Do more to protect security guards

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent spate of attacks on armed security guards who pick up and deliver money to automated banking machines in Jamaica.

It is appalling to see that these security guards, who are already putting their lives at risk, are now being targetted by gunmen who are determined to rob them of the money they are transporting.

These security guards are not only facing the possibility of losing their lives, but also the trauma of being torn away from their families. Many of them do not have any insurance, and the salary and benefits they receive are poor. These are issues that need to be addressed urgently, as these security guards play a vital role in ensuring that money is able to circulate and reach persons in and around Jamaica who need access to money at the ATM to conduct their business.

It is also concerning to note that these security guards are ill-equipped when transporting money in vehicles that are not armored, yet are marked with the security companies’ names and logos. This makes them easy targets for criminals who are determined to steal the money they are transporting.

These crimes are taking place in the middle of the day, displaying the complete disregard that these criminals have for human life as they fire shots all over the place in a bid to rob the vehicles transporting the money. It is only by luck that one security guard who was shot in the recent attack survived.

TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

As a concerned citizen, I urge the security companies and the government to take measures to minimize or prevent incidents like these between the security guards and the gunmen. These measures could include better training for security guards, equipping them with armored vehicles, and providing them with better insurance coverage and salaries.

The government should also take steps to increase surveillance in areas where these crimes are taking place and increase the number of police patrols.

It is imperative that the government and the security companies take these issues seriously and work together to protect the lives of these security guards who play such an important role in ensuring that money is able to circulate throughout the country.

MARLON RICHARDS