Reports recently said, and I quote.
The Sol2023 Pacific Games Organizing Committee (GOC) will be looking at lifting the standard of Security Firms in the Solomon Islands as part of preparations to host the Pacific region’s biggest sporting event in Honiara in 2023.
“Working with the Pacific Games will definitely lift the quality of guards and services provided by local firms and, from the Games Organizing Committee’s perspective, we will be looking to provide training to these Firms of an industry standard comparable to that delivered anywhere in the World for an event such as this.” GOC’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Stewart, said.
The Organizing Committee on Wednesday 15th March, 2022 also hosted an Information Session to present to interested Security Firms the scope of work and requirements for the 2023 Pacific Games from a security point of view.
Senior Manager Venues and Operations, Mr. Jack Smith said the purpose of reaching out to local Firms through the EOI is for the Organizing Committee to identify the businesses interested in providing the security services and their current and future capacity.
There will be eight sport venues, seven sites hosting Games Villages and other Games properties which include the Games Headquarters, Games Family Hotel, Airport, Logistic Compound, Transport Centre, Uniform Distribution Centre and a Cultural Village.
During peak shifts there will a need for 500 guards to be stationed across all sport venues, 175 guards per shift at Games Villages and 200 guards during peak shifts at other venues and 100 guards per shift.
This is from 27 October, 2023 to 8 December 2023 at the sport venues and Games Villages and up until 31 January 2024 at other venues.
The 2023 Pacific Games Security Services will be in four categories including Access Control, Asset Protection, Traffic Management and Public Safety.
“The 2023 Pacific Games will be the largest event in Solomon Islands history which will feature athletes from 24 Pacific Island countries competing in 24 sports across Honiara and the surrounding area.
“In order to protect all clients within the Games properties, the Organizing Committee will engage private contractor security companies to provide services in addition to the local Police Force,” said Mr. Smith.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ms. Evelyn Thugea, who is the Board Member of the Games Organizing Committee who is responsible for Security Services at the Games, said: “It is important that arrangements be in place so that we have an effective and coordinated Security system and services in place to protect our visitors, VIPs as well as our own citizens in the country, who come for the Games.”
ACP Thugea had earlier stated that the Police work force will be boosted to ensure a safe and free Games where people and families enjoy the Games as well as its related activities.
End of Quote
Sources -Sol2023 Media
Comment
I was interested to read the above article in the local media for a variety of reasons, including the possibility of work for many local employees of private security companies during the upcoming Pacific Games.
I was interested too because of the rare engagement of the RSIPF with the security industry, often seen in the past as un-regulated and at times usurping police functions and in competition with the police service. I often though this situation as unfair as both the police in their own operations have the common objective, the prevention of crime. In the prevention of crime, both parties and private security resources are, in their different ways, directed towards protective functions in society. Both come together in a common cause in the prevention of crime and criminal activity, the maintenance of law and order and the investigation of alleged offences.
The RSIPF has its own functions and powers as laid down in the Police Act and the Penal Code, but the private security industry is essentially about the protection of assets, including people against damage, injury or loss from internal or external causes. In business good security is there to ensure profitability as well as, hopefully, a stable work condition.
In the Solomon Islands, given the vastness of its size and remoteness of its many communities the police alone, and despite the ever increasing size of its establishment (only 700 members overall in 1997, despite an authorized total establishment of 999) cannot realistically prevent all crime, even the biggest police organization that we would want or afford to pay, would be likely to have any significant effect on the number of housebreakings, burglaries, thefts or crimes of violence.
I believe the private security industry can help to optimize and improve security in the widest possible sense.
As I see the private security industry today in the Solomon Islands being an ally of the RSIPF and the government. In its broadest terms the industry is divided into two main classifications:-
Services – utilizing human resources: and
Technology – utilizing security products.
The move towards embracing the local security industry and its employees in securing the Pacific Games in 2023, should now give way to seeing the private security industry fully regulated, trained and provided with basic powers, other than those that exist in common law as set out in legislation by the drafting and adoption of a Security Officers’ Act to be administered by a Security Officers’ Board, administered by, say, the Minister of Police.
The recommended Board a totally statutory body, with no government funding for its operations and survival. All its costs paid for by fees levied against from registered security officers, both companies and individuals.
There could also be created a Solomon Islands Security Federation (SISFED) an umbrella body to act as the spokesperson for the different security associations, but a body to officially be responsible for the employment, training and skilling of a great many initially unskilled local people., men and women, in the security industry, once fully vetted and cleared for security work.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
