Over 90 Lindeners to graduate from ZARA computer

• Site already identified for Kwakwani’s centre

The Zara Computer Centre, which is a recently launched initiative of the Guyana Police Force, has seen approximately 92 Lindeners completing the foundation computer literacy course and are awaiting graduation. Residents of Linden, between the ages of six and 15 have successfully completed the course and will commence the advance courses soon. In the adult classes, there are also scores of participants, as old as 49, that will soon complete online courses that are offered at the institution, which is located at the Wismar Police Station.

This was relayed by Regional Commander Hugh Winter on a recent programme, ‘The Police and You’.  “Persons in the area, even as far as Coomacka Mines, are taking advantage of these courses and these courses are free of cost,” he said. 

Another major stride, is that for the first time, drivers’ theory examinations were conducted at the centre electronically. Drivers received their results immediately after completing, which is a major improvement to the old system which forced students to wait months for their results. “Immediately six of the seven persons were successful and they knew they passed the exam” Winter related. To this end, he is encouraging unlicensed drivers to take advantage of this new system which allows for expeditious processing.

The overwhelming interest showed in the centre, has encouraged the GPF to establish one in the Sub Region District, so that all residents of Region 10 and not only Linden, can benefit from the initiative. Last week, senior police officials visited Kwakwani to identify a suitable location for the centre. The visit was conducted by Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag.) Mr. Calvin Brutus today along with Head of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh; Head of the I.T Department, Superintendent Jermaine Johnson; Head of the Community Relations Department, Woman Superintendent Cristal Robinson; and Coordinator of the GPF ZARA Computer Centers, Sergeant Gladwin Hanover. The centre will be temporarily housed in the upper flat of the Kwakwani Police Station, until a more suitable location is found within the district.

Some of the skills training will be done in areas such as cosmetology, barbering, welding, and masonry, while five subjects (Maths, English, EDPM, Principles of Accounts and Integrated Science), will be offered free of cost through the Force’s collaboration with the relevant organizations.

Deputy Commissioner (ag) Mr. Brutus, in an invited comment, noted that while the visit also  provided the opportunity to identify skilled personnel within the areas to assist in administering the programmes.

“We also looked at scoping out the area, to identify skilled and resource personnel to assist in the community relations programme, so that we can hire them to work at these centers within the respective regions,” Mr. Brutus said.

Mr, Brutus highlighted that the push to have ZARA Computer and Skills Training Centers established in each police district, forms part of the Force’s Strategic Plan which emphasizes heavily on partnering with the various stakeholders throughout Guyana in efforts to bridge the gap between the public and police, with the aim of tackling and reducing crime and other social ills.