SUMBAWA BETWEEN TWO DIFFICULT CHOICES (part1)

GOLD OR TOURISM ? 
                                                                                                                           Author : Takwa Sajidin

 
Sumbawa is a region of the province of West Nusa Tenggara, the extent of 20153.15 km2 broader meaning than just the island of Lombok, has an area of 5435 km2.
Sumbawa Island consists of four regencies and one municipality. ie, the West Sumbawa regency, Sumbawa Besar, Dompu Regency, Bima Regency, and Bima intermediate city.
Sumbawa is an area that is now attracting considerable attention of businessmen from both major employers in the country and overseas, and even ordinary people who are not entrepreneurs and have had not enough skill to took part. what's up with Sumbawa?.
This question always disturbing my mind, because after all, has not been a big story about Sumbawa, now reappeared other big news,as a young who was born and grew up in Sumbawa, I was always curious about what potential actually owned by Sumbawa Island.
Then I started my trip schedule 8 days 7 nights. I began, by visiting the western tip of the island of Sumbawa, where there is a large international company named "Newmont" belonging to the United States, the gold mining activities that has lasted for more than 11 years has made this area traveled by heavy freight-transport  and the service vehicle of the executives managements of Newmonth Nusatenggara`s company. on the other hand, workers are waiting for their shift. This scene is a daily sight in the area of West Sumbawa. its natural resources in the form of Gold Minerals has hypnotized most peoples to take part in a job competition in the Company of Newmonth Nusatenggara. this is the beginning of the emergence of the gold fever syndrome in the island of Sumbawa. I traced the coast which was one of the beautiful beaches with white sand and natural wealth of the surrounding tropical forests, what a sight that irony, let`s say, Sekongkang beach,Maluk Beach, Balat and "Lebo" teh natural lake, where the people used to do fishing spen thier picnic time. this conditions are not much different with a child who is neglected, I do not see any evidence of serious concern for its natural lake by the local government. the ideal sea waves for surfing that makes this region as a destination of international surfing competition put it on no 7. and make it as one of the best surfing areas in the world. these two main points is the biggest problems in the area of West Sumbawa, a fact that behind it there is some interests also.
Once I take my eyes to the beautiful beaches, I can only chuckle in awe, but unfortunately, we see and view it from different sides and understand it with the different interpretations. but one thing-Which would be more consistent?, Gold or Tourism?.