R.K Security Services contracts…Sick residents forced to man Amerindian Hostel guard outpost

Aug 15, 2013 News

With R.K. Security Services pulling its security officers from various government locations countrywide, the Amerindian Hostel has been forced to use its residents to fill in the gap at the location’ security outpost.
When a visit was made at the Amerindian Hostel on Princes Street, by this newspaper, a young male resident, when questioned about the security guard who was supposed to man the gate, confirmed that he was “filling in”.
Such is the situation that even those who are sick have been called upon to provide security at the hostel’s guard hut.
“This boy is a recovering TB case they have at the gate. And the other day they had a man with a crutch,” an occupant of the hostel, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

: Residents of the Amerindian hostel manning the guard outpost at the facility.

Residents of the Amerindian hostel manning the guard outpost at the facility.

“This place real sad, even the rails on the bridge has spikes on them. The people at the hostel put it on there so nobody can sit on it, but if somebody fall on it, or grab onto it, they could get real serious injury.”
Approximately 50 persons stay at the Hostel at any given time. Most of them are from Regions One and Seven.
Roshan Khan, Chief Executive Officer of R.K Security Services, when contacted confirmed that security personnel’s from various government agencies were withdrawn.
This was as a result of government not making monetary adjustments to contracts awarded to R.K. Security Services to match the new minimum wage which came into effect from July 15, 2013.
Adding that service notices to several state entities were dispatched, Khan said his company has written to Government requesting increased rates under his contracts, however, the company did not receive any acknowledgement of the notices and had no other choice.
Meanwhile, Amerindians believe that some of them are being victimized following recent protests outside parliament.
One resident of the hostel noted that after the picketing exercises against the Government, a notice was dispatched to Amerindian vendors who would normally sell on the lawns in front of the hostel.
“This happen because an Amerindian Affairs official see one of the vendors in the protest line at the Ministry of Amerindian affairs when they had a protest,” the resident explained.
Last Friday, on the occasion of International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, Amerindians protested the Amerindian Affairs Ministry to voice their concerns about their rights to their lands being trampled on.
However, the Minister of Amerindian Affairs has made it clear that progress has been a resounding feat in most hinterland communities ever since the present ruling party came to power.