Security is big business and there is a reason why organisations place such a high value on experience; because when you’re dealing with the protection of people’s property, possessions and wellbeing, experience counts for a bundle.

WRITTEN BY JACK SLATER

PREPARATION IS GOOD SECURITY

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Born in Bacolod City, Philippines, he is a graduate of the University of St. La Salle and has a degree in Business Management. Now with 20 years of executive management

expertise under his belt, in finance & administration, marketing, engineering & project management, business development and sales & marketing management, he was kind enough to speak with Endeavour Magazine regarding his involvement in G4S Guam.

G4S has a mission to establish itself in Guam as a major over-all security component and in 2004, established its presence in the Marianas through the acquisition of three of Guam’s largest security providers; Securewest, International and Armored Express Services and Pacific Security Alarm. In 2008 the company Document Solutions was established, which provides the document management, shredding, imaging and storage needs of the business community and in early 2010, G4S established Care and Justice Solutions which primarily provides Government justice and community safety solutions and, “Comprises of over 800 employees from Guam and Saipan G4S stands as the first choice in business and government support security,”

Christopher’s role in the growth of G4S Guam cannot be overlooked. As country manager for Marianas he has been driving the company’s motto of “Securing your world,” and this year has launched a pilot programme for electronic offender monitoring.

In a recent interview, Christopher revealed how he had been working for a year testing hardware and software for equipment to track citizens who are facing trial, on probation or who otherwise

require monitoring by the judiciary system but not to the extent of incarceration. He said, “Electronic monitoring will be an option, especially now that there’s been a lot of discussion regarding the prison itself. It has always been a sensitive issue. A lot of Government resources are reserved for rehabilitation and incarceration,”

Basically, the system includes a bracelet with a SIM card that is GPS traceable and the tracker is linked to software that can allow on-line, real time monitoring, “The system is virtual,” Chris explains, “So you can monitor it on the web and see, in real-time, where it is. It can also send an SMD to a mobile phone and emails and other notifications.”

Should the offender enter a restricted area, alarms can be set to alert officials. Having this kind of monitoring capability is vital in cases such as restraining orders for violent offenders.

Already in use elsewhere in the world, including the United Kingdom and Australia, the system is hardly anything new but its use in Guam is cutting edge and could be a legitimate and worthy means of decongesting the prisons and cutting expenditure. G4S Guam is leading the way in proving that this works.

Christopher reveals that he tested the product himself and wore one of the bracelets on a trip to Saipan and the results were alarming, the team was able to tell exactly where he was and what he was doing, even when he went for a swim.

The whole programme, once active, will form part of the Care and Justice pillar of services that were created two years ago by G4S Secure Solutions (Guam) and, considering the results that will

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Chris Garde, G4S Guam country manager, has been involved with the company since 2004, enjoying regular promotions and success. Starting out as general manager in the Philippines, he was promoted to Vice President for ESS & IT in 2008. In 2010, after completing the G4S Global leadership training program in the UK, he was assigned as the G4S Security Systems (Guam) Inc. General Manager for Systems Marianas, while concurrently holding the position as Vice President for ESS & IT, Philippines.

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soon follow, having already been witnessed in the UK and Australia, G4S will remain synonymous with revolutionising and upgrading security.

G4S Guam have also been implemental in the Visitor Safety Officers programme that was formatted in conjunction with the Guam Visitor’s Bureau, making the beaches a safer place by reducing crimes, from petty to fatal accidents.

Communication is one of the prevalent tools that Christopher believes makes G4S so effective in what they do. Most of their staff are guards who can immediately be contacted by the National Control Centre, as can the Guam Police Department and other emergency responders, should the need arise.

“It is our swift and efficient response that sets us apart,” Christopher reveals, “We have our own software that tracks and monitors activities digitally and we’re always online, on radio and contactable through cell phones. It basically allows us to be on site faster and to coordinate with Government authorities. These are things that allow us to move fast and get communications out there, track, monitor and record an activity as it is happening.”

The data, which is continuously garnered, is put into reports and these records are used to provide clients with information,

which extends the range of clear communications and awareness from guard, through to G4S Guam central to client.

Chris emphasises how they are constantly improving this system year in and year out, training staff and upgrading management and always taking a serious look at Guam and how they can develop their business there.

INNOVATION AND CHANGEG4S is in such a position

that the only way they can extend their reach or services is by training and developing their staff to continue to offer the best security possible. Clients want to know that the

people protecting them are the most motivated, reliable and resourceful personnel available. G4S wants to grow and Christopher is determined to see this happen and so, in January this year, the company launched a training academy in Saipan that offers instruction related to the hospitality industry, “The G4S Marianas Training Academy is located in the TSL Building,” he explains, “But this is more than just security training.”

The training academy will help develop a local skill set for this sector, which will cut the reliance on hiring foreign workers from other countries. Christopher explains that in

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2014 the American Government announced that the CNMI-Only Transitional Worker or the CW visa programme would be extended until December 31st 2019, however, a further extension of this beyond 2019 will not be approved.

“This leaves the Northern Mariana Islands with the dilemma of filling the gaps left by these workers. Training locals has always proved to be a good move.”

G4S have developed a programme to slowly phase out foreign workers opening up opportunities to hire local workers, allotting resources and training to ensure new employees understand the job scope, “We saw that there was going to be a gap in the hospitality industry,” Christopher says, “Front desk, housekeeping and all other jobs available in hotels.”

And it’s not small numbers either, the hospitality industry is looking at a potential 14,000 positions becoming available. That is a big deal and a big opportunity, especially considering that the Mariana Islands are becoming a hot spot for tourism and leisure, meaning that there could be an even greater demand for staff.

“Preparation is how you ensure good security,” Chris says.

“It is our swift and efficient response that sets us apart,” Christopher reveals, “We have our own software that tracks and monitors activities digitally and we’re always online, on radio and contactable through cell phones. It basically allows us to be on site faster and to coordinate with Government authorities. These are things that allow us to move fast and get communications out there, track, monitor and record an activity as it is happening.”