Dear Editor,
Your business editorial dated August 16 on the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI)/Guyana Association of Private Security Organisa-tions (GAPSO), security seminar refers. Congratula-tions for an excellent analysis on the seminar.
I attended the seminar of my own volition and as an ordinary citizen with a little interest in business and security. I turned up after Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee had made his presentation and stayed until the end of the programme.
Like you I agree that the time allocated to conduct the programme was too short. Less than four hours to discuss a series of important topics caused the organizers to rush the programme. They went for the whole cow instead of taking it by the pound.
As a result participation from the floor was restricted. The chief security officer for a large business enterprise in Georgetown stood up to ask a question. The chairman of the proceedings surgically cut him off in the interest of time and to entertain a member of the banking community making a presentation.
After the seminar I asked the chief security officer what he had wanted to say. He told me that he wanted to raise some issues about training.
Surprisingly, little or nothing was mentioned about training during the seminar. Training could be the catalyst for change in the present security environment.
I also observed the absence of presentations from major stakeholders – the police, the business community and the private security sector including renowned security management expert Major General retired Norman McLean.
Looking back at 2011, McLean, then president of GAPSO, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force coordinated a whole day security symposium at the same location under the theme ‘Issues and challenges to private security in Guyana.’ He made an excellent presentation on the topic ‘Awareness and relevance of security in today’s environment.’ Dr Mark Kirton of the University of the West Indies; Mr Frances Forbes, former Commissioner of the Jamaica Constabulary Force; and Caricom security specialist, Mr Seelall Persaud, Deputy Commissioner Law Enforcement, and I were among the presenters. Some of the issues discussed were increased autonomy for the private security providers; better inter-personal relationship/cooperation with GAPSO, the business community and the police; a move from GAPSO to POLSEC – a combination of police and security; the need for the Private Security Services Bill 38/2009 to be assented to.
This Bill is now the Private Security Services Act 38/2009.
This Act seeks to provide a better organized and disciplined quality of security service and ensure the efficiency and welfare of security guards. I had expected to hear some discussions on the Act. I heard none. Perhaps, it is being discussed elsewhere.
After the seminar several stakeholders from GAPSO and GCCI used the print and electronic media, giving the impression that the seminar was a success.
While they mentioned their present and future interactions with the Ministry of Home Affairs, little or no mention was made about their contact with the police in the fight against crime and the fear of crime. Dealing with the Ministry of Home Affairs is excellent but direct contact with the police is critical to maintain security and public safety.
In the current situation we have to look at the crime triangle, that is the police, the Ministry and GCCI/GAPSO. However, the main side of the triangle is missing ‒ the police. Unless all three sides of the triangle are in place we cannot efficiently and effectively reduce crime and the fear of crime.
As a former senior member of the Guyana Police Force I know of the serious challenges GAPSO/GCCI will face in promoting better inter-personal relationships/ cooperation with the police. The challenges are not insurmountable. With a little more effort and involvement of the key stakeholders the challenges can be overcome in the interest of security.
I left the seminar with mixed feelings. My expectations were not met. Hopefully, the main players with a little more effort will be able to promote and maintain better inter-personal relationships/cooperation with the police, GAPSO and GCCI in their effort to fight crime and the fear of crime.
Yours faithfully,
Clinton Conway
Assistant Commissioner
of Police (rtd)
