WITH Security being a number one issue for many businesses, private security firms in Guyana provide security to both private residences as well as over 90 per cent of businesses in the country. Many Guyanese have called out several of these companies for offering what they call “watchmen” instead of “security services” stating that many of the security officers in their estimation are not equipped to provide adequate security services.
The Guyana Chronicle reached out to Queensway Security Service for an interview and Chief Operations Officer, Lancelot Khan, said that his company follows a process as it relates to hiring security personnel so as to ensure it provides the most efficient service to its clients.

“At Queensway we try to have our employees go through all the processes and the training so they are made more aware of what they have to do in terms of their responsibility, whether they want to be a guard career wise or not at least they have to deliver on what a guard would have to deliver on.” Said Khan.

Khan explained that there is a defining factor that would lead persons to believe that some companies provide ‘watchmen’ as opposed to ‘security guards’, he explained that there are several persons who join the security profession out of necessity and some that join, out of wanting to actually be a part of the security sector. He stated that those persons who join out of necessity do not put their best efforts forward and that leads to them not giving 100 per cent to the job.

“Watchman vs guard, historical and now, in not only Guyana, persons coming for a guard service is basically of two types, one; entry level, one who is looking to supplement their income, and generally this is the last kind of job available to them; or two they are actually interested in the security sector and following that as a career. But you find most of the former people just want an income and this is what is available so they go for it, so they are not dedicated or they are not committed or interested in being a part of the security mechanism, so you find that’s where people would be able to make a comparison.”

Khan told the Guyana Chronicle that Queensway Security Service provides its clients with both armed as we as unarmed security personnel. He stated that before being hired at the company, the applicants would have to go through a series of physical as well as academic assessments, to ensure that they are not just physically fit, but also academically sound to carry out the functions of their posts.

He explained that in order for the company’s employees to be certified to bear arms they must be undergo a background check by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and attain approval from the GPF. He said that when they are finished with the background check, once the police are satisfied that there are no criminal charges pending or any issues, they would swear them in as supernumerary constables attached to Queensway Security. “When they receive that precept, the next case is the firearm safety course and the firearms practical and shooting and all this done through the GPF at Eve Leary. Once they pass the test, the police certify them to carry firearm as licensed Queensway Security Service personnel.” Khan explained.

Further, khan stated that the company does its own in-house safety training with firearms and carrying firearms, on a continuous basis so as to ensure that the employees of the organisation are well trained to function.