Security firm ‘lost contract unfairly’

A security service provider yesterday complained he had lost a contract to a company that did not have a licence to operate. Security guard Stephen Ciangura said that he bid to offer security services on New Year’s Eve at the national event organised in Valletta and Floriana. However, the contract was given to Joseph Attard and Paul Dimech, who, Mr Ciangura said, did not have a permit to operate because they had not paid the police licence for three years. In a judicial protest filed against the Valletta local council, Mr Attard and Mr Dimech, Mr Ciangura – who owns Executive Security Services Ltd – said that his company had always operated according to law and had all the required licences and permits to do so. He said the security company owned by Mr Attard was being liquidated and was not even covered by insurance, as was necessary by all security firms. The situation was prejudicial to his company, he argued, because while his company was in line with the law and observed the conditions imposed, the other was not, Mr Ciangura said. Lawyers José Herrera and Veronique Dalli signed the protest.