Security personnel deserve better

 PAPUA New Guinea’s booming economy, coupled with a rising urban population, serious crime and lawlessness, has triggered off an expansion in the market for security services and equipment.  

The security services industry has grown rapidly from just a handful of companies in major centres like Port Moresby and Lae in the first 10 years after independence to hundreds of firms of varying sizes today.

Security has become an expenditure item for nearly all businesses and organisations nowadays whether it be in the installation of sophisticated lock systems, electronic surveillance, electric gates, stationary guards or armoured vehicle escorts.

One aspect of the industry that gets reported frequently in the news media is the men and women who are employed as security guards. 

Their bravery, collusion with criminals, assaulting members of the public or striking over pay and conditions get media attention regularly.

Security guards are tasked to ensure public safety and protect property against theft or vandalism. 

Their responsibility and territory is determined by the paying client. 

It is a job that has its own obvious risks.

Security guards are at times expected to help enforce public order and protect property, especially within areas they are assigned to.

It makes no sense to see guards from some security firms engaged at shopping malls stand by as members of the public deface pavements and walkways at will.

Before the betel nut ban in Port Moresby came into force, selling cigarettes and betel nut at the entrances of shops was a thriving business.  

On any work day the guards made no attempt stop people from spitting betel nut or throwing rubbish around these public areas.

It was a relief to see these shopping areas cleared of the litter bugs since the betel but ban was enforced. 

It is certainly not too much to expect of these guards to help in policing the ban and help in the general cleanliness of the city.  

This is the least the public and City Hall expect from them. 

One other thing to be said about security guards and their part in ensuring order and cleanliness is that there are no proper toilet facilities at some job locations for use at night.

Some businesses have guard houses and toilets within their premises but many others do not provide these facilities.  

As a result, guards use secluded spots and bushes to relieve themselves.

Guards and others loitering in the night pollute what they see as secluded spots – foot paths, street corners and bushes with their human waste.  

A security company operations manager said recently that some guards work in locations where there are no toilet facilities and expect to go wherever they can to relieve themselves in the night. 

He warned that this posed a public health risk besides taking away guards, however temporarily, from their stations. 

The provision of basic facilities such as toilets for guards and a general improvement of their working conditions could help them do their jobs with pride and they might go out of their way to help in areas where they are least expected to. 

It is quite unreasonable to expect a security guard in overalls and boots to squat in the open while guarding a multi-million kina shopping or corporate office complex during the night. 

They are humans and deserve better.

Security issues will continue to be a major concern for private entities and government organisations in cities like Port Moresby and Lae as the country begins to reap the benefits of an economic boom.

With the start of production of liquefied natural gas in May last year, the PNG economy is set for a roller-coaster ride that will attract both the positive and negative impacts of this development.

Indeed, security will be a price to pay for such development as the country experiences an influx of people from the rural areas into major urban centres.

The rate of crime and lawlessness is expected to increase, hence the need for increased security by organisations and entities that rely on this service.