St. John’s, Antigua - With the recent creation of the Private Security Registration Act, Supreme Security has already taken up the mandate to train ALL their officers ahead of the certification date with the third installment of their Basic Security Officer Training course. Julian Rogers, General Manager of Observer Media Group and keynote speaker at the recently held graduation of the trained officers, charged the graduates to contribute to creating a new image for security officers. In his address he stated, “Maintain high standards, and represent the company and the security field which has been somewhat tarnished by negative publicity. Bring back good fortune both on and off duty.”
Captain Lenroy Browne, the company’s Managing Director and training officer for the course, reiterated Roger’s statements by encouraging the officers to take up the task set before them, “Our company is performance based. It is important that the training learned is put into practice both on and off the job. Once you perform at a high standard you will have opportunities at upward mobility.”
The graduation ceremony held on Friday 21st October at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, witnessed sixteen (16) graduates, trained over six (6) days for a total of forty-eight (48) hours, receiving their certificates of successful completion. Training sessions were held in Health and Safety, Report Writing, Customer Care, Radio Function, Conflict Management, Security officer code of ethics, Patrolling, Discipline, Team Work, Security Equipment, Effects of Fire, Fire Extinguisher, Emergency Response Procedures and Use of Force.
In a recent interview Captain Browne went into detail about two key areas of the security training; Effects of Fire and Emergency Response Procedures and Use of Force. Officers were taught the different ways in which a fire can be started and how to correctly identify these fires, and make accurate decisions on the best method to distinguish them. He also guided the participants on the critical stages of conflict diffusion; decision to intervene, when to intervene, how to intervene. Browne also highlighted the different types of force that can be used and reaffirmed that it was of the utmost importance that security officers recognize the stages of violence before intervening. Once force is used, whether mild or excessive, officers and the security company can be held responsible for the outcomes, and must therefore ensure that they make the correct choices given the circumstances.
The officers were accessed practically during training, and a written non-multiple choice exam was given at the end of the course that tested their knowledge of the security industry, and their abilities to accurately access those situations that are prevalent in the field of a security officer. The two top students were Peter Lambert and Bevis Belto; both men attained an overall score of 88%. Lambert has been an employee with the company for the last four (4) years while Belto was recently hired. In keeping with the high disciplinary attitudes enforced by Supreme Security, officers underwent daily inspections during the training course. They had to ensure their shoes were shined to military style standards and that their uniforms were neatly pressed and worn at all times. Seymour Brooks, an ex-military Corporal and now shift leader and assistant to Captain Browne, conducted the strict inspections.
Captain Browne and Supreme Security have been training their employees for some time now as they recognize the importance of equipping their officers with the right tools to ensure that they are able to implement their jobs effectively, which helps in heightening their clients confidence and safety. The training manual being utilized by Browne coincidentally contains all the topics that will essentially be taught as part of the mandatory training of all security officers under The Private Security Registration Act. Security officers operating in Antigua must be ready for certification by February 1, 2012 with a deadline date of July 13, 2012 to be certified. The recent graduates of the Supreme Security Basic Security Officer Training as well as all other security officers of the company are expected to complete the certification test which will be implemented through the Police Department.
Browne, who has a vast knowledge and experience in the security field, is quite confident that his officers will attain the required certification, and has also submitted his credentials to the Police as application to become a Certified Security Training Officer. Once this process is complete, Captain Browne will make his services available to all other private security firms as well as government bodies in addition to in-house hotel security officers. Captain Browne received the Antigua & Barbuda National Youth Award ‘Young Entrepreneur of The Year’ title in late 2010. In the past, Supreme Security has sponsored, in collaboration with Global Bank of Commerce Ltd (GBC), Antiguan track and field athlete Daniel ‘Bakka’ Bailey, and for the last two years have been the sponsors of the awards and trophies for the annual Sports Day of the Princess Margaret Secondary School (PMS). Supreme Security is owned by Captain Browne and Marlon Higgins, and presently employs 130 security officers. They provide services in static and retail security officers, mobile patrol and security consultancy. The company is located in the ground level of the Community First Co-operative Credit Union building on Old Parham Road. You can contact them at 562-6689 or 788-4769, or by emailing info.supreme.s@gmail.com. Check out their website at www.supremesecurityantigua.com.
