THE National Assembly on Wednesday approved supplementary funds for the provision of security services in Regions Three and Four, as well as to cater for improved wages for sweeper/cleaners at public schools.

A supplementary provision of $5.4M was approved by the National Assembly to meet payments for increased security charges to Kalibur Security Services from $300 per hour to $377, plus 14 per cent Value Added Tax. Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said this will cover eight locations within Region Four for the period October to December 2018. The supplementary provision was approved by majority vote.

Meanwhile, the sum of $3.7M was also granted to the Ministry of Communities under the Region Three regional administration and finance.
The funds granted are “to meet the payment of increased security charges for the provision of 24 hours security services within the West Demerara-Essequibo Islands region for the period October to December 2018.”

Minister Bulkan stated that the request for the supplementary provision is due to the increase in hourly rates from $300 to $330 plus VAT, Monday to Saturday, and $495 plus VAT on Sundays.

The minister explained that at the time of the 2018 budget, there was a previous contract with Safeway Security, which catered for four facilities at hourly rates of $300. He further explained that the previous contract did not cater for 24 hours security for the administrative buildings.

The new contract with Sentinel Security which was awarded in November 2017, includes additional hours as well as the provision for security services for two additional buildings.

Sentinel Security provides 19 guards for six administrative buildings in the West Demerara region and costs a total of $19.9M for a 12-month period.

Meanwhile, security guards and sweeper /cleaners, under the education sector in Region Four, will benefit from increased salaries following the approval of over $233M by the National Assembly. The sum of $156M will go towards the increase in security charges from $300 per hour to $377 per hour, plus 14 per cent VAT to secure 134 buildings within Region Four for the period October to December 2018.

Defending this amount, Minister Bulkan explained that this contract was awarded to Kalibur Security with a total of 512 guards at 127 locations.
“These are all government schools, no private residences. The contract was publicly tendered and approved by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, after which an award was made,” Minister Bulkan said.

Meanwhile, more than $77M was approved for the increase in salaries for sweeper cleaners and caregivers of the May 25 Day Care Centre and payments of salaries for the caregivers of the newly opened Ann’s Grove Early Childhood Centre. Additionally, the government has sought extra funds to provide beefed-up security for public buildings in several administrative regions. These buildings include regional health facilities and schools, to guard against vandalism.