Principal clashes with security firm

The Port-of-Spain Principals’ Association yesterday convened an urgent meeting to discuss a number of complaints from its members against Security Techniques Consultants Bureau Ltd, which manages the security of 17 primary schools in the Port-of-Spain education district. Public relations officer of the organisation, Steadman Hazell, said the complaints include missing items from various schools, sexual paraphernalia being left on the compound of some schools and the quality of the unarmed security guards. The meeting, which began around 2.30 pm, was held at the Success RC School, Church Street, Laventille.

Acting principal of Success RC Phillip Marcelle told Newsday that the school had lost approximately $45,000 worth of equipment while Security Techniques Consultants Bureau Ltd were on 24-hour guard duty at the school. Questioned about whether the school expected the security firm to be held accountable, Marcelle replied that CEO of the company, Charles Boney, “was trying to get out of it.” Marcelle is claiming that “something is definitely wrong” as the association had recorded numerous complaints against this firm. Charles Boney is contending that there have been “no break-ins” at Success RC, and is denying claims by parents of students attending Chinapoo Government School in Morvant, where one of his guards was recently injured, that something else was going on at the time.

Questioned as to whether guards will be increased at various schools currently manned by his firm, Boney said, “we can increase but the government will have to pay, and we cannot do it alone.” Revealing that his firm had been awarded a contract five years ago by the Ministry of Education to provide 24-hour security for these schools, he said, “between October of last year and February of this year, we have encountered these problems.” Boney was not allowed into yesterday’s meeting and was instead told that another meeting would be arranged and he would be informed of the time and place.