Police commissioner has control
In what’s seen as a first step toward a wholesale revamp of the private security services industry in Cayman, lawmakers have approved a bill that strictly regulates who can become a security guard and who is allowed own a private security company.
The Private Security Services Bill (2007) gives the Commissioner of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service the power to issue and oversee security guard and security company licences. Under the legislation, no one will be allowed to operate a security business, or be employed as a security technician or security officer without first being licensed by the government.
The police commissioner, or his designee, can reject any request for a licence if an applicant was disqualified by the courts, or if there are concerns about the person’s character, competence or finances.
Security business owners must also convince the commissioner that they understand modern security systems, civil rights, and provide suitable training for employees.
One section of the bill which has caused some public concern would create conditions in the security guard’s licence allowing the guard to carry certain weapons, including firearms. The Cayman Islands Chief Secretary would have to approve any weapons before they are imported and used.
However, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin stressed that this part of the bill does not automatically give all security guards the ability to carry guns.
‘This provision has been misunderstood,’ Mr. Bulgin said. ‘Anybody can carry a firearm, provided that you get a licence from the commissioner of police. In that licence, he will stipulate the conditions of where you can carry it, and when you can carry it.’
‘This law hasn’t changed that.’
Mr. Bulgin said he was unaware whether any private security companies currently employ armed guards in Cayman.
The measure is expected to go into effect soon for all new security companies. Existing companies will have a six month time frame within which to licence themselves and their security personnel. In most cases, licences are good for one year. Temporary licences can be obtained for up to three months.
Although he didn’t vote against the bill, Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush expressed concern that the extensive regulations might put ‘the small guy’ at a disadvantage.
‘Some of the smaller companies believe that this will drive them out of business, because it will be too cumbersome,’ Mr. Bush said. ‘I believe that will happen, but no one can say this regulation is not needed.’
‘What I do hope is that the small businesses will not be thrown out.’
Mr. Bush also talked about the issue of security guard salaries, which are among the lowest of any job in the Cayman Islands. He noted that the newly approved Private Security Services Bill (2007) makes no mention of pay.
‘Nowhere is our economy can a person survive off of $2.50, $3.00, even $5.00 an hour,’ he said.
Mr. Bulgin said he believes that is an issue which the Department of Employment Relations must address. Employment Minister Alden McLaughlin has previously talked about the need for a minimum wage in Cayman, but he has not said at what rate that wage might be set.
Stuart Bostock, who runs Security Centre Ltd. the largest security company on island, said part of the reason this bill was drafted was to make private security services ‘a somewhat more professional career.’
‘We have people that are tasked with protecting sometimes millions of dollars worth of property, and protecting life,’ he said in a recent interview with the Caymanian Compass.
Mr. Bostock had previously said he was concerned with how government would enforce this security services law. He said it would be an unfair burden on companies who did play by the rules if less scrupulous firms were allowed to ignore the law.
Mr. Bulgin said the RCIPS has responsibility for policing private security companies. The police do have the ability to close down companies that are operating without a security licence.
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