| Security managers from various companies are now in the latter segment of a security training course which is on par with those offered by international bodies all across the world, including India and the United Kingdom.Clairmont FeatherstoneThis is according to the instructor, Mr. Clairmont Featherstone who explained that the initiative is aimed at boosting the way security officials operate, and the way they see themselves.Featherstone told Kaieteur News that as he was traveling to various Caribbean countries, he observed that security managers were always foreigners. Upon inquiring, he found that it was because the locals were not fully trained or certified.Upon returning home to Guyana,Cheap Air Max 270, Featherstone noted that he proposed to the CARICOM Secretariat that local security personnel undergo well recognized training.Although this could not have been immediately acted upon, Featherstone, through the same body, was able to travel and make contact with many overseas security entities, which advised that he form a professional body, promising their support.That’s how the Certificate in Industrial Security Management (CISM) program kicked off in April last, under the aid of international bodies.The classes are being conducted at the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) building located in the Queen’s College Compound.The five-month programme was initially planned as an induction session. However, those who showed to the classes were all fully trained men, with University Degrees.The programme was then converted to target security managers and supervisors.The participants of the course which costs a total of $160,000 are, Wavel Valenzuela, Donald Douglas, and JohnnyMortley of GuyOil; Milton Thomas, Brenthnol A. Farley from the Bank of Guyana; Glenon Cornelius of MACORP; Gregory Wickham of the Guyana Fire Service, and Sherwin De Abreu of Customs Law Enforcement. They were all sponsored by their respective employers.Meanwhile, some of the areas which the programme was able to cover so far include dealing with mentally ill persons, operation management, trauma management, and employee management among others.And while Mr. Featherstone is the main lecturer, experts from various fields, including a psychiatrist, were invited to facilitate the class of eight.The participants also paid a visit to the Psychiatric Hospital in Berbice. There, participants were given a crash course by staff on how to interact with persons of unsound mind.In speaking with Kaieteur News, the men all believe that the programme has made them better superiors.“In doing this programme, I realized that there is only so much that the human body can tolerate. I didn’t really realize how much working double shifts can affect a person,” one participant said.The men have also promised that with their more enhanced knowledge, GUY EXPO will be a lot safer and more secured.The programme ends this month, and upon completion, the participants will be accredited with certificates from the University of Guyana, and one from the regional security body.In addition, Government is expected to work with the body in getting several prison employees trained.This, the men believe, will assist tremendously in bridging the existing gap between national and private security. |
