BIAK - The implementation of the Regional Working Meeting of the Governor with Regents / Mayors and the Regional Development Planning Deliberation throughout Papua 2023, which is also coupled with the Coordination Meeting for Competency Development of  State Civil Apparatus throughout Papua with the Provinces of South Papua, Central Papua and Mountain Papua 2023, was officially opened by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, John Wempi Wetipo, Thursday (13/4/2023), in Biak Numfor Regency.

Vice Minister of Home Affairs Wetipo in the forum, entrusted three strategic issues that are the responsibility of the Papua Provincial Government to be discussed through the implementation of the 2023 Regional Working Meeting and Regional Development Planning Deliberation.

First, he mentioned the holding of the election of Members of the Papuan People Assembly (MRP) and the 2024 election. So it must be coordinated with all parties so that the preparation and implementation run well and conductively.

Second, related to the filling of devices for Members of the Papuan House of Representatives and District/City Parliaments through elements of Indigenous Papuans as mandated by Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning amendments to Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua.

"It means that in the past, the appointment of Indigenous Papuans in the seat of Member of Parliament through the Special Autonomy Law was only at the provincial level, but now it also applies at the district and city levels," explained Wempi.

Third, Vice Minister of Home Affairs Wempi instructed the Governor of Papua and the Acting Governors of the three new autonomous regions to regulate and implement the transfer of civil servant management, including the transfer of assets and documents under statutory mechanisms.

In addition, it asks to collect data and synchronize the receipt of educational scholarships that must be carried out between the Papua Provincial Government and the Provincial Government of the results of the expansion. The education affirmation program must be maintained consistently in the transition period, and the Papua Provincial Government is fully responsible for the success of the transition period of the education affirmation policy program.

"The Acting Governor of Papua yesterday agreed to me to cover the lack of costs for students from Papua who study abroad before the Eid holiday. We must thank God, he (Acting Governor of Papua, ed) wants to complete this."

"And I ask the Acting Governors in the three new autonomous regions from Papua Province to take responsibility for supporting our children from 2023 to the coming year. And the Acting Governors undertake to follow up on our direction to ensure that our children who study at home and abroad can return to lead the land of Papua for the better," he said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Papua Muhammad Ridwan Rumasukun hopes that the momentum of the Regional Working Meeting and Regional Development Planning Deliberation can also be used by the Provincial Governments of South Papua, Central Papua Province and Mountain Papua Province to communicate strategic issues conveyed by the Vice Minister of Home Affairs.

Because through the implementation of this agenda, all provinces in Papua can integrate programs and activities as well as budgeting to ensure services to the community can run as they should be. "So it can improve to achieve better welfare from time to time," said Ridwan.

Meanwhile, on the 2023 Regional Working Meeting and Regional Development Planning Deliberation, a memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Provinces of Central Papua, South Papua and Mountain Papua with the Papua Provincial Government regarding the development of the competence of civil servants and legislators in three new autonomous regions. ***