Acting Mayor of Jayapura, Frans Pekey is Committed to Strengthening Customary Institutions

Acting Mayor of Jayapura, Papua Province, Frans Pekey in the transition period of the leadership of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Jayapura, is committed to strengthening traditional institutions in Bumi Port Numbay.

He conveyed this to the man who is also the Secretary of the City of Jayapura in a press conference in his office, Tuesday (31/5/2022).

"In the Special Autonomy Law (Otsus) of Papua Province in the revision of Law Number 2 of 2021, it mandates traditional institutions, and in Jayapura City, customary institutions are very clear in the religious system," he explained.

Therefore, in accordance with the mandate of the Special Autonomy Law, Frans said that since the preparation of the 2023 program, he has taken a policy to strengthen institutions for all finances in Jayapura City.

"There are 10 Keondoafians in Jayapura City and we will do institutional strengthening, how to build capacity, develop structure," he said.

As well as efforts to revive the traditional institutional structure, because he said the development progress of Jayapura City was very rapid, so that it affected customary values.

"With this, we facilitate the revival, and this is important so that we can maintain our identity as Port Numbay people in the midst of progress and modernity," he added.

The bespectacled man emphasized that in strengthening the customary institutions, the source of the funds was from the Special Autonomy Fund.

"We can pay more attention to the traditional houses, and there are also operational costs that are given," said Frans.

His party will also provide cars for condolences, so that they can be used in carrying out their duties and will be labeled as a source of Otsus funds.

"We certainly do this so that the community, especially the Ondoafi or traditional leaders, feel that the state is taking sides and that there is attention," he said.

In addition, he said his party would continue to improve the quality of education, health, and the economy of indigenous peoples.

"I think so far, this has been going well, we are improving it even more, and specifically for education, I have programmed for 2023, we will recruit Port Numbay children in special fields," he explained.

The specific field he means is the focus of education for children from Port Numbay in studying to become doctors, pilots, official schools, and the field of science, including the Akabri.

"In the future, we have plans to work with the Yohanes Surya Foundation for the development of these skills," said the smiling man.

In affirming his seriousness in strengthening these customary institutions, Frans is committed to enacting a regional regulation prohibiting the sale of land, but only with a contract or lease system.

"This goal is to save the remaining land, for the future of our children and grandchildren," he concluded.