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TARIN KOT, Afghanistan – The completion of an Afghan led project has given residents in the Uruzgan province something to celebrate.
Afghans and International Security Assistance Forces soldiers participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the finished Afghan National Police Provincial headquarters in Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, May 31, 2012.
The ceremony was to celebrate the opening of the ANP’s official headquarters for Uruzgan province.
With its opening, the headquarters will provide citizens in Tarin Kot, and the Uruzgan province a more safe and secure environment, which in turn, will ultimately lead to a stronger more independent Afghanistan.
The opening marked the end of more than two years of construction efforts.
“It is really important that this project is finally finished so that the provincial police will be able to better protect the people of Uruzgan and maintain stability in the area,” said Mohammad Usman, the project manager for the provincial police station.
With its completion, the facility offers many vital resources to the ANP. In addition to independent electricity, water wells, and a dining facility, the new headquarters also contains offices and barracks for more than 100 personnel, guard towers, and a stone wall enclosing the compound.]
“The facilities here are excellent. The police have everything to operate on a professional level,” said Usman.
The headquarters is also an example of forward thinking for Afghans.
“One interesting fact is this site actually has female barracks which is not very common in ANP facilities and that shows progression,” said Sergio Cuevas, a project engineer working for Combined Team Uruzgan.
The cost of the facility is estimated to be near $10 million dollars, and like many projects, was not without setbacks.
“There were some difficulties when the initial contractor was terminated for default, but the new contractor took over in January 2011 and he did a really good job of coming in and fixing someone else’s situation and finishing the project,” said Cuevas.
The new contractor proved to be up to the task.
“They did a really good job with the facilities. The contractor was an Afghan First contractor, which is a program that teaches Afghans the skills to build better,” said Cuevas. “Despite limited experience the contractor did an excellent job.”
The use of Afghan First contractors gave additional benefits to the people of Uruzgan, Not only will this facility help the ANA, but the building of this facility has helped workers.
“It has helped develop skills for Afghans. They are developing skills in building and management that will help them after we leave, and the facility will allow the community to be a safer place,” Cuevas said, “and the headquarters provides the ANP the facilities needed to recruit more personnel, train them, and establish positive relationships with the community.
| Date Taken: | 05.31.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2012 03:49 |
| Story ID: | 89328 |
| Location: | TARIN KOWT, AF |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, New Afghan police headquarters helps secure Afghanistan’s future, by SGT Nevada Jack Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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