Bartica
Encyclopedia
Essequibo River
The Esequibo River is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil-Guyana border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,010 km through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean.-Geography:There are countless...
in Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Cuyuni-Mazaruni is a region of Esequiban Guyana, a territory in dispute by Guyana and Venezuela, bordering the regions of Barima-Waini, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara and Pomeroon-Supenaam to the north, the region of Upper Demerara-Berbice to the east, the region of Potaro-Siparuni and Brazil to...
(Region 7), at the confluence of the Cuyuni
Cuyuni River
The Cuyuni River is a South American river and a tributary of the Essequibo River. It rises in the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela where it descends northward to El Dorado, and turns eastward to meander through the tropical rain forests of Guayana Esequiba...
and Mazaruni River
Mazaruni River
The Mazaruni River is a river in northern Guyana, running from its source in the remote western forests of the Pakaraima Mountains to its confluence with the Cuyuni River near Bartica...
s with the Essequibo River
Essequibo River
The Esequibo River is the largest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Rising in the Acarai Mountains near the Brazil-Guyana border, the Essequibo flows to the north for 1,010 km through forest and savanna into the Atlantic Ocean.-Geography:There are countless...
. Considered the "Gateway to the Interior", the town has a population of about 15,000 and is the launching point for people who work in the bush mining gold and diamonds.
History
Bartica developed from an Anglican missionary settlement, established in 1842. The name 'Bartica' comes from an Amerindian word meaning 'red earth', abundant in the area.Education
Bartica has two secondary school Bartica Secondary and Three Miles Secondary and three primary schools, St. Anthony's Primary and St. John-the-Baptist and Two Miles Primary. There are several other primary schools in the surrounding riverine communities.
Health
The region 7 hospital is located in Bartica and is known for having implemented the country’s first Health Information System in 2005, developed by Peace Corps volunteers Geoffrey Thompson and Jason Knueppel.Tourism
Bartica can be reached from ParikaParika
Parika is a port township located in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana. It is popular for its ferry service, operated by the Ministry of Transportation, to and from the Essequibo Islands and West Demerara area. It is also notable for its Sunday markets...
, Essequibo and Linden
Linden
Linden is one of three English names for the tree genus Tilia . Several of the common names for species within the Tilia genus have Linden in their names...
, Demarara.
North of Bartica lie the ruins of the Dutch fort Kyk-Over-Al
Kyk-Over-Al
Fort Kyk-Over-Al was a Dutch fort in the colony of Essequibo, in what is now Guyana. It was constructed in 1616 on an islet in the mouth of the Mazaruni River. It once served as the centre for the Dutch administration of the county, but now only ruins are left...
, former government seat for the County of Essequibo. Bartica is also close to Marshall Falls.
There are several hotels in the town including Platinum Inn, The New Modern Hotel, Balkarran's Guest House (D factor to D interior), and Zen's Plaza. There is also a thriving nightclub located in the Modern Hotel building.
During the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
weekend every year, Bartica hosts the Bartica Regatta, a growing variety of entertaining holiday activities including water sports (featuring mostly speed boats), cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, soccer, talent shows, a street parade, and a Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant. The Regatta attracts people from all parts of venezuela and even from other countries.
There is also a summer Regatta, which is held annually in August.
Ivor Mendonca
Ivor Mendonca
Leon Ivor Mendonca is a former West Indian cricketer who played in 2 Tests in 1962.His parents are Ineas Mendonca and Osmond Mendonca. Ivor Mendonca is the oldest of 10 brothers and sisters....
, a West Indian cricketer was born in Bartica. Dianne Ferreira-James international FIFA referee is also from Bartica, her father was one of the twelve people killed during the 17 February 2008 Bartica massacre
Bartica massacre
The Bartica Massacre refers to the murder of twelve residents of Bartica, Essequibo, Guyana, murdered by the criminal gang led by Rondell "Fineman" Rawlins. Rawlins and many of the other suspected gang members were later killed by Guyanese security forces...
.