Friday, August 20, 2010

Governor Ralahalu wants to entertain Sail Banda participants

Jakarta - Maluku has always been known as a part of Indonesia with a population having great singing talent and high skill in playing traditional musical instruments.

Therefore, Governor Karel Albert Ralahalalu wants to entertain the participants and guests of the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 with a lot of singing and music, including a number his own making.

Being a good singer himself, the Maluku governor has composed the lyrics of a song to be sung at the opening of the international event scheduled for July-August this year.

Maluku culture and tourism office spokesperson Florence Sahusilawane confirmed in Ambon on Thursday that to entertain the Sail Banda participants and guest, Governor Ralahalu did composed the lyrics of the song.

"Although I still don`t know the title of the song, I do know that the governor has created it," Sahusilawane said.

She said the lyrics of the song tell about Maluku and popular singer Andre Hehanussa would handle the musical arrangement.

Sahusilawane added that after Hehanusa had made the musical arrangement for the Governor Ralahalu`s lyrics, it would be sung by a number of national artists of Maluku origin at the opening ceremony of Sail Banda 2010.

But she could not yet name the artists.

"We have yet to confirm who they are and how many of them will
sing the song," Sahusilawane said, adding that Ralahalu`s effort to create the song to entertain Sail Banda participants and guests was part of the provincial government`s support for the international marine event.

Meanwhile, Maluku Vice Governor Said Assagaff said in Ambon recently that a number of national artists would grace the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 by selling various souvenirs at the Aston Hotel at Natsepa beach resort in Ambon.

"I have been informed that the national artists are ready to highlight Sail Banda by selling various souvenir products at the Aston Hotel where most of the event`s participants will stay," Said Assagaff said.

But Assagaff, who is also Sail Banda local committee member, did not mention the names of the artists who would grace such an international marine event.

"I won`t say who the artists are but the most important thing is that they are ready to help make Sail Banda 2010 a success, because the event is intended to promote the marine potentials in Maluku and to convince the international community that the people in the once conflict-torn province now coexist again in perfect harmony," Assagaff said.

He also called on all elements of the nation of Maluku origin at home and in the Netherlands to support the Sail Banda festival and make it a success.

"The people of Maluku origin in the Netherlands including the Ducth Meseum have expressed readiness to organize an exhibition in Ambon and Banda to highlight the international marine event which is predicted to be attended by at least 5,000 people from many countries.

Assagaff said the activity was strategic for Maluku because the State Ministry for State Enterprise (BUMN) and private parties had made all possible efforts to improve various infrastructures and facilities in the province.

He also called on the people in Maluku to maintain regional stability and security, and to optimally familiarize the Seven Charms Program of Sapta Pesona so that on returning from Sail Banda event the participants could say that Maluku is safe for visitors.

Both Ralahalu and Assagaff fully supported the success of Sail Banda because it would have a positive impact on the province`s economic and tourism sectors.

Governor Ralahalu once said that Sail Banda 2010 was expected to be the "Entry Point" for Maluku province to build win-win cooperation with neighboring countries.

He said the event would be the entry point for the province to knit a win-win cooperation with neighbor countries such as Australia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Therefore Ralahalu and a number of governors from eastern Indonesian provinces accompanied President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to visit Australia and Papua New Guinea on from March 9-11, 2010 in an effort to promote Sail Banda.

Ralalahu admitted that during the visit to Australia and PNG with the president, Sail Banda event got positive support from the two countries leaders when President Yudhoyono explained it to them in a dialog.

Meanwhile, Sail Banda local committee chairman Cak Saimima said
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad would launch the event in Ambon on April 17, 2010.

"We are making preparation for the launch of the international marine event on April 17," Cak Saimima said in Ambon on Wednesday.

Saimima said the maritime affairs and fisheries minister was appointed by Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on December 14, 2009 as Sail Banda national committee chairman, and thus the latter would launch the event in Ambon later in April but the specific location has yet to be decided.

"Sail Banda was launched at Borobudur Hotel in Jakarta on February 3, 2010, and hopefully we can decide the location in Ambon at a meeting here today (Wednesday)," Saimima said.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad has said the Sail Banda was aimed at turning Maluku capital of Ambon into easter Indonesia`s main tourist gate and promoting the province`s potentials to the world.

Fadel Muhammad said such an annual event was expected to attract foreign investors, including those of China to the province in the future.

"Providing people in coastal areas with health services is also the objective of Sail Banda. That`s why, the social welfare minister will come to the targeted areas," Fadel Muhammad said. (Otniel Tamindael)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com