The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development on Monday signed contracts with two firms to provide security in the ten regions.

The contracts were awarded to Strategic Action Security and RK Security Services, a press release from the Government Information Agency said. From a quartet of bidders, the two were the only ones that fulfilled the criteria of the National Competitive Bidding Process. Strategic Action Security will provide services totalling $41,040,100 to Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six, and RK Security will provide services valued at $14,882,400 to Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten.

Seewchan (only name), Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Strategic Action Security representative Richard Kanhai, Roshan Khan of RK Security Services and nine Regional Executive Officers (REOs) attended the signing. Seewchan said he hoped the firms can secure both equipment and human resources while conducting business such as cash transferrals.

The REOs said they were thankful that the contracts had been awarded since they need security systems in their respective regions urgently. Region One REO Mary Williams said she was particularly grateful as her region had been experiencing difficulties.

The firms’ representatives said they are proud to have been selected and gave assurances that they will secure the entities. Khan said though some regions are a great distance away from his firm they will work tirelessly to satisfy their mandates “through telephone conversations and visitations.”

He also appealed to the ministries to make timely payments to the firms so that they can “offset staff expenses in order to ensure efficiency.”