Georgetown : With the rapid growth of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Worldwide, Information Technology is no longer a skill but a culture that has become a vital part of society. Thus, the Zara Group of Companies out of the USA has embarked on a mission to assist Guyanese from all walks of life to be well-equipped for the booming Information Technology sector.
In this regard, thousands from Essequibo, Berbice and Georgetown have improved their ICT knowledge with the free Information Technology courses. These free courses range from; foundation, advanced packages and computer repair.
The Zara Group of Companies was established approximately 30 years ago, by a Guyanese family. The company was mainly involved in real estate business and managing apartment buildings. But, according to the company, the Guyana linkage stemmed from the need to give back to their homeland. So far, the company has collaborated with several organizations including the Central Islamic Organization (CIOG) and the Guyana Police Force, in all three counties.
In 2013, the Zara Group established an Information Technology centre at Richard Faikall Training College at Suddie on the Essequibo Coast. It caters to the needs of the Guyana Police Force in “G” Division and civilians. As a result, approximately one thousand two hundred and five (1,205) persons have gained certified qualifications since its establishment. With just thirty -six (36) computers, villages such as Suddie, Charity, and Mainstay and as far as the Pomeroon River have seen villagers becoming computer literate. Student, Omeka Noble 30, who is a nurse by profession, said that “the Zara Group is doing more than enough for the community”. She highlighted that the free courses have significantly improved her working ability, noting that before the course, she had limited knowledge of computers. The mother of two hopes to continue her studies in the computer repair course at the training centreMeanwhile, IT Consultant and Member of Zara Group, Nardeo Singh on his recent visit to the college, stressed that Essequibo has the potential to incorporate traditional methods such as agriculture with the use of ICT. “Keep working towards a goal….more private/public partnership is needed to untapped the potential in Essequibo”, he said. The ICT consultant and team are trying to formulate a solution to address the issue of unemployment; they believe that a call centre and empowering women in ICT are some solutions, to the issue. Singh also reemphasized that the centre isn’t just qualifying the public and GPF but recreating and reviving a community/policing relationship.