Photo By Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett | From left: Diyala provincial council chairman Ibrahim Bajalan, Diyala Provincial...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Russell Bassett
4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division
BAQUBAH, Iraq – The Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team facilitated a meeting between Diyala government officials and the Ministry of Trade to improve food distribution throughout the province at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, Iraq, Feb. 8.
The meeting marked the first time all of the department heads from the Diyala Ministry of Trade had met together with the trade minister.
"We wanted to try and show them that bringing everyone together in a room and going over common problems could solve one of the major problems we face here in Diyala, and that is the distribution of food to the citizens," explained PRT Leader John Jones. "This meeting allowed the managers of various sectors – for example, the manager of the grain silo, the manager of the sales mall, the managers of the warehouses – to find out where their common problems are and to address them."
During the meeting, each department head discussed what their department does, what problems their department faces and what the department needs to solve those problems. The ministers also discussed how to improve communication between the different departments, and between the ministry and the governor's office and provincial council.
In attendance at the meeting was Provincial Council Chairman Ibrahim Bajalan and deputy governor Emad Jaleel Abdullah, who listened to the ministers concerns and promised to work with them to ensure the food deliveries occur.
"We are opening more silos and places to collect food," Abdullah said. "We want to develop our trade sectors and expand the authority of the ministers."
The leaders said one of their biggest issues is getting food from the central government, but Bajalan noted that a joint operation recently conducted by the Iraqi Army and coalition forces reopened a key route between Baghdad and Baqubah, which has helped bring in more food.
"The provincial council believes in less centralized control," Bagalan said.
Jones said the Provincial Powers Act would help elevate some of the issues.
Jones said the meeting was the first of many planned for the different Diyala ministries.
"This will hopefully set the trend for all the elements within the provincial government, not just ministry of trade," Jones said.
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 02.20.2008 03:54 |
| Story ID: | 16502 |
| Location: | BAQUBAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 351 |
| Downloads: | 336 |
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