Too Much Security
IT IS a brilliant idea to combat crime in Namibia.
It is very fascinating to hear and see how much effort the public
plus the private sector are putting into maintaining safety.
But I have noticed that there more security companies than
necessary in Namibia now.
I was very much disappointed to see security people from more
than three different companies, plus the members of Special Field
Force, guarding the vicinity of Wernhil Park and Post Street
Mall.
Initially I thought some of them were probably guarding specific
premises, but in actual fact all of them were guarding the same
area.
It was around 20h:00, and to my surprise I was confronted by one
of the guards who prevented me from entering the Wernhil Park
premises.
I asked him why and he answered that: "No one is permitted to
enter these premisses after nine i.e. 21h:00.
I showed him the time on my watch, thinking that maybe he
doesn't have one.
Instead, the guard insisted that I am not allowed in.
I was actually on my way to the ATM.
I told him so, and to my surprise he told me that the ATM was
closed.
How can the ATM be closed if it is supposed to operate 24-hours?
And, by the way, how come the ATM is concealed if is supposed to
offer a 24-hour service? He called the other guard apparently to
come help him clean up the mess.
The other guard asked me what my problem is, which I explained
to him, just to find out that the first guard didn't know what the
ATM was.
Apparently he only knows the BOB machine not the ATM.
If the security people are there, what is their job? To deprive
people of their rights? I assumed they are there to guard the
premises and maintain safety.
What violation did I impose on the safety rules when going to
the ATM? Another thing is that most of the guards are bored and
have nothing to do because there are too many.
They are always looking for trouble that is not there.
I appeal to all the security companies to define clearly the job
of their employees.
It is very difficult to identify who is a criminal and who is
not but for sure not everybody is a criminal.
Therefore, in the case of public services, the security guards
must be very cautious and understand the meaning of public
services.
Their job is to guard and control the flow of everyday
activities - not to hinder and block our way.
If our action and omission offend them they must deal with them
in a proper humanitarian way.
Concerned Windhoek Resident
Note: Name and address supplied - Ed.
But I have noticed that there more security companies than
necessary in Namibia now.I was very much disappointed to see
security people from more than three different companies, plus the
members of Special Field Force, guarding the vicinity of Wernhil
Park and Post Street Mall.Initially I thought some of them were
probably guarding specific premises, but in actual fact all of them
were guarding the same area.It was around 20h:00, and to my
surprise I was confronted by one of the guards who prevented me
from entering the Wernhil Park premises.I asked him why and he
answered that: "No one is permitted to enter these premisses after
nine i.e. 21h:00.I showed him the time on my watch, thinking that
maybe he doesn't have one.Instead, the guard insisted that I am not
allowed in.I was actually on my way to the ATM.I told him so, and
to my surprise he told me that the ATM was closed.How can the ATM
be closed if it is supposed to operate 24-hours? And, by the way,
how come the ATM is concealed if is supposed to offer a 24-hour
service? He called the other guard apparently to come help him
clean up the mess.The other guard asked me what my problem is,
which I explained to him, just to find out that the first guard
didn't know what the ATM was.Apparently he only knows the BOB
machine not the ATM.If the security people are there, what is their
job? To deprive people of their rights? I assumed they are there to
guard the premises and maintain safety.What violation did I impose
on the safety rules when going to the ATM? Another thing is that
most of the guards are bored and have nothing to do because there
are too many.They are always looking for trouble that is not
there.I appeal to all the security companies to define clearly the
job of their employees.It is very difficult to identify who is a
criminal and who is not but for sure not everybody is a
criminal.Therefore, in the case of public services, the security
guards must be very cautious and understand the meaning of public
services.Their job is to guard and control the flow of everyday
activities - not to hinder and block our way.If our action and
omission offend them they must deal with them in a proper
humanitarian way.Concerned Windhoek Resident
Note: Name and address supplied - Ed.