Ituni
village
Ituni is located in Guyana
Ituni
Ituni
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 5°32′N 58°15′W / 5.533°N 58.250°W / 5.533; -58.250
Country Guyana
RegionUpper Demerara-Berbice
Government
 • ChairmanCurt Murphy[1]
Population
 (2012)[2]
 • Total676
Time zoneUTC-4
ClimateAf

Ituni is a village in the interior of Guyana, at an altitude of 100 metres (331 feet). The area grew as a result of bauxite mining in the area.[3]

Ituni is closely affiliated with Linden, its closest neighbours are Kwakwani, Aroaima, Maple Town and Laddern's Ville on the Berbice River. It is located between two of Guyana's major rivers, the Berbice and the Demerara.[4] It has a primary school, Howell Wilson Primary School, but students attend secondary school in Kwakwani or Linden.[4]

In 1946, a railway line opened between Ituni and Mackenzie. Even though the line was for mining operations, irregular passenger trains continued until 1982. The railway line has been replaced by trucks, however most of the track is still in place.[5]

In the active times of Demerara Bauxite Company (owned by Alcan[6]), Ituni had consistent water and electricity.[7] Ituni depends solely on logging for its economic livelihood. It has the Ituni Small Loggers Association.[8]

Poor conditions of the Linden/Kwakwani road led to a protest in 2013 by residents of Ituni and other Berbice river communities. The road serves as lifeline for the people of the sub-region and was in a state of disrepair for decades.[9][10]

In 2019, a well was installed by Guyana Water Incorporated. Before, water was only provided for two hours a day.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Ituni gets asphalted roads for first time". Guyana Chronicle.
  2. ^ "2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Ituni Bauxite Mine". Industry About. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Ituni". Stabroek News. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  5. ^ "Mining Railways in Guyana, 2014". International Steam. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  6. ^ Grant, C. H. (1971). "Company Towns in the Caribbean: A Preliminary Analysis of Christianburg-Wismar-Mackenzie". Caribbean Studies. 11 (1): 46–72. ISSN 0008-6533. JSTOR 25612363.
  7. ^ "'We live in hell,' Ituni resident says". Stabroek News. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  8. ^ "Ituni loggers get 2,005 tracking tags". Stabroek News. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  9. ^ "Ituni blockade lifted, 14 protestors arrested". Stabroek News. 2013-09-04. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  10. ^ "Kwakwani logger apologises for clash with cops in road protest". Stabroek News. 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  11. ^ "Ituni to get improved roads, water supply and street lights". Stabroek News. 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
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