said that his party wants to develop Papua not only in terms of its infrastructure, but also its human resources. Our human resources must be superior. This is reality, our natural resources are being exploited, but our children are suffering. Therefore, his party built these two schools for Papuan children, the children of the Indonesian nation.
The government’s commitment and consistency in developing Papua has increasingly fostered public optimism in advancing the Land of Papua. Support from various elements of society to participate in developing Papua is increasingly strengthening natural resources and human resources in Bumi Cenderawasih. This certainly has a very good impact on the welfare of the Papuan people. For this reason, synergy between the government and society needs to be implemented well for sustainable development in Papua.
)* The author is a student from Papua in Surabaya