In a first-of-its-kind, Muscat Municipality has signed an agreement with Security and Safety Services, a private security company, to ensure that the beaches are kept clean, public places and parks are not vandalised nor is there a public nuisance. The agreement aims to make Oman’s beaches clean and environment-friendly and also encourage more families to have hassle-free and enjoyable outings at public places and beaches.
Ahmed Mohammed al Humaidi, Muscat Municipality Chairman, signed an agreement with Brigadier General (retd) Saeed bin Sulaiman Al Asimi, CEO of the Security and Safety Services, on surveillance along beaches and public facilities belonging to Muscat Municipality.
As part of the agreement, security guards will monitor errant behaviour that may harm the public health, environmental safety and, in the first phase, will monitor the sea-front in Seeb area or any other place determined by the municipality. The duty hours will be in the morning and evening, while the work hours will be doubled on weekends.
As part of the mandate given to the private security guards, they will help prevent littering and dumping waste at places other than those designated, spitting, tampering with garbage containers, using vehicles and bicycles along beaches, lighting fires and barbeque on grass, leaving droppings of dogs and animals, leaving children unattended and camping violations.
They will also advise people not to visit beaches during unsafe weather conditions, and any action that may damage trees and plants, or cause inconvenience to visitors, or violate public decency, or are inconsistent with public order.
According to the agreement, the municipality shall train the Security and Safety personnel with the mechanism for monitoring and documenting municipal violations, plus coordination with the municipal employees to control violators and slap fines.
In a statement to the Oman News Agency, Ahmed Al Humaidi said “the agreement was the first of its kind to benefit from the security and safety services in the field of beach monitoring and protection of public facilities and has been signed for a year with an option to renew the deal. As part of the initial plan, the services will be used at the Sur Al-Hadid area, Seeb Beach, as it is a popular waterfront.”
Al Humaidi said: “The agreement reflects the municipality’s aim to create a safe and comfortable environment. We hope to deter irresponsible practices that would harm the public health or service facilities of the municipality. We also hope to raise community awareness with these measures.”
