TF Saber command, Logar sub-governors refine project proposals

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan –The Task Force Saber command group of the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, and Logar province’s district sub-governors are continuing to fine-tune the project proposal process for provincial reconstruction efforts for the people of Logar province at a conference, Feb. 9.

U.S. Army Capt. Raymond Spees, the civil military officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 173rd Special Troops Battalion, said that these provincial reconstruction projects are a unifying dynamic.

“Projects are one of the few tools to influence the people and be able to unify Afghanistan, therefore we have all these development agencies here: USAID, coalition forces, the Czech provincial reconstruction team, the state department,” said Spees. “We’re all working together to use these tools to be able to build development and also build governance capacity.”

The conference was the second of many to come between the sub-governors and Task Force Saber. 

“In this conference, we figure out the mistakes we are trying to solve, and it’s a big coordination between the government departments,” said Logar deputy governor Alhaj Shojakuddin Shouja. 

It is very important for these projects to build rapport between the developmental agencies, said Shouja.

“If we coordinate every time, then we will not have problems anymore. It is important to make a close relationship,” said Shouja. 

“The people of Baraki Barak are going to get the benefits of this conference, because these guys are here to discuss our projects, to improve every district in the Logar province,” said Mohammad Rahim Amin, the sub-district governor for Baraki Barak. “The result of this conference is going to be positive in this area.”

“The message of these projects is basically that the government is here to help the people,” he continued.  “The people need to understand that.” 

If they understand that, the people can take ownership of these Reconstruction projects, said Spees.

“Hopefully people will have a better understanding of how they can get projects done within their communities. We want the government to understand how we can better support them in the process, that way they can be more effective and more efficient. It’s very important that the government is able to reach out to the people and unify the people. They need to understand that the government is here for them … these projects are a way to empower them,” said Spees.

Not only are these reconstruction projects a means of empowerment, but also governmental lucidity, said Spees.

“We’re able to create transparency, we’re getting the government to actually communicate more with its people,” said Spees.

The dialogue initiated by these meetings will hopefully create grassroots movements of project development conceived by the people themselves, said Spees.

“We want the people to come up with their own projects, their own ideas, and then we want them to bring those projects to the government. They bring them to the district level, which has representatives from all the different villages. Then at the district level we want them to prioritize these projects,” said Spees.

Shouja shared the same sentiment.

“I'm looking to the people’s needs. I am looking to the people’s favorite projects and then I’m prioritizing those projects. I am doing my work according to the people’s wishes, according to the people’s needs; that’s my job,” said Shouja. 

“I want to have the people of Logar province able to work and to have food or subsistence for their families, because if they are jobless, the enemy is using them and they are joining the enemy’s ranks. I would like to have some long term projects to give them some jobs,” said Shouja. 

These projects are not only a means of job creation, but also ensure the security of the people, said Amin.

“If you want to bring security you should work on something, some project like this,” said Amin.        

“The people are going to find work. They are not going to be jobless. The economy of the people is going to get better day-by-day, and also the security is going to improve by those projects,” said Amin.