Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Mansour District public works deputy chairman Jabar Shebe Al Delami, along with other...... read more read more
By Sgt Whitney Houston
Multi-National Division - Baghdad
BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces, civic leaders, local townsmen and coalition forces gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony in the Ameriyah community in Mansour District of Baghdad, to acknowledge the opening of the biggest public works substation in Baghdad, June 25.
Public works substations provide essential services to local communities such as trash pick up, street cleaning and other services deemed necessary for proper community maintenance.
The opening of the Ameriyah substation marks an important milestone for residents of this area who have not had these services in more than two years.
"These basic services used to be centralized into only one station located in the Eastern Mansour district of Baghdad, creating a deficit in other parts of the city," said Col. Louis Fazeka, of the Pennsylvania National Guard, assigned to the embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, the team that was overseeing the construction of the station.
"The focus of this mission has been to 'decentralize' and make substations throughout western Baghdad, making these services more readily available to those neglected parts of the city."
In time, Fazeka hopes these stations will aid in security and stability of Ameriyah by resoring the confidence of the people in the government of Iraq.
"These people want these basic essential services that you and I take for granted back home. It boosts the peoples' confidence in the government," said Fazeka.
When the ePRT first arrived at the site where the Ameriyah public works substation now stands, it was nothing more than some land and a run-down house. With the help of contractors, the ePRT went to work and cleaned up the area, leveled the ground, fixed up the run down house, and put concrete T-wall barriers around the lot to increase security for the workers and the equipment.
They also made an underground work area where the workers can go to work on vehicles, a feature which the other three substations built by the ePRT don't have, said Fazeka.
The entire project took 45 days to complete.
During the celebration marking the opening of the substation, there was an overarching feeling of appreciation.
"This station has brought life back to 15,000 residents due to the reinstatement of these services," said Salwan Talal Latif, Iraqi public works assistant zone director, and 30-year resident of Ameriyah.
"Seven months ago we were hiding in our houses in fear for our lives. But thanks be to God...all aspects of fear that we had is in the past, and our lives are open now, and so are our opportunities," he said.
Latif went on to say that his main concern now is continued successful progression and development, a sentiment shared by all in attendance at the opening ceremony celebration of one such success in Ameriyah.
| Date Taken: | 06.25.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2008 14:00 |
| Story ID: | 20884 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 228 |
| Downloads: | 161 |
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