Guyana - My Own Native Land

My own
Native
Land!

The Co-operative Republic of Guyana (a former British Colony known as British Guiana) was renamed at the time of independence on May 26th, 1966. The name Guyana is believed to have come from the Arawak word Wini (or Waina) which means "water". Still others believe that the name springs for another Amerindian word "Guaya-na" meaning "the illustrious people." Whatever the derivative of the name, my country, which is graced with evergreen forests, many rivers and great waterfalls is truly one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Guyana, now a Co-operative Republic since 23 February 1970, is located on the north-eastern shore of the continent of South America. It is 214,970 sq. km. (82,980 sq. mi.) in area, and is bounded on the east by Suriname, on the west by Venezuela, on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the south by Brazil. It is the only English-speaking country on the South American continent.

A history of this very beautiful country reveals that it was first inhabited by the Arawak and the Caribs, who came down through the Bering Strait during the time of the Ice Ages. Many of them settled and began to colonize the West Indian Islands, while others came further on to South America and settled in various parts including the now Guyana. Today, many tribes of these indigenous people can still be found in Guyana, especially in the inter-land regions.

The story of El Dorado brought the Dutch, the English, the Spaniards and the Portuguese traders to South America, many settled in Brazil, whilst others settled in other areas including Guyana. These Europeans brought merchandise to trade with the indigenous people of the land. After some time, they started to cultivate sugar cane at about 1670 AD in Essequibo and Berbice.

For their sugar cane cultivation, the Dutch needed a large, disciplined workforce. White Indentured laborers and transported convicts provided the initial help, but these proved unsuited for the type of hard labor that the cultivation demanded. It was because of these reasons that the Europeans turned to the African nations for a people suited for the discipline involved. The slave trade to the West Indies thus began.

Started by the Portuguese, and continued by the Dutch, many slaves were brought from various West African nations. Due to the enormous strength and adaptive qualities of the African Slaves, the sugar cane industry became very productive. East Indians and Chinese were however later introduced as Indentured laborers to work in these sugar cane industries. These various Ethnic groups eventually settled in various villages and into various areas of specialties after the abolition of slavery on August 1, 1834.

Today, Guyana is sub-divided into three basic counties (Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice), which make up its demography. The people, drawn from the various ethnic origins co-exist in harmony for the most part. The culture, though largely western with some local taint, can be generally described as cosmopolitan. Guyanese are a peaceful, hospitable and religious people. We pride ourselves in being One people, One Nation, One Destiny.

^*Please feel free to distribute this material. Contact the Author: Pastor Colin J. Wilson on email [email protected].
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