Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, flew in to Lashkar Gah on 27 August to see for himself the progress which international forces and the Afghan authorities have made in bringing security, stability and prosperity to Helmand.
As holder of the British Government purse-strings it’s important that he satisfies himself with the impact the British contribution has made here. Fortunately, the meetings he had, and the Afghan representatives he met, gave him a good account of the progress which has been made here over recent years and the potential the province now has to build on that progress.
After arriving by helicopter from Camp Bastion, Danny Alexander met senior staff of the Provincial Reconstruction Team and Brigadier Rupert Jones, the Commander of Task Force Helmand, and then the Governor of Helmand Province.
Provincial Governor Naeem said the Province was now much safer than a few years ago, and that the Government had earned much higher levels of trust from the local population by delivering more of what the people want: more schools, better healthcare facilities, and better policing.
There were still big challenges, especially in the North of Helmand, where some of this work was still in its early stages. But with the right level of resources, it was possible still to make much more progress.
Danny Alexander then held a round table discussion with women’s representatives from around Helmand Province, to get a first hand account of their experiences. Most were members of District Community Councils from around Helmand, and many had travelled some distance, and at personal risk, in order to participate.
Five had come from Gereshk, two represented the Lashkar Gah (LKG) Municipal Advisory Board, and two represented a women’s NGO. In a lively discussion, they outlined key challenges to improving women’s participation in government: continuing security risks; a lack of awareness amongst women of the importance of political participation and their right to vote; long queues to register to vote; and continuing cultural barriers.
One of the women spoke passionately of the need to provide women with more vocational training as well, as a means of income generation for women at home.
Mr Alexander also met a group of representatives of private businesspeople, several of whom worked in agriculture. They spoke of the work they were doing to form links to urban markets so their produce could get to customers year round, and the potential for long-term growth in Helmand once these market links are working effectively.
Later the Chief Secretary met all staff of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in a town-hall meeting, and mingled with them over an Afghan lunch afterwards, listening first hand to their stories of life in Helmand: a positive and informal way to end a visit which had given him a personal insight into a Province which has come a long way, but where the tasks ahead remain challenging.