INTERNAL ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS OF BRITISH GUIANA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 1999
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 29, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

~ ~;L_
Approved For~~elease 20~/~l?1~~~979A000100100002-3
R~~~~~ T~ D~/ GG.
~~ ~E1 ~~i.ES
li`.NTF~tNAL ADNL~N~STRAT~VE Dg~:~S~:ONS OF BRYT~SH GUIANA
~"RR-G,~E-86
~'9 August 1.958
CEN`i'i~AL ~NTELLTGENCE AGENC7C
DOCUMENT NO. ~ -
NO CHANGE IN CLASS.
Cl DECLASSIFIED
CLASS. CHANGED TO: 7S S C
NEXT REVIEW DATE: ~ _
AUTH: HR 70-2 018360
DATE: ~'7 8~T REVIEWER: ---.----.,,
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
FOR OFF3C~ASy USE ONLY
 Approved For~lelease 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79.4~979A000100100002-3
NTE~NAL ADM~iJ1SPRATIVE D~I~iIS~r ONS OF BR1TIS~Y GtFiANA
For administrative purposes tb,e Oolong 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
~Ca~tal.
Effective as of
East Berbice
New Amsterdam
23 March 1853
West Berbice
Fort Wellington
23 March 1953
East Demerara
Enmore
23 March 1953
West Demerara
geed-en-hoop
1 August 1g~7
Essequibo Islands
Enterprise
1 August 19+7
Essequibo
Suddie
1 February 1955
N'c~rth West
Mabarums,
1 February 1955
Ma~,aruni-Potaro
Bartica
1 August lg~+?
F~upununi
Latham
1 January 1937
The proclamations establishing the nine districts were recorded
in issues of the Official Gazette of British Guiana published vn 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 Butch Guiana from the
Atl.autic Ocean up to the nth 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 athaca
and its continuation to the Berbice-Abary watershed,
the Berbice-Abary watershed to its function with
the Berbice-Demerara watershed and the Berbice-
Essequibo watershed to the fourth parallel of
North Latitude. Official Gazette, 21 March 1953a
p . 9~+3. ~
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
 Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
West Berbice District is bounded on the North
by the Atlantic Ocean; on the East and South by the
.eft bank of the Berbice River from the Atlantic
Ocean to the south boundary of Plantation lthaea,
the south boundary of P]~ntation Ithaca and its
continuation westward to the Berbice-Abary watershed
and the Berbice-Abary watershed to its function with
the Berbice~I)eemerara watershed; on the West by the
Abary-Mahaie~ony watershed from its function with
the Berbice-Demerara watershed northward to the
s'~ugdeo Oanal, the ~Bugdeo Canal eastward to the Deft
Bank Abary River and the Ioeft Bank Abary River to
the Atlantic Ocean. Official Gazette, 21 March
1s53 ~ p ? 9u3. ~
East Demerara District is bounded on the North
by the Atlantic Ocean; on the East by the Abary-
Mahaicony watershed from its function with the
Berbice-Demerara watershed northward to the dugdeo
Canal, the ~ugdeo (Banal eastward to the heft Bank
Abary River and the If~eft bank Abary River to the
At)~ntic Ocean; on the West and South by the right
banl~, Demerara River, from its mouth to the north-
western extremity of the area .eased 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 afo7~esaid watershed to
the source of the Mahaicor~y-Watuks River. (Official
Gazette, ~l March 1953, p? 9~+3~~
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 nortih-weste~?ly and wester],y
direction slang the coastline 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, Prom ite mouth to the narth-western
extremity of the area leased to the Government
of the united States of America, thence slang
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
- 2 -
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
 Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
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 Bonasilta
River to its mouth. ~Offici~l Gazette, 1 August
19~7.~
Essequibo ~;slands 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 ls]~nd,
thence to the north-western extremity of Wakenaam
7~.sland, thence in a south-westerly direction to the
right bank, Supenaam River at its mouth, thence along
the right. bs~nk, Sunex~aam River, to its source, thence
in a south-eastern direction along the watershed
between the Ct~yuni 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
tlae Essequibo and Demerara Rivers, thence northward
along the aforesaid watershed to the source of the
Bonasika River, thence along the left bank, Banasika
River, to its mouth, thence along the right bank,
Essequibo Diver, to the starting point on the left
bank of the Boeraserie River. Official Gazette,
1 August 1q~+7 0 )
Essequibo District is bounded on the North by
the Atlantic Ocean from the mouth of-the Pomeroon
River to the northern boundary of Better Bope; on
the East by the Atlax~.tic Ocean and the left bank of
the Essequibo River from the northern boundary of
Plantation Better Bope to the mouth of the Supenaam
Diver and including 'Eiger 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 Wa}sapau River, thence by
the left bank Wakapau River to the mouth of the
~Ianabasaigia River, thence by a line in the southm
easterly direetian to the watershed between the
Wakapau and Akawini Rivers, thence along this
watershed to the watershed between the Akawini
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
 Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
~.+
and Manawarin #~ivers, 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 slang the watershed between
the Cuyuni and Pomeroon Rivers to the source of the
Supesm~am Rivero (Officia~a Gazette, 7 February 1955.
North West District is bounded on the North by
the Atlantic Ocean from Puma ,~Punta,~ Playa to the
mouth of the Pomeroon 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 +o the watershed between
the Wakapau and Akawini Rivers, thence along this
watershed to the waterahe~ 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 ~'uyuni and the Waini and Harems 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 Oceano C4fficial
Gazette, `j k'ebruary 1955 ? ~~
Mazaruni-Potaro District is bounded on the North
by a ~.ine commencing at the source of the Supenaam
River, and extending westward along the watershed
between the Cuyuni and Waini and Harems Rivers to
the source of the Akarabisi River; on the East by a
13.ne commencing at the source of the Supenaam River
and extending in a south-easterly direction along
the watershed betwreen 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, N~akouria River, to its
source, thence to the watershed between the Essequibo
and Demerara Rivera 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 Rivera; 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 19~7~
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
 Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
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, northwards from the fourth
(.4th) parallel of Nort3~ Tatitude 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 CSth~ parallel of
North Latitude. Official Gazette, l~+ November
193, P? 1158.E
The six coastal distr~.cts -- Esat Berbice, West Berbice, East
nemarara, West Demerara, Essequibo Islands and Essequibo --- are
administered by local. district commissioners under the Department of
T:~ocal 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.
Ndasny 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
1$l~+ when the area was ceded to Great Britain. The appearance of the
three "counties"" on current maps of British Guiana is somewhat pu~.zling
and has led to much confusion about the internal civil divisions of
the colony.
A new CII# map, British Guiana, shows current district boundaries
at 1:~,Oth~,f300. They are shown its greater detail at 1:Z,Ot30,000 on a
reference copy of a British Guianese Map of British Guiana that has recent
manuscript additions bringing the boundary delineations up to date.~?
~?'he CIA Map Y~ibrary extension 2596 has both maps. Distribution
copies of British Guiana, 1:4,000,000, 195$, CIA Map 26554, are obtainable
on request. the Map of British Guiana, 1:1,000,000, Department of Tands
and Mines, Georgetown, British Guiana, 1947 (reprinted by the Directorate
of Colonial Surveys, 1955, with manuscript additions as of 1958, is
available far reference only. Ca11 No. 111316.
Approved For Release 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79-00979A000100100002-3
w5?
 Approved For,,~lease 2000/04/17 :CIA-RDP79~979A000100100002-3
sa
~ , ~
$~
~
o
~- ?~ ~ ~
BRITISH GUIANA
~
,~. /~
ma
,
y.
Y % ;i
_
-International boundary
(9~>~b
~ _~"~ '' ~ ~ r
~
C RIO
Q
-Administrative district boundary
_
L ~ r
~
?~,,.,>'~~'~'~ -~~S Jos6 de '
I~
R1 ~
'
? Colonial capital
,
waini roi
~ ,~'
_ macuro ?, ,,, ~~
\
"
'
o Administrative district capital -
~
,< -=
} ~'MPrawhanna ~
t ,.: s ~ ~ ~ .. i
~ %J f i
-
-f-~~ Railroad
,, ?~
' _ - Y. }~ `-- ~,r~~y ~kdB~tacuma~ `~ 7 _
. ' 1"
~
~~ ` '. w
~
~
'
Selected road
..... Selected trail
?
_.
~
I
__.... _
_
___ ~.. __
,L ~
'
? I
" ~ ~
_
-
~?r
r
i
N ~ i~ i
" Swamp or marsh
__.
u
"~~
~
~
~
~
,r
+ )iUnrlr
~, W
(
~ ~
............. `y.~
I ~ ~ ?~rakaka ~ `
1
5 ~0 75 Miles
25 50 ]S Kilometers
h ~
. V x _.,:
`-., ~ DELIM/TE~D++` ftpr ~i ,... ~ - Charltyl - ~
- ,Kokerit
' ~'
v
?
~
ONLY; ~
.Towakaima -
.Tumeremp (
.... ?
q
::,rit;t'
rx`
'
I
- -- - -
,
,
t? ,
~
Suddie
J:'
,r
~ ~~
j i
~
a?Q
~
SPring Garde
?
e
i
'~
~ -
6
~
t
rp
~ ,~,,o
tSe
~ ~nt
(_, J~OGEO
l2to cy~ .~ ~" -~ -~-=_ ?~ "'~~~/ arrka ': '
E, i Aurora' t ~ ~ ~~ 9~1
!'~~'~~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~ Potasi ~.
~
RGETOWN t
Enmore -- '~
~ . _
/ e
i
~ ~ ~ t ~ ~;_ ,
,
Maha
cony ;
t1 ~. B~rtica ~; ~ ~--'., P~rk((JJ
~
I
7 ,Fort Wellington
i
~
l~
( ~
~
_- ~~ t
~? ?i? z1~ ~ o..~`?
~4`'~ ~ Tumereng I ~`~
~ ri
~ i
_ ~,~~ ,1 t -. r i v {_ _ ~ i A R O ~/_" McKe
~ ~ {
Rocks n
.iT
OSIgnO
~ AMSTERDAM
~' _
;; 1 ~: Meads \
-
~ Ma
~
J
,Soraba _ _ fhr e ~
Ssano ~
` ~
- f/nends I
l
/ ~ S rt~tglands?I Nieuw. _?
{t ,gNickerie Coronie?
+
7
~
~
.Y,.
~\+ P tLLltl
E`a~ . ~ ,{ ~
`
ff
r ~ ~. is
~Takama 1 ,
~
~
t
.._st O