Guyana Where and What 2023-2024 for website_compressed

Guyana’s 10 Administrative Regions
Jet Boats Lined Up - Bartica Regatta
established several plantations on the
beautiful 17.5 square-mile island.
The British took over in 1716 and
established many grinding sugar
estates, giving rise to the demand for
more labourers.
Slaves were bought from Africa and
traded at the Wakenaam village
named Free and Easy, which today is
home to a ruined grinding mill.
With Emancipation of Africans and
other factors, the sugar industry on
the island began to decline, and by the
turn of the 20th century, many small
estates were closed or absorbed in the
larger ones. By 1930, the only three
remaining estates were Zeelandia,
Better Success and Belle Plaine, and
finally those were closed.
The indentured labourers went into
rice cultivation whilst the Africans
produced ground provisions. With the
demise of rice produce they went into
cattle rearing.
The St. James Presbyterian Church at
Fredericksburg, is the first church built
by freed African slaves on Wakenaam.
The island is well appointed and has
all critical amenities for its mainly self–
employed inhabitants.
Dutch built Dutch koker of 1600s still
stands with renovations and upgrade.
Several Dutch burial grounds can be
found also. Wakenaam is a closelyknitted
community, and residents
would warmly welcome visitors.
Private speed boats or the ferry can
get you there.
Leguan Island is named after its
huge population of ‘iguanas’ of which
smaller numbers can still be found
on its 18 square miles of beautiful
beaches. Its earliest settlers were
Dutch followed by settlers from
France, England, British West Indies
and Belgium. They planted indigo,
cocoa, oranges, fruits and vegetables
followed by sugarcane in later years.
Slaves were brought in to dig trenches,
build the seawall, plant and reap
sugarcane. Sugar cane was followed
by rice, cattle raring and cash crops.
Fishing is a daily activity.
When visiting the Island, be sure to go
to The Dauntless beach, created when
the sloop, Dauntless, ran aground
centuries ago and was left. The
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