AS Guyana continues to make active strides in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector, the country will have its first Cyber Security centre launched in Georgetown on Friday. This is according to Zara Group of Companies which will be spearheading the launch in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Through this centre, the Zara group aim to teach the police, business community and the public how to combat cybercrime and security in Guyana. Guyana Cybercrime Bill was laid in the National Assembly last year where it was read for the first time before being resent to the Special Select Committee to facilitate further consultations.
The Cyber Crimes Bill caters for, inter alia: illegal access to a computer system; illegal interception; illegal data interference; illegal acquisition of data; illegal system interference; unauthorised receiving or granting of access to computer data; computer related forgery; computer related fraud; offences affecting critical infrastructure; identity related offences; child pornography; child luring and violation of privacy among a sleuth of other offences.
In 2013, the Zara Group established an Information Technology (IT) centre at Richard Faikall Training College at Suddie on the Essequibo Coast. The college caters to the needs of the Police Force in ‘G’ Division and civilians. Through the college, approximately 1,205 persons from villages including Suddie, Charity, Mainstay and some in the Pomeroon River have gained certified qualifications. This, according to the group, was done with the use of just 36 computers.

One beneficiary, Omeka Noble, 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, and added that before pursuing the course, she had limited knowledge of computers. The mother of two said she hopes to continue her studies in the computer repair course at the training centre.
Meanwhile, IT Consultant and Member of Zara Group, Nardeo Singh during a 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 told the beneficiaries.
According to the group, the ICT consultant and his 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 emphasized that the centre isn’t just qualifying the public and GPF but recreating and reviving a community/policing relationship. Superintendent Bharat Persaud, who was a part of the initial stage of the establishing a centre at the Police Training School related that since the establishment four years ago, it is evident that persons from different creeds, races and genders, thirst the ICT knowledge.
“We had a student who was seven years old who completed a programme,” he said, adding that the centre creates a more relaxing area where persons can communicate, instead of going to a police station to make a report.
In addition to Essequibo residents, the Zara group boasted that thousands of residents from Berbice and Georgetown have also improved their ICT knowledge through the provision of these free courses. The 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.
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 to execute many of their projects.