Whitewater
Ho Ko
Village
Whitewater is located in Guyana
Whitewater
Whitewater
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 8°08′56″N 59°53′07″W / 8.1488°N 59.8852°W / 8.1488; -59.8852
Country Guyana
RegionBarima-Waini
Settled1966[1]
Government
 • ToshaoErnst Samuel[2]
Population
 (2012)[3]
 • Total1,220

Whitewater (Warao: Ho Ko[1] sometimes spelled as White Water[4]) is a village in the Barima-Waini Region of Guyana. Whitewater is located close to the border with Venezuela and is inhabited by Warao Amerindians.[1]

Overview

Whitewater was founded in 1966 by four families.[1] It has developed rapidly and at the 2012 census, a population of 1,220 people was recorded.[3] The village has seven satellites including Blackwater.[1]

The economy of Whitewater is based on farming, fishing and craft making. The main crops are peanuts, ginger and cassava.[1] The village has a primary school,[5] however secondary education and health care are only provided in neighbouring Mabaruma. The village owns a school bus.[6] Water is provided by wells. There is no electricity except for privately owned Diesel generators and solar panels.[5] In May 2021, it was announced that the village will receive electricity.[7] A traditional government has been established in the village.[1] The toshao (village chief) as of 2021 is Ernst Samuel.[2]

The Crisis in Venezuela has resulted in criminal gangs from Venezuela moving into the Whitewater area.[8] In February 2018, a military post of the Guyana Defence Force was established in Whitewater to protect the border.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Joanna Dhanraj (9 October 2016). "Whitewater". Stabroek News. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Kamwatta and Whitewater to get electricity before the end of 2021 – PM". Department of Public Information. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 "2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Indigenous villages". Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 Joanna Dhanraj (16 October 2016). "Whitewater 2". Stabroek News. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "Education, infrastructure and citizenship services to be improved in Whitewater -President David Granger". Department of Public Information. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  7. ↑ "Kamwatta and Whitewater to get electricity by year-end". News Room Guyana. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ↑ Mat Youkee (2 August 2018). "Guyana's border towns threatened by violent gangs as Venezuela crisis deepens". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "GDF patrol base established in Whitewater bordering Venezuela". iNews Guyana. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2021.


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