Barima-Waini

Barima-Waini (Region One) is a region of Essequiban Guyana, a territory in dispute by Guyana and Venezuela, located in the northwest of the country. It covers an area of 20,339 km². It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the region of Pomeroon-Supenaam to the east, the region of Cuyuni-Mazaruni to the south and Venezuela to the west.

Major settlements include the regional capital Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, Matthew's Ridge, Morawhanna, Towakaima, Koriabo, Hosororo, Arakaka and Moruca. Barima and Waini are two rivers that flow through the densely forested and sparsely populated region.

The Atlantic coast features a number of beaches, including, from west to east, Almond Beach, Luri Beach, Shell Beach, Turtle Beach, Foxes Beach, Iron-punt Beach, Pawpaw Beach and Father's Beach. Marine turtles nest on some of these beaches.

The northern and northeastern sections include thousands of acres of rich alluvial soil, of which its main crops include coffee, ground provisions, cabbage, beans, corn, other vegetables, citrus and other fruits (This is the area which supplies the famous Pomeroon casareep). Gold and diamond mining is also carried out there. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, serious consideration was once given to moving the capital of Guyana to this area.

The Matthews Ridge-Port Kaituma manganese industry was discontinued when falling world prices made it uneconomical to continue.

Mabaruma became the administrative centre when it was decided that the former centre, Morawhanna, was too susceptible to flooding.

Before the 1980 administrative reform the area was known as the North West district.

The region has two secondary schools, North West Secondary School in Mabaruma, established in 1965, and Santa Rosa Secondary School, established in 1992.

Population

Barima-Waini's population was 24,275 in 2002 (Official census).

*2002 : 24,275
*1991 : 18,428
*1980 : 18,329

Communities

(including name variants):

*Acquero (Akwero, Aqueero)
*Arakaka
*Barabina Hill
*Baramani (Baramanna, Baramanni, Barimanni)
*Baramita
*Chinese Landing
*Cummingsburg
*Five Star (Five Star Landing, Five Stars)
*Hobediah
*Hosororo (Hossororo)
*Hotakwai
*Iguapa (Igupa Village)
*Ipotaikuru
*Issororo
*Juanita
*Kaituma
*Kamwatta Hill
*Kariakau (Kariaku)
*Kokerit (Kokerit Landing, Kokerite)
*Konora Village (Konoro Village)
*Koriabo
*Kumaka
*Kwebanna (Kwabanna)
*La Juanita
*Mabaruma (administrative centre)
*Manari (Manari Village)
*Manawarin
*Matthew's Ridge
*Mission Landing
*Morawhanna
*Moruca
*Mount Everard
*Mubohina
*Pakera
*Parapimai
*Port Kaituma
*Red Hill Settlement
*Saint Bede's Mission (Saint Bedes)
*Saint Benedict Mission
*Santa Cruz
*Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa Mission)
*Sinclair Landing
*Surprise Hill
*Towakaima (Towakaima Landing, Towokaima Falls)
*Waikerebi Mission
*Waramuri (Waramuri Mission)
*Waropoko Mission
*Wauna-Yarakita (Wauna-Yarikita)