Agriculture Security & Watchmen Training Workshop

On Monday 25th April the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Barbuda Affairs (MAFBA)began the first of two five days training workshops.  It is the ministry’s intention that a combination of Twenty-four security staff and watchmen divided into two groups will be more empowered by these workshops.  Brief remarks were made by the Director of Agriculture, Mr. Gregory Bailey, who indicated that the objective of the training was to enhance the skill set of the staff in the MAFBA Security Department.

The opening remarks and the introduction of the facilitator Mr. David Nixon DeSouza were done by Mr. Jason Christopher, MAFBA supervisor of Security.  The workshop was organized by the Department of Agriculture and was the initiative of Jason Christopher, Stedman Ryan and Patsy Ojugbeli based at the Ministry’s Central Cotton Station.

Areas in the Security system that will be covered at these workshops are:

 Introduction to Security

 Security officer’s Safety

 Access Control

Patrolling

 Report writing

 Public Relations

 Resolving Conflicts

 Uniform and Equipment

 Fire Prevention

 Sexual Harassment

 Basic First Aid

During the course of the workshop these areas will be expounded upon with supporting Information via verbal dissemination or relevant videos.   Information pertaining to the types of Security officers, types of assets that should to be protected, types of information given in a report, the best defense to engage, the difference in roles for the security officer and the police officer, what a deterrant is, interacting with people, how to develop more observation skills and others will be imparted to the participants.

Based on the expertise and vast experience of the facilitator, Mr. DeSouza.  He has been a veteran in this type of service industry for over thirty years and emphasized the importance of the security officer.  “A good security officer should always be a professional, one who makes a good first impression, honest, punctual, always give his or her best, follow orders, disciplined, observant, dependable, physically fit, properly groomed, timely and a good reporter” said DeSouza.  This was reiterated by Mr. Christopher, additionally, he added that one’s post should never be left unattended and absence from duty should be reported at least two hours before.

The workshops will be held during 25th to 29th April and 2nd to 6th May (all dates inclusive).  The Ministry is confident that at the conclusion of the training, the investment made would be worth it and beneficial on all sides.