Security arrangements at the Ministry of the Attorney General

MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Facilities Management Unit

I write in response to queries from a reporter at your newspaper concerning security arrangements at the Ministry of the Attorney General (MoAG).

I have been working in the facilities department of the MoAG since 2004. I have been the Facilities Manager since May 3rd 2010. Innovative Security Technologies Ltd of Cipero Road in San-Fernando, provided security for the MoAG pursuant to a contract awarded by the Ministry. This contract was not awarded by the Central Tenders Board. This contract expired sometime before the last General Election. They were retained on a month-to-month basis pending the award of a new contract based on open tender.

Upon appointment, Senator Anand Ramlogan, continued to the existing month-to-month arrangement with Innovative and gave instructions for invitation for tenders to be advertised by the Ministry. The AG was advised by the then Permanent Secretary that it was not possible for the Ministry to award this security contract because the value exceeded the financial limit of authority of the PS.

The PS recommended that this contract be awarded via open tender in accordance to the CTB Act. I concurred with this advice and AG Ramlogan accepted same. Thereafter, a lengthy process ensued in accordance with the established practice and procedure of the CTB for the award of a new security contract.

Tenders were invited by open public advertisement. Executive Bodyguards Services Ltd (EBSL) was selected based on their established merit-based criterion which included price, experience and ability.

Innovative was retained on a month-to-month basis for an extra two and half years after the expiration of their contract. EBSL assumed duties on the 1st of December 2012.

In so far as it is being implied or suggested that EBSL may have been responsible for the alleged breach in security at the office of the DPP that lead to the alleged bugging of the DPP’s conference room, it should be noted that such an occurrence predated their assumption of duties. According to the alleged emails the alleged bugging occurred in November 2012 and EBSL assumed duties in December 2012. Innovative was in fact responsible for the provision of security arrangements at the Office of the DPP at that time.

The MoAG has maintained an excellent relationship with Innovative, which acted in a professional manner during its tenure and ensured there was a smooth transition. We thank them for their services and wish them the very best in all their future endeavors.

Kyle Thomas

Facilities Manager

Ministry of the Attorney General

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