Regent of Teluk Wondama: Community supports the construction of a new airport

The Regent of Teluk Wondama, West Papua, Hendrik Mambor asked the landowners at the location of the new airport in Mawoi, Wasior District, to support the construction of the airport for the benefit of the regional economy.

"The airport will remain as long as this district exists. Of course, it will have a comprehensive impact on the community, the regional economy as well, especially on the involvement of our generation as a whole, Papuan children and in particular the Wondama children," he said in Wasior, Tuesday.

Last week, a meeting took place between the ranks of the Teluk Wondama Regency Government and land owners to accelerate the resolution of land problems around the new airport area in Mawoi, Wasior District.

According to Mambor, the resolution of land issues will determine whether the physical construction of the new airport can be realized as soon as possible or not.

The existence of the new airport in Mawoi Wasior is also expected to boost regional development, especially in the tourism sector, which is the leading sector of Teluk Wondama Regency.

"Wondama is now open so that if only by boat people want to come, especially if there is an airport. Our tourism will be open and that means opportunities for the younger generation of Wondama children," he said.

Although currently the legal process for the dispute over land ownership for the location of the new airport in Mawoi is still ongoing, residents who are land owners are willing to make a statement that they are willing to give up their land for the construction of the airport.

"We still respect the positive law that is still running. However, we need to convince the central government through the Presidential Secretariat Office (KSP) so that land documents need certainty and convince the center that later airport construction can run smoothly without any obstacles," he said.

If land disputes continue to occur, Mambor is worried that the construction of a new airport that has been prepared since 2016 will not be implemented. The reason is, President Joko Widodo's term of office is only two years left until 2024.

"Later 2024, President Jokowi's term of office will be finished. The remaining time is crucial which we need to make good use of. If we drag on, will the new President be able to pay attention to us with an airport, with such a large size. I hope we all pay attention," said the Regent.

For information, the plan to build a new airport in Wondama Bay is a direct instruction from President Jokowi during his visit to Wondama on May 5, 2016.

However, six years have passed, the airport, which is planned to have a runway of 2,000 meters long, has not yet started construction due to a land ownership dispute which is still being processed in court.

SOURCE : https://papuabarat.antaranews.com/berita/14381/bupati-teluk-wondama-masyarakat-support-pembinaan-bandara-baru