Windsor Forest, Guyana

Last updated
Windsor Forest
Village
Guyana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Windsor Forest
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 6°50′47″N58°14′22″W / 6.8464°N 58.2395°W / 6.8464; -58.2395 Coordinates: 6°50′47″N58°14′22″W / 6.8464°N 58.2395°W / 6.8464; -58.2395
Country Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana
Region Essequibo Islands-West Demerara
Neighbourhood Council La Jalousie/Nouvelle Flanders
Population
 (2012) [1]
  Total1,602

Windsor Forest is a village in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara of Guyana. It is located along the Atlantic Ocean coast. [2] It was the first Chinese settlement in Guyana, however few Chinese remain. It was the birthplace of First Guyana President Arthur Chung. [3]

Contents

Overview

Windsor Forest started as a plantation. In the early 20th century, Windsor Forest and neighbouring La Jalousie, were purchased by the government, divided into acre sized lots, and offered for rent. [4]

The economy of the village is mainly based on rice cultivation. [5] It has a primary school [6] and a health centre. [7] Between 1900 and 1974, [8] Windsor Forest had a railway station on the Demerara-Essequibo railway. [5]

The area is prone to flooding. [9] It used to be protected by mangrove forests. A citizen's initiative by Deopaul Somwaru aims to replant the mangroves along the coast. [2]

Chinese settlement

Between 1853 and 1879, indentured labourers from China were brought to work on the plantations in British Guiana. On 12 January 1853, the first labourers arrived aboard the Glentanner , and 105 people were assigned to the Windsor Forest plantation [6] making it the first Chinese settlement in Guyana. [3] In 1986, a monument was erected in front of the primary school to commemorate the event. [6]

Few Chinese remain in the village. Of the 1,602 inhabitants of Windsor Forest at the 2012 census, only five identified as ethnic Chinese, and 1,484 as Indo-Guyanese. [1]

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demerara</span> 1745–1803 Dutch colony in South America

Demerara is a historical region in the Guianas, on the north coast of South America, now part of the country of Guyana. It was a colony of the Dutch West India Company between 1745 and 1792 and a colony of the Dutch state from 1792 until 1815. It was merged with Essequibo in 1812 by the British who took control. It formally became a British colony in 1815 till Demerara-Essequibo was merged with Berbice to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831. In 1838, it became a county of British Guiana till 1958. In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana and in 1970 it became a republic as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. It was located around the lower course of the Demerara River, and its main settlement was Georgetown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Chung</span> President of Guyana from 1970 to 1980

Arthur Raymond Chung was the 1st President of Guyana from 1970 to 1980. He was the first ethnic Chinese to be head of state in a non-Asian country. He was honoured with Guyana's highest national honour, the Order of Excellence (O.E.). Chung was a leader in Guyana's fight for independence during the British colonial era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essequibo Islands-West Demerara</span> Region of Guyana

Essequibo Islands-West Demerara is a region of Guyana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essequibo (colony)</span> 1616–1803 Dutch colony in South America

Essequibo was a colony and later county on the Essequibo River in the Guiana region on the north coast of South America. It was a colony of the Dutch West India Company between 1616 and 1792 and a colony of the Dutch state from 1792 until 1815. It was merged with Demerara in 1812 by the British who took control. It formally became a British colony in 1815 till Demerara-Essequibo was merged with Berbice to form the colony of British Guiana in 1831. In 1838, it became a county of British Guiana till 1958. In 1966, British Guiana gained independence as Guyana and in 1970 it became a republic as the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. It was located around the lower course of the Demerara River, and its main settlement was Georgetown.

Afro-Guyanese are generally descended from the enslaved people brought to Guyana from the coast of West Africa to work on sugar plantations during the era of the Atlantic slave trade. Coming from a wide array of backgrounds and enduring conditions that severely constrained their ability to preserve their respective cultural traditions contributed to the adoption of Christianity and the values of British colonists.

The Railways of Guyana comprised two public railways, the Demerara-Berbice Railway and the Demerara-Essequibo railway. There are also several industrial railways mainly for the bauxite industry. The Demerara-Berbice Railway is the oldest in South America. None of the railways are in operation in the 21st century.

Zeelandia, a community in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana.

Adventure is a village located in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region of Guyana, on the Atlantic coast, at sea level, one mile south of Onderneeming.

Vreed en Hoop is a village at the mouth of the Demerara River on its west bank, in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana, located at sea level. It is the location of the Regional Democratic Council office making it the administrative center for the region. There is also a police station, magistrate's court and post office.

Met-en-Meerzorg is a village located on the West Coast of Demerara in the region of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara in Guyana. The village was named after the sugar plantation Met en Meerzorg.

Zeeburg is a village located on the West Coast of Demerara in Guyana, South America. The village, in the administrative region Essequibo Islands-West Demerara was named by the Dutch during their occupation of Guyana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockstone</span> Village in Upper Demerara-Berbice, Guyana

Rockstone is a village on the right bank of the Essequibo River in the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region of Guyana, altitude 6 metres. Rockstone is approximately 26 km west of Linden and is linked by road.

Den Amstel is a village in Guyana's Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region. It lies on the Atlantic coast, approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west-north-west of the capital, Georgetown. The village has a population of 938 people as of 2012, who are predominantly Afro-Guyanese.

Doreen Pamela Chung was a Guyanese public figure and the wife of the first President of Guyana, Arthur Chung. She served as the inaugural First Lady of Guyana from March 1970 until October 1980.

Fairview (Kurupukari) is an indigenous settlement on the Essequibo River, in the Upper Demerara-Berbice region of Guyana. It is the entry point to the Iwokrama Forest. Former president David A. Granger once referred to Iwokrama as the "green heart of Guyana."

Goed Fortuin is a village located in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana. The village started as a sugar plantation in the early 1800s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Mission</span> Village in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana

Santa Mission is a village in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region of Guyana. Santa Mission is mainly inhabited by Lokono Amerindians. The village is located on the Kamuni Creek, a tributary of the Demerara River. The village of Hopetown, an early Chinese settlement, is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Santa Mission.

Helena is a village in the Demerara-Mahaica Region of Guyana. Administratively the village is subdivided in Helena No.1 and Helena No.2 and is part of the Mahaica subregion.

Vriesland is a village in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region of Guyana. It is located on the west bank of the Demerara River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuschen</span> Village in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana

Tuschen is a village in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Region of Guyana. It is located along the Atlantic Ocean coast. The original name of the village was Tuschen de Vrienden. During the 20th century, it was a small village. The Tuschen Housing Scheme resulted in a considerable growth, and is one of the largest housing schemes in Guyana.

References

  1. 1 2 "2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 Lakhram Bhagirat (22 November 2021). "Young environmental advocate aims to restore Region Three mangrove forest". Stabroek News. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Windsor Forest – The first Chinese settlement". Guyana Times International. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  4. Odeen Ishmael. The Guyana Story - Indian Settlements. Guyana.org. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 Michel Outridge (14 June 2020). "Hard work and talent abound in Windsor Forest". Guyana Chronicle. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 "Guyana celebrates 166 years of Chinese Arrival". iNews Guyana. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  7. "Region 3". Ministry of Health. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  8. "The Public Railways of Guyana, 2014, Part 2". International Steam. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  9. Miranda La Rose (31 January 2004). "La Jalousie/Nouvelle Flanders Neighbourhood". Stabroek News via Land of Six People. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. "Guyana's 'first' First Lady Doreen Chung dies". Repeating Islands. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2021.