The Estate Police Association (EPA) has accused the government of trying to decimate the organization by altering the terms and conditions of its 15,000 plus members, which could easily lead to their dismissal and leave them without the protection of a union.
EPA President Deryck Richardson yesterday said the Private Security Industry Bill along with amendments to the Supplemental Police Act, would result in thousands of officers being disenfranchised.
Standing outside the Parliament, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain - Richardson claimed the Private Security Industry Bill would, “take away the precepts of estate police in private security companies.”
He said when permanent workers no longer enjoy job security and are rendered contract employees, they will be unable to secure the necessary license which must be renewed every three years.
Declaring this a blatant attack against the Association and against labour, Richardson continued, “There is no reason to have a separate Bill. All the adjustments and all the things the government is seeking to do in private security, can be done under the Supplemental Police Act.”
Although the EPA had issued a clarion call for members to join them outside the Red House en masse yesterday, Richardson said he was informed that some employees had been threatened with job losses if they heeded the call.
He said while the EPA agreed that there must be changes to the Supplemental Police Act, they do not agree that there needs to be a separate act.
“We do not agree that you need to terminate the employment of all these officers and subject them now to another criteria to be a security officer which is of a lower designation,” he added.
Security officers currently receive the minimum wage payment of $17.50 per hour, while estate police officers are paid at a higher rate.
The EPA head claimed National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds had proposed amendments in the absence of consultation with them.
The Private Security Bill tabled by Hinds, seeks to establish a Private Security Authority to regulate the affairs of the security industry and establish identifiable responsibility for governmental and public oversight.
There is already a division of private security that is armed and precepted, and currently subject to oversight by the Police Commissioner and to governance under the Supplemental Police Act.
It has been proposed that this oversight responsibility, should be transferred to the Private Security Authority.
