Grade Six Social Studies

Hello Boys and Girls!

I trust you are all doing well. I am sure you did your best at the end-of-term examinations. If you are unhappy with your grades, you must work a little more diligently in the new term. I am proud of all the hard work you do every day. Keep striving for excellence!

In our last lesson, we looked at Region TwoPomeroon Supenaam, one of Guyana’s administrative regions. We discussed that the Pomeroon/ Supenaam region extends from the North-West by the Pomeroon River and on the South-West by the Supenaam River along the coast. The Region has an area of 2140 square miles (5560 square kilometers). Region Two is named after the Pomeroon and the Supenaam rivers. These rivers also serve as boundaries for the Region.

Today we are continuing with our topic, Administrative Regions. We will explore the beautiful Region Three-Essequibo Islands, West Demerara. We are going to:

◊ Describe the Region ◊ Examine the political map of the Region ◊

Identify main resources ◊ Discuss the main economic activities ◊ Identify important landmarks found in the Region

LET’S EXAMINE REGION THREE: ESSEQUIBO ISLANDS-WEST DEMERARA

Essequibo Islands/West Demerara is bordered by the three islands of the Essequibo River in the northern section and the western bank of the Demerara River. Demerara and Essequibo have merged sections that form this Region.

Did you know? This Region may be the only one with direct connections with several other administrative regions. For example, persons who wish to get to Bartica (Region No. 7) from

Georgetown, the city, must travel through Region 4, then No.3, to reach Parika before boarding a boat to get to Bartica.

Parika is the terminus at the end of the highway in Region No. 3. However, persons can travel from Parika to Adventure or Supenaam, Region No. 2, sometimes via the large Essequibo islands - Leguan, Wakenaam, and Hog Island estuaries.

Let’s look at some of the villages that can be found in this Region.

Some run along the Atlantic shoreline and are referred to as the West Coast Demerara Villages. Some of these are

■ Best

■ Vreed-en-Hoop

■ Stewartville

■ La Jalousie

Some villages run along the west bank of the Demerara River and are referred to as the West Bank Demerara Villages.

Some of these villages are: ■ La Grange

■ Versailles

■ Good Intent ■ Vauxhall

■ Free and Easy

On the right bank of the Essequibo River, where the county of Demerara ends and the county of Essequibo begins (or vice versa), many villages border the Atlantic Ocean. Some are:

■ Greenwich Park

■ Zeelugt

■ Hubu

■ Roden Rust

Fact/Tip: Leguan and Wakenaam islands in the Essequibo River estuary also have villages connected by roads that run in northerly and southerly directions. Blenheim and La Bagatella are villages in Leguan; Caledonia and Arthurville are villages in Wakenaam.

Do you know what an estuary is?

The term estuary is derived from the Latin words aestus (“the tide”) and aestuo (“boil”), indicating the effect generated when tidal flow and river flow meet. Estuaries are places where rivers meet the sea and may be defined as areas where salt water is measurably diluted with fresh water.

Agricultural Resources within the Region

This Region boasts two of Guyana’s agricultural resources, which serve as export crops: Rice and Sugar. Which one is not grown in Regions No.1 and 2? If you said sugar, you are correct.

Several rice mills produce white and parboiled or brown rice. These mills are privately owned.

There used to be two grinding sugar factories in this Region. One is still located at Uitvlugt on the west coast of Demerara, while the other was situated along the west bank of Demerara River in Wales.

Other agricultural products which abound in the Region, particularly on the west bank of Demerara River, are:

■ Citrus

■ Pineapples

■ ground provisions.

Other regions produce many green vegetables, pepper, and coconuts.

Note: The Boerasirie Extension Project and the Canals Polder Conservancy are two projects which provide irrigation in the Region. Water is taken to farmlands, especially when the weather is dry.

Canal No.1 and No.2 can be found in the west bank section of the Region. These canals were dug during the time of Dutch occupation of the country. These canals drain the rich agricultural lands in that part of the Region.

Rice is grown in abundance on the islands at the estuary of the Essequibo River. These have fertile alluvial soil formed by sediment brought downstream by the river.

Ground provisions are also planted, and this yields good results. The produce reaches the various marketing centres in Georgetown and its environs.