Local CWC security officers commence training
Stabroek News
February 27, 2007
The Guyana leg of the US$2 million training programme for security personnel manning the world cup stadiums in the nine host countries commenced yesterday, with Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene lauding the initiative of the Cricket World Cup committee for organizing such an event.
A team of security experts from Oriel CTS, a UK security company, will conduct the training sessions, which will conclude on Thursday.
Greene, in brief remarks at the opening session of the training programme, said the police force was very thankful to have the UK firm, Oriel CTS conducting the training. Greene said cricket management is not new to Guyana, but stadium management is something new, as the country never had a stadium before. According to him, the training is vital, not only because it is a requirement of the International Cricket Council, but also because of the quality of the training, which would be delivered.
Greene said he recognized the Oriel team's business-like approach to tasks and assured the trainers that the participants would work hard. He encouraged the participants to remember that the nation was looking at them as they seek to provide security at the stadium during the world cup matches. "Stadium security is your job, our job and we expect that every person coming into the stadium having looked at you, seeing you operate and having instructions from you could be assured that their lives, their period in the stadium are in safe hands," the commissioner said.
He said he was certain that participants would perform well and implored them to take notes and pay rapt attention during the sessions. The Oriel CTS team is training over 300 security personnel drawn from the police force and private security firms. Harry Legged-Bourke, a representative of the UK firm said that among the topics, which the participants would be drilled in are, customer care, identification awareness and conflict resolution.
Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony in his address said that Guyana's success in hosting some of the Super Eight matches requires team work. The minister said the task was not an easy one, citing the need to get the stadium ready, the ground in order as well as a host of other things completed. He said accommodation was also one of the things that had to be considered and for that reason the government had to invest $168 million to secure the rooms at Buddy's International Hotel. Government granted the $168 million loan to Buddy's to assist in the completion of the hotel.
Anthony said nothing that they are not leaving anything to chance and as such government invested a lot of money in security for the world cup. He noted that they have assessed their needs and considered their capabilities and know where the gaps are. According to the minister, the four-day training is essential to cover the gaps.
The security personnel chosen to work at the stadium are a good blend of private and public security officers. Anthony said that in addition to the US$2 million being provided by the nine host countries, government through the Local Organising Committee has contributed over US$150,000 for security and an additional $3 million would be provided for meals and other amenities on match days. The minister said the training and other programmes would help put Guyana on target of reaching the requirements to provide the necessary security for the matches. Guyana will host six Super Eight matches of the world cup beginning from March 28.
Assistant Police Commis-sioner Paul Slowe, who is also the Local Security Sub-committee Convenor, is leading Guyana's security efforts.
Among the persons undergoing the training are: 75 officers of Calibre Security Services, 55 from Cops Guyana Ltd, 16 from Sentinel Security Firm, 22 from Neal and Massy Security Services, 25 from Strategic Security firm, 41 from Safe Security Services and 95 ranks from the Guyana Police Force.
In addition, Slowe said, policemen would be deployed at the practice venues and would also provide security outside the grounds and at places some of the visitors might want to visit. Additionally, there would be road and foot patrols in the city as well on the East Bank Demerara.