INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS OF BRITISH GUIANA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00391R000200240004-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 8, 1998
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 29, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

Upproved For Rele IftOO0200240004-9
INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS OF BRITISH GUIANA
IA,/RR-G,/E-86
29 August 1958
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
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INTERNAL ADMINIS7'ATIVE DIVISIONS OF BRITISH GU LM
For administrative purposes the Colony of British Guiana is
&omprised of nine districts, listed. below with their capitals and the
dates on which their current boundaries became officially effective:
District
Capital
Effective as of:
East Berbice
New Amsterdam
23 March 1953
West Berbice
sort Wellington
23 March 1953
East Demerara
Enmore
23 March 1953
West Demerara
Vreed-en-hoop
1 August 19+7
Essequibo Islands
Enterprise
1 August 19+7
Essequibo
6uddie
1 February 1955
North West
Mabaruma
1 February 1955
Mazaruni-Potaro
bartica
1 August 1947
Rupununi
Lethem
1 January 1937
The proclamations establishing the nine districts were recorded
in issues of the Official Gazette of British Guiana published on or
about the effective dates noted above. The proclamations include
detailed descriptions of the district boundaries as follows:
East Berbice District is bounded on the North
by the Atlantic Ocean; on the East by the boundary
between this Colony and Dutch Guiana from the
Atlantic Ocean up to the 4th parallel of North
Latitude; on the South by the fourth parallel of
North Latitude from the boundary between this
Colony and Dutch Guiana to the watershed between
the Essequibo and Berbice Rivers; and on the West
by the left bank of the Berbice River from the
Atlantic Ocean to the south boundary of Plantation
Ithaca, the south boundary of Plantation Ithaca
and its continuation to the Berbice-Abary watershed,
the Berbice-Abary watershed to its junction with
the Berbice-Demerara watershed and the Berbice-
Essequibo watershed to the fourth parallel of
North Latitude, (Official Gazette, 21 March 1953,
p. 913.
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West Berbice District is bounded on the North
by the Atlantic Ocean; on the East and South by the
left bank of the Berbice River from the Atlantic
Ocean to the south boundary of Plantation Ithaca,
the south boundary of Plantation Ithaca and its
continuation westward to the Berbice-Abary watershed
and the Berbice-Abary watershed to its junction with
the Berbice-Demerara watershed; on the West by the
Abary-Mahaicony watershed from its junction with
the Berbice-Demerara watershed northward to the
Jugdeo Canal, the Jugdeo Canal eastward to the Left
Bank Abary River and the Left Bank Abary River to
the Atlantic Ocean. (Official Gazette, 21 March
1953, P. 91s.3.)
East Demerara District is bounded on the North
by the Atlantic Ocean; on the East by the Abary-
Mahaicony watershed from its junction with the
Berbice-Demerara watershed northward to the Jugdeo
Canal, the Jugdeo Canal eastward to the Left Bank
Abary River and the Left bank Abary River to the
Atlantic Ocean; on the,West and South by the right
bank, Demerara River, from its mouth to the north-
western extremity of the area leased to the Government
of the United States of America, thence along the
northern boundary of the said area to its north
eastern extremity, thence by a line due east to the
watershed between the Demerara and Mahaica Rivers,
thence southward along the aforesaid watershed to
the source of the Mahate:ony-Watuka River. (Official
Gazette, 21 March 1953, p. 943.)
West Demerara District is bounded on the North
by a line starting from a point on the right bank,
Demerara River, at its mouth and extending thence
westward to a point on the left bank of the Demerara
River, thence in a north-westerly and westerly
direction along the co*stline to the mouth of the
Boeraserie River, thence along the right bank,
Essequibo River, to the mouth of the Bonasika
River; on the East by the right bank, Demerara
River, from its mouth to the north-western
extremity of the area leased to the Government
of the United States of America, thence along
the northern boundary of the said area to its
north-eastern extremity, thence by a line due
east to the watershed between the Demerara and
the Mahaica Rivers thence southward along the
aforesaid watershed and the watershed between
the Demerara and Berbice Rivers to the fifth
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parallel of North Latitude; on the South by the fifth
parallel of North Latitude from the watershed between
the Berbice and Demerara Rivers to the watershed
between the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers; on the
West by the watershed between the Essequibo and
Demerara Rivers from the fifth parallel of North
Latitude northward to the source of the Bonasika
River, thence along the left bank of the Bonasika
River to its mouth. Official Gazette, 1 August
1947.)
Essequibo Islands District is bounded as follows:
Commencing at a point on the left bank, Boeraserie
River, at its mouth and extending in a general northerly
direction around the eastern extremity of Dauntless
Island to the northern extremity of the said Island,
thence to the north-Yestern extremity of Wakenaam
Island, thence in a south-westerly direction to the
right bank, Supenaam River at its mouth, thence along
the right bank, Supenaam River, to its source, thence
in a south-eastern direction along the watershed
between the Cuyvni and Essequibo Rivers to the source
of Tiger River, thence downwards along the right bank
of Tiger River to its mouth, thence in a south-easterly
direction across the Essequibo River to the Mouth of
Makouria River, thence up the left bank, Makouria
River, to its source, thence to the watershed between
the Essequibo and Demerara Rivers, thence northward
along the aforesaid watershed to the source of the
Bonasika River, thence along the left bank, Bonasika
River, to its mouth, thence along the right bank,
Essequibo River, to the starting point on the left
bank of the Boeraserie River. (Official Gazette,
1 August 1947.)
Essequibo District is bounded on the North by
the Atlantic Ocean from the mouth of the Pomeroon
River to the northern boundary of Better Hope; on
the East by the Atlantic Ocean and the left bank of
the Essequibo River from the northern boundary of
Plantation Better Hope to the mouth of the Supenaam
River and including Tiger Island; on the South by
the right bank of the Supenaam River from its mouth
to its source; on the West by the left bank Pomeroon
River to the mouth of the Wakapau River, thence by
the left bank Wakapau River to the mouth of the
Hanabasaigia River, thence by a line in the south-
easterly direction to the watershed between the
Wakapau and Akawini Rivers, thence along this
watershed to the watershed between the Akawini
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and Manawarin Rivers, thence along this watershed to
the watershed between the Pomeroon and Waini Rivers,
thence along this watershed to the source of the
Pomeroon River, thence along the watershed between
the Cuyuni and Pomeroon Rivers to the source of the
Supenaam River. (Official Gazette, 7 February 1955?)
North West District is bounded on the North by
the Atlantic Ocean from Putna LPuntaJ Playa to the
mouth of the Pomeroor; River; on the East by the left
bank Pomeroon River to the mouth of the Wakapau
River, thence by the left bank Wakapau River to the
mouth of Hanabasaigia River, thence by a line in a
south-easterly direction to the watershed between
the Wakapau and Akawini Rivers, thence along this
watershed to the watershed between the Akawini and
Manawarin Rivers thence along this watershed to
the watershed between the Pomeroon and Waini Rivers,
thence along this watershed to the source of the
Pomeroon River; on the South by the watershed
between the Cuyuni and the Waini and Barama Rivers
from the source of the Pomeroon River to the source
of the Akarabisi River; on the West by the boundary
between the Colony and Venezuela from the source of
the Akarabisi River to the Atlantic Ocean. (Official
Gazette, 7 February 3.955?)
Mazaruni-PotaroDistrict is bounded on the North
by a line commencing at the source of the Supenaam
River, and extending westward along the watershed
between the Cuyuni and Waini and Barama Rivers to
the source of the Al arabisi River; on the East by a
line commencing at the source of the Supenaam River
and extending in a south-easterly direction along
the watershed between the Cuyuni and Essequibo
Rivers to the source of Tiger River, thence downwards
along the right bank of Tiger River to its mouth,
thence in a south-easterly direction across the
Essequibo River to the mouth of the Makouria River,
thence up the left bank, Makouria River, to its
source, thence to the watershed between the Essequibo
and Demerara Rivers thence southward along the
aforesaid watershed to the fifth parallel of North
Latitude; on the South by the boundary between the
Colony and Brazil from the trinational mark on Mount
Roraima to the fifth parallel of North Latitude,
thence eastward along the fifth parallel of North
Latitude to the watershed between Essequibo and
Demerara Rivers; on-the West by the boundary between
the Colony and Venezuela from the source of the
Akarabisi River to the Trinational mark on Mount
Roraima. (Official Gazette, 1 August 1947)
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Rupununi District is bounded on the North by
the fourth parallel Of North Latitude from the
boundary between this Colony and Dutch Guiana to
the watershed between the Essequibo and Berbice
rivers; by the watershed between the Essequibo
and Berbice rivers, Dorthwards from the fourth
(4th) parallel of North Latitude to the watershed
between the Demerara and Berbice rivers; by the
watershed between the Demerara and Berbice
rivers northwards to-the fifth (5th) parallel of
North Latitude; by the fifth (5th) parallel of
North Latitude from the watershed between the
Demerara and Berbice rivers to the boundary
between this Colony and Brazil; on the East by
the boundary between this Colony and Dutch
Guiana southwards from the fourth parallel of
North latitude; on the south by the boundary
between this Colony and Brazil; on the west
by the boundary between this Colony and Brazil
southwards from the fifth (5th) parallel of
North Latitude. (Official Gazette, 14 November
1936, p. 1158.)
The six coastal districts -- East Berbice, West Berbice) East
Demarara, West Demerara, Essequibo Islands and Essequibo -- are
administered by local district commissioners under the Department of
Local Government in Georgetown. The interior districts -- North West,
Mazaruni-Potari, and Rupununi -- have district commissioners who are
responsible to the Department of the Interior. The principal duties
of the district commissioners are to coordinate the various government
departments within their districts, and to provide assistance in the
management of village affairs.
Many maps of the Colony of British Guiana show three "counties" --
Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice -- extending from the coast inland,
roughly encompassing the river basins having those names. These three
divisions have no administrative status whatever and have no legally
defined boundaries. They reflect historical divisions made prior to
1814 when the area was ceded to Great Britain. The appearance of the
three "counties" on current maps of British Guiana is somewhat puzzling
and has led to much confusion about the internal civil divisions of
the colony.
A new CIA map, British Guiana, shows current district boundaries
at 1:,1.,000,000. They are shown in greater detail at 1:1,000,000 on a
reference copy of a British;, Guianese Map of British Guiana that has recent
manuscript additions bringing the boundary delineations up to date.*
The CIA Map Library (extension 2596) has both maps. Distribution
copies of British Guiana, 1:4,000,000, 1958, CIA Map 26554, are obtainable
on request. The Mau of British Guiana, 1:1,000,000, Department of Lands
and Mines, Georgetown, British Guiana, 1947 (reprinted by the Directorate
of Colonial Surveys, 1955), with manuscript additions as of 1958, is
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 Approved ForRel+ease : CCIA-R
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