Category: HISTORY

The Hopetown settlement at Kamuni Creek (a creek more well-known for the present-day Santa Mission and Santa Aratak villages) began in 1865 as an effort by colonial authorities to induce Chinese indentured labourers to remain in British Guiana after their contracts were up. With the meagre salaries of the sugar plantations and limited economic opportunities after their indentureship period came to an end, a large number of Chinese workers were thinking of leaving the colony. Many had heard of the Chinese in Trinidad accumulating wealth from engaging in rice cultivation…

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The now dormant tadjah festival of Guyana had its origins in the Islamic religion of the Indian Shia Muslims who arrived as indentured workers in British Guiana almost two centuries ago which later came to include non-Muslims. Ironically, it was this national inclusion,to the disapproval of colonial authorities, whichwould lead to the festival becoming extinct on the local religious calendar today. The history of the tadjah The Guyanese tadjah was a procession of mourners marking the anniversary of the assassination of Hussain, who was the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed.…

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Central High School was founded around 1928. However, it is likely that its founder, Joseph Clement Luck or J C Luck as he has come to be known, had been experimenting with the idea for some years previously. J C attended Queen’s College during the early beginnings of that fine secondary institution and, in 1947, earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from London. Following graduation, he became an entrepreneur who tried his hand at farming, shop keeping, gold digging and rice milling but success did not come until he decided…

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During 1759, Jaques Salignac applied for a grant of 500 acres of land for cotton and coffee cultivation. He was granted permission by the Court of Policy. Salignac named this tract of land La Bourgade. In 1807 Thomas Cumming, a Scotsman, became the owner of the estate and renamed Plantation La Bourgade  Cummingsburg, after his family, it was a town two miles in circumference and most regularly arranged. A special feature of Cummingsburg was the provision of fresh water reservoirs. These were filled with small fish and were later planted…

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Cannons like guns, came with the arrival of Europeans to the West Indies who brought these instruments to terrify the people into subjugation and a new way of life. For the Europeans, cannons were the tools of survival: for the people of the colonies they were symbols of oppression. Mounted in the forecourt of many of the nation’s public and civic buildings, these cannons are representative of an era inextricably linked to various phases of European occupation and colonization. To date there are approximately 30 known cannons scattered throughout the…

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Guyana is a nation that has a colourful history and is home to several cultures. For this reason, this richness and diversity of our past, it is critical to preserve our heritage. The relevant organisation, The National Trust of Guyana, is a government enterprise whose mandate propels its commitment to the preservation and conservation of historic buildings and sites in Guyana. Therefore we aim to enlighten the public about various events, aspects, symbols, landmarks and structures which has moulded our rich and diverse heritage.   The Umana Yana, currently one…

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By The Hon. Vincent Roth   Part 1 This is the story of my first trip to the bush thirty-seven years ago. It was to the Pomeroon River and I travelled in the government sloop “Baridi” which was used by Mr Michael McTurk, C.M.G., who was commissioner for the Pomeroon and Essequibo rivers. There were no other district commissioners at the time and Mr McTurk was given the post because no one else had so much knowledge about the interior of British Guiana as he, and this knowledge was very…

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