Bupati Mentawai, MWB, Vaninda, dan Penanaman Modal Asing
D.Rimata
10.3.2001
English Version

Pada tanggal 8 maret 2001 Bupati Mentawai mengadakan pertemuan dengan
 pengusaha-pengusaha di bidang Pariwisata di Kep.Mentawai.Yang mana pertemuan
 tersebut di adakan di Kantor sementara Bupati(Di Padang).Di sana juga hadir
 Rick cameron dan Bangun(MWB)dan Pak Asri (Vaninda &STC).subjek dalam
 pertemuan tersebut adalah dalam rangka persiapan Surf visitor 2001 di Mentawai yang
 dibicarakan disana adalah tentang pajak, kontribusi. Pak bupati mentawai
 mengambil perbandingan dengan daerah Bali yang mana pajak bagi visitor atau
 turis yang melakukan urusan bisnis di kenakan pajak U$15 dan turis biasa
 dikenakan pajak U$10 itu hanya sekedar gambaran (description)dan disana juga
 dibicarakan tentang pajak setiap kapal selancar yang berlabuh di Mentawai
 (lokasi selancar).nampak sekali konflik antara MWB dan Vaninda(STC)
 sampai-sampai mereka bertengkar  dalam rapat tersebut.Dan juga  Pak bupati
 tidak begitu senang dengan wakil dari Vaninda (STC) mereka juga sempat
 berselisih sampai-samapi wakil dari Vaninda di usir keluar(tetapi dia tidak
 keluar).Menurut pengamatan saya Pak Bupati Mentawai lebih berpihak kepada MWB
 karna pendekatan MWB dengan bupati cukup bagus.Tetapi STC sudah mulai
 melakukan pendekatan di Tingkat 1(gubernur)dan mereka sudah cukup dekat.
 Mudah-mudahan perselisihan kedua pengusaha besar tersebut ada manfaatnya bagi
 masyarakat lokal.Di sana juga di bahas tentang foreign investment.Menatawai
 siap menerima pengusaha asing yang potensial untuk menanamkan sahamnya di
 sana yang bergerak di bidang apapun.

 D.Rimata
10.3.2001

The Mentawai Bupati, MWB, Vaninda, and Foreign Investment

On March 8 2001, the Mentawai Bupati met with a number of business people involved in tourism in the Mentawai Islands. The meeting was held at the Bupati’s temporary office (in Padang). Also attending was Rick Cameron, Bangun (MWB) and Mr. Asri (Vaninda & STC). The subject of discussion concerned preparations for surf tour clients in the 2001 season in Mentawai. The issue specifically discussed was that of tax. For the purposes of illustration the Bupati made a comparison between Bali, where tax on visitors or tourists involved in business is US $15, whereas standard tourists pay US $10. Also discussed was the issue of the tax on each surf tour vessal berthing in the Mentawais (surfing areas). There emerged considerable conflict between MWB and Vaninda (STC) to the point of argument. The Bupati was none too pleased with Vaninda’s representative and they also argued to the point where Vaninda’s representative was expelled (except he did not actually leave). According to my observations the Bupati Mentawai tended to side with MWB since MWB and the Bupati already share a close relationship. However, STC has begun to make overtures to the Level 1 administration (Governor) and they are already fairly close. Hopefully the disagreement between both of these businessmen will have a positive outcome for the local people. Also debated was the issue of foreign investment. Mentawai is prepared to accept potential foreign investors and their investment capital in any field of activity.

D.Rimata