R

esidents of Enggano Island in North Bengkulu, Bengkulu, are forced to rely on the barter system to obtain goods they need due to limited currency circulation in the district.

As residents of one of Indonesia’s outermost islands, people in this area can only market their agricultural products in the provincial capital, Bengkulu; a trip that takes 12 hours by ferry.

Unfortunately, the weather and the waves are not always friendly. Waves often reach as high as six meters during bad weather.

“So, we just barter. Farmers exchange their rice for fish. Fishermen exchange their fish for vegetables or tubers, depending on what they need,” coordinating head of Enggano Island tribes, Iskandar Kauno, said.

Regardless of its economic and tourism potential, the island is still deprived of decent infrastructure, including roads from one subdistrict to another. There is no electricity network, clean water facilities nor a bank.

“We really need a small bank to operate here. It is a pity that farmers here have to go to Bengkulu to sell agricultural products and for banking,” Enggano district head Marlansius said.

He was speaking to the Enggano Caring Team that recently visited the district. Among members of the team were Bengkulu Navy Base Commander Lt. Col. Ganda Wilaga, Bank Indonesia (BI) Bengkulu office director Causa Iman Karana and provincial legislative council deputy speaker Ahmad Zarkasih.

Causa said that Bank Indonesia would open an office on the island in the near future. “This is no longer a matter of profit orientation, but NKRI. The island deserves care as part of NKRI.”

He expressed hope that the establishment of the bank office on the island would be good for the local economy.

“People will no longer need to go to Bengkulu to save money. More importantly, no foreign currency will necessarily need to circulate here, especially considering that this is an outer island where such a thing is very possible,” Causa said.

He also expressed hope that the presence of a cash office would change the current barter system in the area.

“We have to make sure there is enough rupiah circulating here. At least four months from now the cash office has to be already established here for the sake of a smooth flow of the economy in the region,” he said.

During the visit the BI Bengkulu office also offered a mobile service for locals to exchange their worn-out banknotes with new ones, free health services and distributed packages of staple foods.

Local resident Manaf of Malakoni subdistrict, Enggano, expressed hope that the team’s work would not just end with the visit but would move further with more concrete actions. “We expect a brighter future in Enggano,” he said.

With a population of nearly 3,000, or almost 1,000 families, Enggano Island district comprises the six subdistricts of Kahyapu, Kaana, Malakoni, Apoho, Meok and Banjarsari. Most people make a living as fishermen and switch to agriculture during rough weather.

The district oversees the three islands of Pulau Dua, Pulau Merbau and Pulau Bangkai, which are all well known for their white sandy beaches. The district is also renowned for its beautiful undersea resources, including virgin coral reefs and rich sea biota.

The Transportation Ministry has since 2008 planned to develop a pioneering airport in the island, but no significant progress has been seen in the plan so far.