JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government has begun paying arrears for Papuan Superior Students (SUP) scholarships.
Payment began on Thursday (25/1/2024), as instructed by the Acting Governor of Papua, in a meeting with heads of regional apparatus organizations, within the scope of the Papua Provincial Government.
"For the first step of the governor's direction, the arrears of 24 students who will graduate in May 2024 are paid today, (Thursday, ed)," said Acting Assistant for Government Affairs of the Regional Secretariat of Papua Province, Yohanes Walilo in Jayapura, Friday (1/26/2024).
Walilo said the arrears occurred not due to the negligence of the Papua Provincial Government in completing the program's obligations.
However, since 2021-2022 there have been changes in Central Government policy, namely the revision of the Special Autonomy Law and changes in budget policy.
The special autonomy fund is no longer in the Papua Provincial Government treasury. However, it is divided directly into regencies and cities and 3 Provinces by the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia.
"The funds have been transferred to each region, so since 2022 the Papua Provincial Government has carried out mapping or data validation by name by address and officially submitted it to 3 Provinces and 9 regencies/cities," he explained.
Even so, said Walilo, arrears in 2022 and January-June 2023 under the policies of the Papua Provincial Government, solutions were sought and have been paid.
"So currently there are arrears left in July-December 2023. All parties may express opinions. However, it is recommended that before talking, you should first check with the parties regarding the truth."
"So there is no misinformation because everything the government does must have a reason," he said. ***