Project Sekong 2012: To make certain proper procedures are followed, government staff inspects our project.

October 15, 2012
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In Laos "NRA" designates the National Regulatory Authority, the government agency that establishes standard operating procedures for clearance work. Here, an NRA team interviews our staff to make certain we were in compliance with their regulations.

Report 28

Here in Laos, people associated with clearance work always reference the “NRA”.  I’ve had to rewire my brain to not automatically conjure an image of Charleton Heston and the National Rife Association whenever I hear those letters.  What the Lao are referencing is the National Regulatory Association, the government agency responsible for establishing standard operating procedures for all clearance work, humanitarian or commercial, occurring within the country.

After years of preliminary work, the NRA has recently published clearly articulated expectations for clearance work and the agency now assigns field staff to monitor clearance organizations to make certain that procedures are being followed.  Theoretically, an organization that flaunts the NRA’s standards could be put out of business.

Today, staff from the NRA have joined our team in the field and are inspecting our operation.  They’ve walked throughout our worksite to look for any lapses in safety procedures. They gave me a copy of the five-page checklist that guides their inspection.

I’ve remained at a distance from the NRA staff as they discuss procedures with Chomrong, our Team Leader.  When we exchanged introductions, I emphasized that I was on site as a representative of donors, in a capacity somewhat akin to NRA field staff.

I’m eager to see how Phoenix Clearance Ltd. (PCL) the commercial company from which WHWV leases equipment and obtains staff, fares in a rigorous inspection.  I trust that PCL will pass with flying colors, but should the NRA find discrepancies, I’ll need to monitor remedies that the company puts in place.  There are several other commercial companies here in Laos that WHWV can partner with and I want to partner with the best.

Chomrong, calm when working with ordnance was nervous about the inspection and practiced his presentation repeatedly.

Understandably, Chomrong considers today’s inspection an evaluation of his performance as Team Leader.  It’s interesting to see a fellow, so calm when working with landmines and bombs, sweat bullets over a government inspection.  This morning, before breakfast, he had me critique the opening remarks that he planned to address to the visiting team.

Yai is far less concerned and has been teasing Chomrong about his case of nerves.  Yai knows that since Chomrong, a Khmer, speaks only limited Lao it will be on his shoulders to address any concerns raised by the visitors.  Yai loves this kind of challenge and blossoms under pressure.

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