By Serah Aupong – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The security industry needs a standard syllabus to train security personnel in the country.
Responding to concerns raised by a group of nationally owned security firms on an MOU signed by the government and 3 foreign owned security firms, the Police Commissioner said their concerns have been given serious consideration.
Mr Baki confirmed that the MOU was signed between the Security Industry Authority as the agent of government with Guard Dog, Black Swan and G4S.
“The idea behind this is basically to set a standard (training) arrangement. The MOU that has been signed by the security industry council is a result of work that has been undertaken over a period of time,” Mr Baki said.
The police commissioner chairs the security industry council that oversees the work of the security industry authority.
Mr Baki said he and the police minister met with the nationally owned security companies last week to discuss their concerns.
One of the concerns raised was the conflict of interest in having a business competitor run the training and the fees that security companies are expected to pay.
“As the chairman I see some validity in what they have raised and basically they are talking about their inability to sustain paying the fees that are being charged for training.”
The companies also suggested that by signing an MOU, the government is not supporting nationally owned companies.
Mr Baki said the group has raised valid concerns and suggestions that have been taken note of.
He said the decision to review the MOU now rests with the Police Minister.
“The process we will have to follow is call the council back to a special meeting because it has already been endorsed.”
With regards to training in the long term, Mr Baki is supportive of the idea that an independent training institute should be established to ensure that that the needs and special circumstances of PNG and Papua New Guineans are taken into account.
“We have a problem here is that we don’t have a clear syllabus that is allowed for us to give to security companies to provide training.”
Mr Baki said the SIA is working on developing this and “because these concerns have been raised, I believe the SIA have to call a broader integration of the security companies for us to sit down and look at this.”
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