While I was sitting in a barbershop, a gentleman walked in and began to share with those present a situation that had taken place a few minutes previously.
He said: “You won’t believe wuh just happen. A woman went in a store and was looking at the stuff that was fuh sale. She pick up a few tings and went to the cashier to pay for them. The woman put she handbag on the counter and handed the items to the cashier to scan.
“A man walked in the store, tek up the woman handbag and walked back out. The woman was in shock for a few seconds; then she ran out the store behind the man screaming, ‘Thief, thief’.
“A security guard was standing in the corridor and the woman shouted to the security guard, ‘Dat man tek up my bag’. The security guard watched the man leave the mall and then told the woman, ‘Call the police. He outside the mall, and I does only get pay to guard in here’.”
One night this week, I parked my car in the car park at Super Centre Warrens and entered the supermarket to make some purchases. As I left the supermarket and proceeded to my car I received a BlackBerry message and decided to walk and read it. When I got to my car, I leaned against it and replied to my message. While replying, I remembered that Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner had recently been attacked and robbed in that same car park.
I remembered reading in the newspaper that as a result of the attack, the supermarket hired the service of a security firm and placed security guards to monitor the car park. I immediately stopped using my BB and looked around to see if indeed a security guard was on duty.
There patrolling the car park like an owl was a security guard. I must say that he was pacing between the cars, being very observant of people entering and leaving their vehicles. The man was doing his job.
Now, even though the security guard was monitoring the car park, I still had a major issue with the security guard, the management of the supermarket and the security firm.
The same security guard looked as if he was past his prime. He walked with a limp as he dragged his feet and looked very shaky. I am convinced that if someone had attacked me, this security guard would not be able to run to my defence or be able to assist me in any way.
The dictionary defines a security guard as a person who is paid to protect property, assets or people. The key word here is protect.
Many businesses allow security firms to send officers who appear incapable of adequately defending the public or business. I have seen this practice replicated throughout this country for many years now.
I understand that people need to eat, and life is hard and people need jobs, but being a security guard means that people depend on you to keep them safe. If an individual is unable to provide this service then he or she needs to find a different job.
Crime is real, and there is plenty of it being committed daily. I need to know that when I enter a business or an office and I see a security guard, that individual is well trained and fit enough to assist me and protect me if my life is in danger.
Oh! And one more thing. Can someone explain to me why female police officers who patrol the streets wear long skirts? Seriously, do you really expect them to run behind someone and apprehend them while wearing these skirts? I am in favour of a new uniform and I am sure some police women would second that.
Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth youth ambassador. Email coreyworrell@gmail.com.
