Jobs in Iraq Info Page 5
Applicants
flood in for bodyguards jobs in Iraq
The head of a Hamilton security firm today said he continued to be inundated by applicants for possible jobs in Iraq, despite the upsurge in violence there. Red Key Security is negotiating for contracts in Iraq and advertised for staff in North Island newspapers over the past two months. Managing director Terry Phelan said there had been more than 600 replies for jobs that have a going pay rate of $600-plus a day. Over the last 24 hours alone, since media publicity about his plans, he had received 60 e-mails. Mr Phelan, a former police diplomatic protection squad member, said he was and he wasn't surprised by the response. "I am in relation to the amount that have come through," he said. "But I'm not surprised because, if Kiwis find an opportunity, they'll go for it. It's the No 8 wire type of syndrome." Red Key Security has been operating for 10 years and Mr Phelan said Iraq would be the company's first foray overseas. He said it lost a tender to supply bodyguards for the Coalition Provisional Authority, but was looking at other options. "We are currently going after other things and we have made no promises to staff," he said. "There are a couple of brokers I'm working with and it's a matter of waiting and seeing. The pot is still boiling." As for the rising violence in Iraq, Mr Phelan said he would send staff there only if the conditions were right. "You don't send a man in without the right protection," he said. "You don't send a man into fire and just hope the hell he comes back out. You have to make sure he's going to be all right." He knew of New Zealanders working for other security companies, including British-based Control Risks Group, but had no information on numbers. From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2872699a11,00.html |