Wakenaam Island
Once settled by Dutch, this Island is located in the mouth of the Essequibo River, next to Leguan and Tiger Islands. The Dutch never found a suitable name for it and referred to it as ‘Wakenaam’ which in Dutch means “waiting for a name”. This has remained its actual name to this day. Early records indicate that after the French invaded Fort Island, the Dutch plantation owners moved to, and settled on Wakenaam, where they established plantation Maria Johanna along with many other grinding sugar estates and enjoyed a vibrant presence on the beautiful 17.5 square-mile island.
Their occupation was short lived. The British took control of Wakenaam, and established more plantations on the island. With the exponential growth of the sugar industry it was necessary for additional labour, which led to slaves being brought in from Africa and were traded at the Wakenaam village named Free and Easy, which today is home to a ruined grinding mill. Several old ruined grinding estates still exist today.
With Emancipation of Africans and other factors, the sugar industry on the island began to decline, and by the turn of the 20th century, many small estates were closed or absorbed in the larger ones. By 1930, the only three remaining estates were Zeelandia, Better Success and Belle Plaine, and it was not too long before those eventually ground to a halt.
Before the closure of the sugar estates, the indentured servants on the island were into rice cultivation whilst the Africans produced ground provisions. These crops are still being cultivated along with cattle rearing and fishing.
The St James Presbyterian Church at Fredericksburg, is the first church built by freed African slaves on Wakenaam. Other churches, mandirs and masjids can be found on the Island.
The island has a cottage hospital, a guest house, a gas station, a secondary school, several primary schools, police stations, health centres, shops, and an abundance of farmland and water.
Some 90 per cent of its 4000 residents are self-employed. At Maria Johanna, a Dutch koker built in the 1600s still stands in good condition.
There are also several Dutch burial grounds on the island. Wakenaam is a closely-knitted community, and residents warmly welcome visitors to the island.
Getting to Wakenaam can be done from Parika by private speedboat which takes 15mins or the ferry service every afternoon taking over an hour.
