Queenstown is a village in the
Pomeroon-Supenaam Region of
Guyana
Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic British West Indies. entry "Guyana" Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the co ...
. It is located on the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
coast. It is one of the first villages where the emancipated African slaves bought the lands.
Queenstown is home to the oldest extant mosque of Guyana.
History
Queenstown started as three plantations named Mocha, West Field and Dageraad.
In 1780,
Fula people
The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people are an ethnic group in Sahara, Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. Inhabiting many countries, they live mainly in West Africa and northern parts of Central Africa, South Sudan, Darfur, ...
from
Senegambia
The Senegambia (other names: Senegambia region or Senegambian zone,Barry, Boubacar, ''Senegambia and the Atlantic Slave Trade'', (Editors: David Anderson, Carolyn Brown; trans. Ayi Kwei Armah; contributors: David Anderson, American Council of Le ...
, Africa, arrived on the plantations as slaves. The tribe set out to build a small
masjid
A mosque ( ), also called a masjid ( ), is a place of worship for Muslims. The term usually refers to a covered building, but can be any place where Islamic prayers are performed; such as an outdoor courtyard.
Originally, mosques were simple p ...
out of
wattle and mud. The mosque was rebuilt three times, and is still in service for a congregation of about 50 people.
In 1838, the slaves were
emancipated. The plantations at the time were owned by Mr Carberry who decided to parcel up the land, and sell the lots to the former slaves.
On 25 September 1841, the village of Queenstown was officially founded and named after
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
.
In 1842, the coffee shop of the village was transformed into the St Bartholomew's Anglican Church.
The church was completed in November 1843.
The building is shaped like an upside-down ship, and has been declared a regional monument.
Overview
Queenstown has a primary school, health clinic, community centre and a post office. Secondary education is provided in
Anna Regina
Anna Regina is the capital of the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region of Guyana. Anna Regina stands on the Atlantic coast, northwest of the mouth of the Essequibo River, 19 km north of Adventure, and was established as a town in 1970. Its population ...
.
Queenstown is one of the emancipation villages where the villagers dress up in African clothes and parade through the village accompanied by a band on
Emancipation Day
Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the West Indies and parts of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of African slave trade#Abolition, slaves of African descent.
In much of the British ...
(1 August).
See also
*
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in the High Peak, Derbyshire, Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, in the East Midlands region of England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level.Alston, Cumbria also claims this, but lacks a regu ...
References
{{Settlements in Guyana
Pomeroon-Supenaam