Dear Editor,
The private security companies’ regulatory bill, which is in its preliminary stages is in most respects a move in the right direction. However, the following comments are in order. There are some provisions in the bill, which could be considered as repressive, intrusive and subject to abuse.
The private security industry has evolved and acquired a character of its own. The bill does not take cognisance of this fact and attempts to establish narrow parameters for the industry, which will take it back to the era of military and police models by imposing operational mechanisms upon the industry, many of which the industry has fought long and hard to shed in order that it attains international standards.
Since the Guyana Association for Professional Security Organisations (GAPSO) has long functioned like a cartel without clearly defined objectives, it now lacks the institutional capacity to register strenuous objections, or to make forceful submissions to the government who are quite aware of this deficit. In addition, they are all afraid of the government’s perceived retaliatory nature.
The conspicuous absence of trade associations or professional bodies in the private security industry has contributed in part to the current state of affairs where the industry lacks competent representation. GAPSO is an acronym which implies that if a security company is not a GAPSO member then it probably is not professional or has not arrived.
This misconception has served GAPSO with its narrowly defined vision to the point where it has become self-defeating, thus all that it has been able to achieve is to insulate itself from competitors.
GAPSO attempts to function like a trade association. Therefore, if a company chooses to give its security business to another company especially a non- GAPSO member they will come under serious psychological pressure within GAPSO, which only serves to compromise their GAPSO membership.
If businesses are to improve their security in a cost efficient and cost effective manner then they will need to leave GAPSO and establish their own security association with objectives that best serve their purpose and agendas. GAPSO on the other hand will have to return to the drawing board to amend their constitution so that it becomes modern, inclusive and free of bias. Only then will it develop and derive the capabilities to make adequate representation.
I am a member of the South African Institute of Security and am made privy to all amendments to security related matters in the country as a matter of law. In South Africa, the government would not register GAPSO under that name much more so negotiate with them as a legitimate representative of the entire security industry However in the Guyana context, the government officials concerned do not know better.
The provisions of this bill in its currently constituted form speak to the need for serious consultations among all stakeholders which includes private and proprietary security companies, both large and small, and entities that use private security companies as it has long-term implications for them all.
When I sought assistance several years ago to establish a professional organisation for security practitioners, I saw a time ahead of us when our jobs will be threatened, and I here speak for my colleagues who are employed in senior positions within the private security industry. Were many of the provisions of the currently constituted bill to see the light of day, it will prevent certain persons from being able to establish security companies.
It will also pave the way for individuals who claim affiliation to the powers that be to circumvent the stringent regulations and establish security companies and use former police and military persons as hired labour only. This very phenomenon took place in South Africa many years ago and caused severe problems.
It also has the potential to create the conditions for a massive amount of underground security companies.
In the final analysis, it has the capacity to severely undermine the local private security industry and create untold hardship for the thousands who are employed there.
Yours faithfully,
Clairmont Featherstone
