By Charles Tjatindi
WINDHOEK
An American private company, Special Operations Consultants, SOC-SMG which is recruiting Namibians with military background to work as security guards in Iraq and other countries, has dismissed the Government’s claim that the company had not consulted it before setting up operations here.
The Executive Director of SOC-SMG, Paul Grimes, said his company had done extensive consultation with the Government through various ministries, and has even registered with the Registrar of Companies.
Grimes was reacting to an earlier statement issued by the Government through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in which the Government stated that it had not received any formal communication from the company concerning its operations in Namibia.
According to Grimes, his company has consulted with both the Ministry of Trade and Industry and that of Labour, where they made known their plans.
He noted that it was only after all relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Safety and Security was consulted that they went ahead and acquired a certificate to commence work.
“Several days after the last meeting, the company registration was completed and after the certificate to commence work was placed on file, we have begun to recruit personnel,” said Grimes.
Since the media reports highlighted the intended operation of the SOC-SMG in Namibia, critics have been questioning the legitimacy of the company’s operations, with some claiming that the company wants to take advantage of Namibians by sending them into combat in war-torn countries.
These speculations were, however, shot down by Grimes, who said his company has been working in other countries for many years and Namibia is but one of its preferred countries of operation among others.
Currently, the company has about 2???_?_’???_?’???_???