By Omar Wally
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Interior, has denied allegations that they revoked the license of twelve private security companies operating in the country for not meeting the required standards.
Bulli Dibba, made these remarks Thursday, at Kairaba Beach Hotel, during an exclusive interview with The Fatu Network, on the sidelines of private security companies stakeholders workshop.
“What we did was, send them closure notices, because most of them are in default for two to three years, some are operating in their living rooms, whiles others cannot be identified.”
He said the closure notice is for them to either comply or their instiutions will be closed. But that is not the objective; he added, saying that the objective is for them to comply in areas of social security contributions noting that the government doesn’t want to compromise that.
Dibba said the deadline for them to comply is tomorrow (Friday) September 22, adding that they established a board and in the event that they did not comply, the board will act. “But already we have seen some signs of compliance; some companies are coming forward making their payments and then their contribution to social security.”
Dibba: “Even if they can do payment plans with Gambia Revenue Authority and Social Security that is better, we just cannot have companies operating illegally for three years without meeting the requirements.”
Interior PS disclosed that G4S is the most recognized private security farm in terms for meeting all standards and compliance.
“Gambia currently has seventeen private security companies, with two classified as ghost companies and out of the fifteen, only five are in full compliance that met Gambia Revenue Authority, Social Security requirements and the labour laws.”
Dibba added that the five that are in compliance, noticeable among them is G4S.
“G4S is leading in all categories, these include the way they portray their personnel wellbeing and making sure all their contributions are paid on time.” He said most of the companies are operating without license, every year they need to renew their registration and some of them are not compiling.
“You cannot hire people and at the end of their retirement they go to social security and realize that there is no contribution on their behalf.”
He added this is why they are trying to reorganize, making them aware of some of the defaults. “If you are talking about national security, we cannot leave the private security outside.”
