Party members who shoulder both roles

Actions speak louder than words.

Passing through several concrete roads winding around the hamlet, leading to the sugarcane fields in Dong Hoi hamlet, Nghia Hoi commune (Nghia Dan district), we met Tran Ngoc Phuc, the Party Secretary and Hamlet Head, who was carrying a water pump and laying hoses to pump water in preparation for pouring concrete on the internal field road.

Mr. Phuc worked diligently, checking the roadbed with his team of workers to ensure uniformity in width and the required concrete thickness. All work was supervised by Mr. Phuc and the villagers. The village's team of workers was preparing to pour concrete on two sections of nearly 1 km of rural road. These are the final sections of over 20 km of village and rural roads in Dong Hoi hamlet to be concreted, facilitating travel, production, and agricultural harvesting for the residents.

To essentially complete the concrete road system within the hamlet and the internal field roads, the people of Dong Hoi hamlet have been working diligently for nearly 10 years. Mr. Phuc said that each year, the Party branch and the hamlet set a goal to build a small section, depending on the actual income, the people's contribution level, and cement support from higher levels. The 282 households in the hamlet unanimously contribute 1.2 million VND each year to build concrete roads.
With such perseverance, Dong Hoi hamlet has now basically completed the concreting of all roads from the commune to the hamlet, from the hamlet to each household, and from the hamlet to the fields. Only two short sections leading to the two furthest households remain to be completed next year. This achievement is thanks to the consensus and cooperation of the Party branch, the hamlet management board, and the local people. In particular, the comrades in the Party committee and the hamlet management board have "matched words with actions," setting a good example and taking the lead. Therefore, all policies and resolutions of the Party branch must be closely aligned with reality to achieve effective implementation.

During our conversation, Mr. Tran Ngoc Phuc shared that after completing his military service and returning home, he was elected deputy village head. For the past 17 years, he has been trusted by Party members to be elected Party branch secretary, and also elected village head by the people. Holding these "two roles," his daily time is almost entirely occupied by village and community affairs. Sometimes he attends meetings to receive directives from higher levels, other times he implements resolutions from various levels and the Party branch, and he handles matters of joy and sorrow… In short, Mr. Phuc strives to fulfill both Party and community responsibilities.

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“Every task in the hamlet, from the Party branch's guidelines and the hamlet management board's management to the mobilization of the people to work together, must take into account the realities of each household in order to be completed. Therefore, the Party branch and the hamlet management board need to know how to adjust the tasks appropriately in each stage to both perform the nhiệm vụ well and create consensus and solidarity among each resident and household in the hamlet,” Mr. Phuc shared.

A "2-in-1" blend

Mr. Ngo Dinh Xuan, Secretary of the Party Branch and Head of Dong Bai Hamlet, Nghia Hoi Commune, is affectionately called "the village elder" by the commune's officials, Party members, and people. Mr. Xuan has held these "two roles" for 20 years. Many years ago, Mr. Ngo Dinh Xuan served as Secretary of the Party Branch and Head of Dong Thanh Hamlet. In 2019, Dong Thanh Hamlet merged with Khe Bai Hamlet to form Dong Bai Hamlet, and Mr. Ngo Dinh Xuan continued to be entrusted with the position of Party Branch Secretary and Hamlet Head.

In the central area of ​​Nghia Hoi commune, Dong Bai hamlet is home to Kinh, Catholic, and Thai ethnic people. For many years, the hamlet has consistently fulfilled all movements initiated by various levels of government, the lives of its residents have continuously improved, and security and order have been maintained. This success is due to the unity and solidarity of all households in Dong Bai hamlet under the leadership of the Party Branch Secretary and Hamlet Head, Ngo Dinh Xuan.

Taking on two important responsibilities, Mr. Xuan believes there are many advantages in carrying out political tasks as well as implementing specific movements and programs. Once the Party branch agrees on the policy and the village management board understands it, implementation can begin immediately.

In carrying out his duties as Party branch secretary and village head, Mr. Xuan had to constantly keep abreast of the actual situation in each residential group and be close to each household. According to Mr. Xuan, the implementation of tasks required thorough discussion so that "the will of the Party and the aspirations of the people are one." Therefore, for many years, the Dong Bai village Party branch has consistently been rated excellent and outstanding, and the village has been recognized as a cultural and advanced residential area.

Commenting on the model of Party branch secretary also serving as village head, Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh Lien - Secretary of the Party Committee of Nghia Hoi commune - said: The practical implementation of this model in all 11 villages of the commune shows that policies, resolutions at all levels, and emulation movements are implemented quickly and effectively. This "two-in-one" combination also demonstrates the practical capacity and prestige of the Party branch secretary also serving as village head at the grassroots level.

To fulfill both roles effectively, the Party branch secretary and village head must possess strong political resolve, dedication to their work, and genuine closeness to the people. They must practice "speaking to the people and listening to the people," and their performance must be linked to effective results in each stage. Implementing the model of Party branch secretary also allocates the allowances for both positions to these individuals, providing them with sufficient financial resources to focus on their work and contribute.