WADAGSIN Project on Course

[miles-militis]

WADAGSIN Project on Course

- Friday, November 07, 2003 at 18:09

 

Galkayo (Yamayska)- A shipment comprising of construction equipment various in nature, yet crucial to the continuation of the Gara'ad Sea Port & Galkayo-Gara'ad Road Initiative dubbed WADAGSIN , linking Galkayo to Gara’ad, a port city on the Indian ocean has reached at Galkayo airport this week. Such greatly needed edifice include a power generating engine, a water tanker, one crane, a pick-up truck, a Nissan dump truck, a heavy duty grader, one excavator, one crawler dozer, a landscape loader, and other equipment of immense value to the continuation and completion of the project .

 

A community funded and orientated project, WADAGSIN which started some twelve months ago enters its second phase with these very much needed equipments and tools. It is noteworthy that equally vital project though independently managed, yet part of the WADAGSIN project, which saw the construction of TAAR airport equipped with modern international airport systems had been completed early this year .

 

The WADAGSIN initiative of which primary objectives include regional economic self-sufficiency while exploiting natural resources of the region in line with the State wide strategy of promoting congruous economic independency and interdependency among regions where each of the six regions that make up Puntland State of Somalia strives towards the development and creation of communal projects utilising own inherent resources with the financial and moral support of the government, communities in the Diaspora, nations and international organisations.

 

Abdisaid Ali Suryaan, current head of the Galkayo-Gara’ad road initiative, discussed the progress that has been made thus far. He noted that the purchase and delivery of the equipment had been assisted with by the Puntland government and community at large, those in the Diaspora as well as in the country. Asked to elaborate as to how the proportion of assistance, financial or otherwise, contributed by the government, Mr Suryaan noted that aside tax exemption and port facilitation, much of the finance and equipment procurement funds came from the sales proceeds of the auctioned old Dervishe’s headquarters “Xero-Daraawiish” assumed to finance communal projects such as the WADAGSIN initiative.

 

One of a kind for its magnitude, significance and the collaboration it had attained since its inception, the WADAGSIN initiative, the first such enormous development effort by the local people, is a testimony as to the dedication that the people had shown against all odds and determination for self-reliance and improvement in achieving something so tangible, yet so valued in all aspects. Due to shortage in funds and expenditure exceedingly higher that than initially budgeted for coupled with arduous economic conditions prevalent in Somalia, Puntland in particular, the project is expected to continue well into the end of year 2004 unless sudden funds injection to see through its completion could be secured.

 

We have reached members of the board of directors overseeing the continuation and successful completion of the WADAGSIN project for further details with respect to any expected immediate funds infusion from the government, Diaspora, or other sources. We were informed that due to the acute droughts in some regions and the subsequent water shortage in rural areas, and hard economic conditions in the country, no such immediate finances are expected. However, private individuals, local businesses and international organisation have been contacted for possible contributions. And with the reception of these new equipment and others on their way, the morale is very high and the hope is that the objectives of the WADAGSIN initiative will have been achieved henceforth.

 

One of the project liaisons in North America whom we have contacted told us “although we have had glitches and financial difficulties as could be anticipated of all community funded projects, we are very pleased with what we have been able to achieve thus far, and the project is well on course. Some of the equipment we have been waiting for to further push to project forward had been received, and more tools are on the way”

 

We wish to thank the Puntland community at large for its generosity and willingness in contributing and assisting with the project. We call upon Puntland community all over the world, friends of the WADAGSIN initiative, and the public at large to continue their participation in this community initiative”

 

AllPuntland News Desk