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Moruca Bound

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Kwebanna – former heart of logging in Moruca

Kwebanna was once the bright spot in the Moruca subdistrict. It was the centre of activities created by its vast logging activities. It was home to the Mazaharally Saw Mills which created employment for many residents. Kwebanna is located on the right bank of the Waini River. It can be accessed via boat through the Waini River, aircraft from Kumaka, Mabaruma or Georgetown or by road 22 miles from Kumaka, Moruca. The loam road was recently graded and makes it easy for a one- hour drive from Kumaka. Kwebanna is home to approximately 700 residents. Its residents are provided with essential social services including nursery and primary schools, and a health centre. The community is predominantly Caribs but there are also Warrau and Arawak descendants, most of whom are Christians. According to the ‘ village sheriff’ Cecil Atkinson, the eldest resident, he is the de scendant of the first man Aleandro Brasanio to have settled at Kwebanna.
http://119.82.71.95/guyanatimes/epapermain.aspx?queryed=10&querypage=7&boxid=21591746&parentid=15683&eddate=05/16/10

Digicel revolutionising Moruca

Communication is vital for survival. For almost 200 years Moruca has been lacking in this regard, relying on traditional means of communicating, travelling, postal service and later radio sets. A few years ago, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited installed a solar- energised pre- paid phone service. At the time this was one of the best things that could have happened in Moruca. Persons did not mind the long queues. There was direct communication. But after a while the service became disrupted. Then came Digicel. At the time one resident claimed, “ there was a big epidemic that took over Moruca. At first we thought it was an ear problem because everyone was holding their ear, almost everyone had a cellphone.” Digicel has completely locked down the community with its cellular service there.

The service is accessible at Kumaka, Santa Rosa and Islands, part of Waramuri, and even at selected spots some miles up the Kumaka Road and Kwebanna, 22 miles from Santa Rosa. The service has flabber gasted the community and has indeed revolutionised the community. Dolores Rodrigues recalled the 1940s when the only communication service was postal. Around 19: 00h individuals would assemble at Acquero, at the time that was the administrative centre, to wait on the mail boat.

The post master would then call out the names of persons who had received mails. “ Sometimes it would pass down a long line to get to you, but it was quite an occasion, persons looked forward to Friday evenings to see if they had mails,” she said. Today however, the world is a phone call away from Moruca. “ In February 2008, Digicel, Guyana’s leading mobile communications provider launched its state- of- the- art network in Santa Rosa, Region One. Since then, residents have been able to connect with friends and family in Guyana and around the world,” said Digicel’s Public Relations Officer Shonnet Moore.

As the residents prepare to celebrate Moruca Day 2010, Digicel Guyana CEO, Gregory Dean, says the company is very pleased to be part of the celebrations. “ Digicel has always believed in the rich resources of Santa Rosa, the entire North West District of Guyana, and the amazing potential of the people who live and work in that area. Since our launch in Santa Rosa, we have supported Moruca Day and we are very happy to give residents a chance to showcase what they have to offer to the rest of the country,” he said. Santa Rosa is the focal point for the Moruca subregion and serves as the central business district. Digicel’s presence in the region has helped to accelerate development in the community.

Meanwhile, Digicel has also supported the marketing efforts for two women’s empowerment groups in Moruca: the Mariaba Craft Group and the Urukutan Women’s Group. Digicel will be actively participating in Moruca Day 2010 and encourages persons to attend this exciting event.

 The guyana times: http://119.82.71.95/guyanatimes/epapermain.aspx?queryed=10&querypage=7&boxid=21591746&parentid=15683&eddate=05/16/10

Moruca Embroidery Group, Region 1

http://iwokrama.org/forestconnect/membership/profile/sda_moruca.htm

Reflection about the church in Santa Rosa Moruca.

The history of the Catholic mission to the Amerindian of Guyana actually begins in Venezuela. Throughout the 18^th century Spanish missionaries ministered to the indigenous people of territories around the Orinoco. Their mission however came to an abrupt and tragic end when on 3 May 1817 Simon Bolivar’s forces killed them. 


The Amerindians fled from the destroyed mission, some seeking refuge in the British held territory around the Moruca River.  Years later, when these Arawaks heard that a Catholic priest had arrived in Georgetown they sent word to him asking for someone to come to minister to them. On 24 June 1830, John Hynes, OP arrived in Moruca to spend three days during which he baptized 75 children and married two couples.  

From such beginning, the Catholic faith was planted and became part of the people’s heritage which accompanies them in their spiritual life through its mission of preaching the good news. Apart from that, the history of the church in Santa Rosa has also a unique aspect to it which is, unlike other foreign missions of the Catholic Church, the faith was not imposed directly on the Amerindians. But rather, was introduced by their ancestors who were converted in Venezuela and brought it to Moruca, their new home. 


This historical understanding of  the church in Moruca is good to highlight, because it gives the people a genuine appreciation to regard it as their second home in terms of spiritual accompanyment. A history similar to the bible story where Moses accompanied the Israelites to the promise land which God had chosen for them!! The commemorative time for such history is held on the feast of St John, the 24th of June a solemn day yearly, celebrated in the form of a bonfire which symbolizes the Catholic faith being alight in the lives of the people of Moruca.

Medino Abraham