US-based family makes largest ever donation to local school

Sep 28, 2009 News

The students of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School in Corneila Ida, West Coast Demerara will now benefit from advanced technology, thanks to a new computer lab equipped with a total of 47 flat screen computers.

These computers were donated by President of ZARA Realty in the United States of America and Canada, Guyanese, George Subraj.

From left: Steve Sobhraj, Tony Subraj, Raj Naraine with George and his wife, Gloria Subraj at the computer lab in the school.

Subraj is the Vice President of the Guyana Watch Medical team, which has been rendering its services here for the past several years.

He and his family, which included his wife Gloria and son Tony, spearheaded the project.

It was pointed out that this is one of the largest ever donation made to the education system from a private individual.

Subraj was also instrumental in conducting the first two kidney transplants in Guyana.

At the official opening ceremony of the lab yesterday, Subraj told a huge gathering, which included students, that ‘good actions are divine.’

He admitted that while at first he was not interested in the school, he is happy now that he got involved in such a humanitarian act.

Subraj encouraged the students to be successful in what they set their minds to do.

“If I can do it, you can do it better. I came from the era before the World Wide Web. We had cob webs…so you have an opportunity to go to World Wide Web where you have a wealth of information to surpass many others before me,” Subraj said.

Subraj instilled in the students that success is not easy to come by if hard work is not involved.

“Be the very best at what you do and for wherever success is, it will knock doors down and find you. Today must be better than yesterday and tomorrow must be better than today.”

The computer lab which will officially be called the “ZARA Computer Training Center” has the capacity to house a total of 60 computers. However, according to Subraj, since the classes interchange at the school and not all the students will be using the lab at the same time, only 40 computers were donated.

However, Subraj explained that if the need arises, he will donate more computers in the future.

Close friends to Subraj described him as one who is committed to serving his country, although he has a successful business overseas.

Meanwhile, Principal of the school, Swami Aksharananda reiterated that the school and the Corneila Ida community have made a remarkable contribution to Guyana’s development.

However, the Swami expressed his disappointment with the Customs Department whom he noted delayed the processing of the computers for 10 days after it arrived in Guyana.

He explained that the Customs Department could not find the entry in the system but after many interventions, it was finally found after ten days. Despite this, Swami lauded the kind gesture of Subraj as he pointed out that it is one of the largest investments from a private individual in the education system.

Meanwhile, the Saraswati Vidya Niketan School also held its annual graduation for its CESC students.

Gaining the top position was Rajiv Nandalall, who passed with eleven subjects, of which he acquired eight distinctions and three Grade Ones. For his outstanding performance he received a total of $20,000 from Roshan Khan.

It was pointed out that the school has only been in operation for the past five years and within that time frame, it is now the third highest ranking school in the country, falling right after Bishops High School and Queens College.

This year, the school managed to secure 99 Grade Ones and 93 Grade Twos. However, the Swami expressed his dissatisfaction with this performance. He explained that there were students at the school who could have performed better, but their ‘true colours’ were not shown.

Pro Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Prem Misir noted that it is a historic moment in Guyana with the outstanding performances of the students. He expressed his satisfaction in seeing the school progressing at such an admirable rate and urged that it be continued.

Also delivering remarks was Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, who said that the students and the school generally, have done the nation proud.