New CVQ programme for security officers

THE Frank Walcott Labour College of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) is expanding its curriculum with a new Level II Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) programme for security personnel.

The workshop titled ‘Providing Security Services’ is being executed in conjunction with the Royal Westmoreland Property Owners Association Limited, which will see the latter’s full complement of security officers being exposed to the training.

Speaking yesterday morning during the opening ceremony of the workshop for the first cohort of security officers at the Barbados Workers’ Union Solidarity House headquarters, Chief of Security, Royal Westmoreland Property Owners Association, Neville Springer, said such training is necessary to ensure that security personnel are armed with the knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes, so that they can effectively police their areas of operation and deliver on their duties and responsibilities in a professional manner.

“I am a strong proponent that security is a very important factor in life in general, albeit that it is taken very lightly and security practitioners are treated with scant respect. This is partly because some security officers display an attitude that is unbecoming and two, because members of the public give little importance to their own security. It is on this backdrop that the course was conceptualised and we hope at the end of the process, persons will be able to give a good account of themselves and proper representation of the security practitioners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Principal of the Frank Walcott Labour College, Doreen Deane, said the goal is to equip security personnel with what they require to ensure the safety and survival of the company, as well as its employees and customers.

“In today’s modern society, the job of providing security is not a simple task. It is one that requires professional training and that is why the Barbados Workers’ Union will deliver a training programme that merits recognition not only here in Barbados, but throughout the Caribbean,” she said.

Deane added, “The quality of the programme has been assured through input by individuals who themselves have experienced the realities of securing life and protecting property.”

She added that as a CVQ, the qualification is mobile, such that persons can move throughout the Caribbean using it as a means of attaining gainful employment.

“We are starting with persons from Royal Westmoreland, but already in the Barbados Workers’ Union we have other security guards ... and so it is not going to be restricted to this association only, we are going to be offering it and we hope that persons will be encouraged by the results we have from this group and that we will see many others choosing to come to the Frank Walcott Labour College. As usual at the Frank Walcott Labour College, we are open to all workers in Barbados. We do not restrict our training and education only to our members; we extend our arms so that all are welcome to be part of the education and training that we offer,” she stated.

With that in mind, Deane said the BWU is hoping to provide other qualifications that are Caribbean wide, and have already identified some areas that they are hoping to provide similar qualifications. (JRT)