Security guards protest for unpaid money

Former and current employees of Quest Security Services Limited protested outside the company's Corporate Area office yesterday, demanding money they say is owed to them after losing the entity lost the Kingston Wharves contract.

Shalana Clahar, who said she would have celebrated three years at the company on October 29, said she is now out of a job and patience.

"All I need is my money. They are not paying us the money, that is the problem we are having," Clahar told THE STAR. "I move on. Some of them still have faith in a Quest weh nuh have no faith inna dem."

Clahar said she found out about the discontinued contract through "chatter and suss", and that communication subsequently broke down completely.

"They don't talk to nobody, them a hide out everybody. Even when I brought in my uniform and resignation letter, the lady just say 'that's all'". Clahar said she is owed more than $200,000.

"The rest a officers unno come out and defend unno money. Nobody can stop unno because we work hard fi we money. Working at Kingston Wharves is not easy. Nuff of us can't wear nice slippers because steel toe mash up wi foot," she said, explaining that she often worked Sunday to Sunday, taking on extra shifts to make ends meet.

"Mi nah stop until me get my money. My co-worker leave her sick daughter to be out here protesting. One get notice because she can't pay her rent. Quest need fi pay we now," Clahar said.

The guards say the company's Kingston Wharves contract ended on September 30, but some officers were still being sent to work after that.

"Some of us cross over and some a dem sit dung same way because them [Quest] tell them say dem have location fi dem," one protester claimed. "We still can't get wi money ... and have we a work same way. Double shifts and triple shifts till people foot swell like jackfruit."

When contacted, Emma Gibbs, director of operations at Quest, told THE STAR that the company is following proper procedures.

"I'm sure they will be paid. You know there's due process to be done. The officers signed their contracts of employment and they need to respect that due process and allow the system to work," Gibbs said. "I'm sure if the company owes that many money, the company will pay them."

She also denied that Quest kept employees in the dark about the loss of the Kingston Wharves contract.

"That's not the case and could never be the case. Quest Security did not terminate any contract of employment with any security officer concerning that situation, so no jobs were lost," she said. Gibbs added that management has met with the officers individually.

"As I had said before, due process was carried out, and to my knowledge, the situation, or whatever grievance is they believe they have, has been resolved," she stated.

- T.P.