Odle raises concern over security guards’ training, use of force

The views expressed herein are solely those of the writer.

Statement on the Use of Force by Private Security and the Urgent Need for more De-escalation training

While private security plays a vital role in keeping order and providing safety within our businesses and even events, a growing concern lingers over their use of force. Use of force in this scenario simply means the way in which someone responds to a threat or perceived threat, this is not a legal definition.

As a member of the legal profession and a citizen of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), I feel compelled to speak on what may turn into a troubling pattern of incidents involving armed private security personnel and the use of excessive force in situations that do not need to escalate to violence.

Recently, there have been two disturbing reports allegedly involving confrontations between security guards and civilians, one such encounter ending in a shooting inside a public building. Another case allegedly involved a civilian being shot over behavior that, while inappropriate, should never have invited gunfire. While I will not comment on the specifics of any active investigation, these incidents raise serious concerns about the judgment exercised by those entrusted with private security powers and, more critically, with firearms.

Private security guards are not law enforcement officers. Their role is to observe, report, and ensure the safety of property and people within lawful limits. The authority to carry and use firearms should never be treated lightly or granted without evaluating the holder’s temperament and continuous training in conflict resolution. No one, guard or civilian, should lose their life in an interaction that could and should have been defused.

One day after the Carnival season, as Vincentians are still basking in the joy and unity of a peaceful and probably one of the most successful carnival seasons that we have had in a long time, this news is very disheartening.

We need to invest in training security personnel not just in the mechanics of carrying a weapon, but in the far more difficult and critical skill of de-escalation. We must also demand stronger oversight of private firms and clear national standards for use of force by non-police actors.

Let us not allow our nation’s mood to swing from celebration to sorrow. Let us insist that the values we displayed during the carnival of unity, joy, and peace are not seasonal, but all year round.

We owe it to each other to create a safer, calmer, and more respectful St. Vincent and the Grenadines.