By now, you’ve heard of “Alligator Alcatraz,” the migrant concentration camp being built by the Trump administration. And, yes, it’s a concentration camp by the literal and legal definition of the term. If that makes you uncomfortable, understand that if I were alive during World War II, I probably would have been insulting the guards at Auschwitz, too; so it’s not just you.
You know that Matt Gantley and UKAS have to be involved in something like this, and sure enough, they are. One of the main contractors helping develop the concentration camp is GardaWorld Federal Services of Washington DC, according to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times. And, yes, GardaWorld holds ISO 9001 certification issued by British CB MSS Global and accredited by UKAS.
They also hold certifications to ISO 18788 and ANSI/ASIS PSC-1 for security facility operations. Which is a polite way to say “concentration camp standards.” Those were all issued by MSS Global and accredited by UKAS, too.
Allegedly, ISO 18788 helps companies demonstrate “accountability to law and respect to Human Rights.” I wonder how MSS Global and UKAS will spin their decision to certify GardaWorld as it literally builds a modern Dachau.
According to his LinkedIn profile, the head of MSS Global, Anthony Chattin, was an “invited member providing contributions to the [ANAB] Committee of Experts supporting the development of the US accreditation rule” for ISO 18788:2015.
If you’re playing along at home and keeping track, so far UKAS has violated international and UK sanctions against Russia (here), accredited certificates given to Chinese labor camps (here), and even for a few nitrile glove companies that used actual slaves (here).
At this point, it’s hard to find an international crime or human rights violation that doesn’t have the UKAS logo somewhere on its paperwork.
Christopher Paris is the founder and VP Operations of Oxebridge. He has over 35 years’ experience implementing ISO 9001 and AS9100 systems, and helps establish certification and accreditation bodies with the ISO 17000 series. He is a vocal advocate for the development and use of standards from the point of view of actual users. He is the writer and artist of THE AUDITOR comic strip, and is currently writing the DR. CUBA pulp novel series. Visit www.drcuba.world
