Police receive $3.8M in cricketing gear from Zara Group

On Friday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) received over $3.8 million in cricketing supplies from the US-based Zara Realty Group in order to enhance relations between the Police and members of the community.
At the handing over, Jay Sobhraj said though they migrated from Guyana over 50 years now, they have never forgotten their roots; hence, the reason for them continuously supporting developmental efforts within the country. He stressed the need for better relations among the Police and the general population.
Sobhraj said the Zara Group is passionate about education and relationship

building and they are hopeful that some of the gears be donated to communities so that they can see the Police Officers as being on their side rather than just performing their functions. The philanthropist said though he cannot play cricket, he wants to make sure those who can, get the opportunity to follow their passion.
Accepting the donation on behalf of the GPF was Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan who said they are aware that the Police enjoy a rocky relationship with the public and that the donation is one that will be aimed at bettering that relationship. He alluded to the recently passed Juvenile Justice Bill, which requires initiatives such as sporting programmes to reintegrate juveniles as productive members of society.
“The relationship between the Police and citizens have not been a great one and we have to ensure that we build a relationship with community members…it is important when the Police is seen as a big brother as opposed to a bully,” Ramjattan said.
The Minister said they are going to conduct a needs assessment to ensure that depressed communities are the beneficiaries of a portion of the gear, since he is personally aware of how expensive cricketing gear are.
Meanwhile, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine thanked the Zara Group for their timely donations. He said the partnership dates back to 2012 when Commissioner Seelall Persaud first initiated it as he sought to better the relationship between the Police and the communities they operate in.
The partnership has realised the establishment of three computer centres in all three counties, as well as the refurbishing of the Cybersecurity Centre. He said despite the centres being handed over to the Force, the Zara Group continues to maintain them as well as providing more equipment for their smooth running. The Group also used the occasion to donate a quantity of gear to the University of Guyana’s Sport Department.
The donation included a quantity of helmets, pads, gloves, bats and balls. Additionally, 20 new desktop computers were donated to the Force.