Port Kaituma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Port Kaituma
Small Town
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Port Kaituma Compound
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 Port Kaituma
Location in Guyana
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| Country |  Guyana |
| Region | Barima-Waini |
| Government | |
| • Type | Neighbourhood democratic council |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Total | 1,152 |
Port Kaituma is a small village in the Barima-Waini region of Guyana. It became known as a starting point for people traveling to the Jonestown community nearby. For a long time, Port Kaituma has been an important center for mining in the area.
Contents
History of Port Kaituma
Even though local people lived along the Kaituma River for a while, Port Kaituma really grew after manganese was found at Matthews Ridge. Matthews Ridge was not on a river that boats could use. So, a canal was dug from the Kaituma River, and Port Kaituma was built.
When manganese was being mined, Port Kaituma had three different parts. The mine managers' house and a guest house were in one area. The main rail-head and manganese loading area were separated by a short road. A longer road led to 'Bottom Floor' where the workers lived.
Manganese Mining and Transport
The manganese was brought from Matthews Ridge by a railway about 64-kilometre (40 mi) long. Then, it was shipped from Port Kaituma to Chaguaramas Bay in Trinidad. From there, it was sent to other places for industrial use, with a lot going to Stavanger in Norway. A company called Union Carbide ran this project.
Two oil tankers from Trinidad, named Ambrosio and Inverrosa, were changed to carry manganese. They traveled from Port Kaituma to Chaguaramas every four days during the 1960s. These ships were built in the 1920s and could sail in shallow water. This was important because they needed to cross the Waini Bar at the mouth of the Kaituma River.
Growth and Development
Port Kaituma became even more important when Forbes Burnham, who was the President of Guyana at the time, wanted more people to live in the country's interior. Matthews Ridge was even thought of as a possible new capital city.
Because of this, a large secondary school was built in Port Kaituma. Students from all over Guyana came to study there. At its busiest, the school had over 800 students. Most of them lived in two big dormitory buildings.
In the 1970s, the Jonestown community was built about 11 kilometres (7 mi) from Port Kaituma.
Changes Over Time
Over the next 25 years, a large logging company came and left. The manganese factory at Matthews Ridge stopped working, and the railway connecting Matthews Ridge and Port Kaituma was closed. Some parts of the railway were even taken apart. The school also became less important and fell into disrepair.
Today, Port Kaituma is the main entry point to the nearby jungle. The main industry now is small-scale gold mining. Many gold miners, called "pork-knockers," move around a lot. This has sometimes led to problems in the areas without police. However, many workers continue to pass through the town, including a recent increase in people from Brazil.
Public Services and Facilities
The Port Kaituma Community School offers education from nursery (preschool) up to secondary school. A hospital was opened in 2020. Also in 2020, the Guyana Gold Board opened an office in Port Kaituma. This office helps with testing and buying gold.
See also
In Spanish: Port Kaituma para niños
