Constant background checks for private security firms
GINA, GUAYNA, Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said he supports “on-going checks” of private security services to ensure that they are in conformity with the regulations that govern the sector.
The Ministry of Public Security through the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force is responsible for regularising the sector, and issuing licences to private security service providers.
Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan
Minister Ramjattan, responding to questions from the media recently on the issue, said he would like to initiate “brand new checks” on security firms during the yearly renewal of licences. “We have some people who we did not make checks on and because the company got the licence we don’t know of some of these characters, that is why it is necessary that for the renewal of the licence every year, I intend to do checks, brand new checks on all those persons,” Ramjattan said.
The Commissioner of Police is the controlling authority with responsibility for licencing and monitoring activities and effectiveness of private security services. The Commissioner of Police is empowered through the Private Security Services Act of 2009 to recommend to the Minister the standards of conduct, training and level of supervision to be carried out by private security services, arrange for the granting of firearms licences, and the appointment of supernumerary constables.
Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that random checks are often carried out to ensure that the private security sector is in conformity with the Private Security Services Act.
“There may and can be slippages, and that is why a security service may be checked more than once a year,” the Commissioner told GINA in an invited comment on Tuesday. The Commissioner pointed out that in the recent past, he had had to investigate two instances of supernumerary constables accused of abusing their positions.
Security providers will not be eligible for renewal of licences if they are convicted of an indictable offence, falsification of documents, and violation of the provisions of their licence among other requirements as laid out in the Private Security Services Act.