Matthews Ridge is a small village within the Barima-Waini administrative region of Guyana. The village name comes from the name of a public official, Matthew Young, as well as the ridges in the area. The village is divided into three sections, Heaven's Hill, Hell Hill and the valley.[2]
The population of Matthews Ridge as of 2012 is 409 people,[1] and is composed mainly of Afro-Guyanese and Amerindian persons. Carib is the language spoken by the local Amerindian people.
Agriculture is also an important economic activity in Matthews Ridge, however to a lesser extent than mining.[2]
Historyedit
Matthews Ridge was one of the oldest indigenous villages in the Barima-Waini region.[2] Between 1962 and 1968, Matthews Ridge was the location of a large manganese mining operation by Union Carbide.[3] A 38.5-mile (62.0 km) narrow gauge railway was built to Port Kaituma to transport the ore.[4] The mine was closed in 1968.[4] In 2011, it has been reopened by Reunion Manganese Incorporated.[5]
With the closing of the manganese mining operation in 1968, the village went into an economic downturn, which it struggled to recover from for many years. The mine was reopened by Canadian company Reunion Manganese Incorporated, but this operation was taken over by Guyana Manganese Incorporated (GMI) in 2019. Otherwise, small-scale gold mining is the basis for most other jobs in the area. This involves travel to backdams (small areas where gold is known to be located) by foot or on ATVs, where batels or dredges are used to mine.[6]
Education and health careedit
The local nursery and primary schools can accommodate students through Grade 11. The school (Matthew's Ridge Primary Tops School) had pupils sit CSEC for the first time in 2018, but it not yet recognised as a Secondary School meaning pupils sit exams in the nearby village of Port Kaituma.[7]
Matthew's Ridge has a health care centre, but as of 2017, it was lacking in facilities.[8]
Infrastructureedit
The main street of Matthews Ridge
The infrastructure of the village is elementary. Cell-phone service is available, through the Digicel mobile network. Electric current is available during certain hours of the day, provided by the town's generator. Goods are brought into Matthews Ridge from Georgetown, and Port Kaituma.[2] The village is served Matthews Ridge Airport.[9] The village has a Pentecostal as well as Jehovah Witness church.[2]
Climateedit
The area experiences an annual shift between rainy and dry seasons. Average temperature ranges between 80 and 100'F.
Referencesedit
^ ab"2012 Population by Village". Statistics Guyana. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
^"Matarkai education sector bolstering amidst challenges – DEO". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
^"Region one RDC seeks to address issues affecting Matthew's Ridge". Kaieteur News Online. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
^"MWJ - Facility". Great Circle Mapper. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthews Ridge, Guyana.
April 21, 2024
matthews, ridge, guyana, matthews, ridge, small, village, within, barima, waini, administrative, region, guyana, village, name, comes, from, name, public, official, matthew, young, well, ridges, area, village, divided, into, three, sections, heaven, hill, hell. Matthews Ridge is a small village within the Barima Waini administrative region of Guyana The village name comes from the name of a public official Matthew Young as well as the ridges in the area The village is divided into three sections Heaven s Hill Hell Hill and the valley 2 Matthews RidgeMatthews RidgeLocation in GuyanaCoordinates 7 30 N 60 10 W 7 500 N 60 167 W 7 500 60 167CountryGuyanaRegionBarima WainiPopulation 2012 1 Total409 Contents 1 Demographics amp Employment 2 History 3 Education and health care 4 Infrastructure 5 Climate 6 ReferencesDemographics amp Employment edit nbsp A dredge being used in a nearby backdam The population of Matthews Ridge as of 2012 is 409 people 1 and is composed mainly of Afro Guyanese and Amerindian persons Carib is the language spoken by the local Amerindian people Agriculture is also an important economic activity in Matthews Ridge however to a lesser extent than mining 2 History editMatthews Ridge was one of the oldest indigenous villages in the Barima Waini region 2 Between 1962 and 1968 Matthews Ridge was the location of a large manganese mining operation by Union Carbide 3 A 38 5 mile 62 0 km narrow gauge railway was built to Port Kaituma to transport the ore 4 The mine was closed in 1968 4 In 2011 it has been reopened by Reunion Manganese Incorporated 5 With the closing of the manganese mining operation in 1968 the village went into an economic downturn which it struggled to recover from for many years The mine was reopened by Canadian company Reunion Manganese Incorporated but this operation was taken over by Guyana Manganese Incorporated GMI in 2019 Otherwise small scale gold mining is the basis for most other jobs in the area This involves travel to backdams small areas where gold is known to be located by foot or on ATVs where batels or dredges are used to mine 6 Education and health care editThe local nursery and primary schools can accommodate students through Grade 11 The school Matthew s Ridge Primary Tops School had pupils sit CSEC for the first time in 2018 but it not yet recognised as a Secondary School meaning pupils sit exams in the nearby village of Port Kaituma 7 Matthew s Ridge has a health care centre but as of 2017 it was lacking in facilities 8 Infrastructure edit nbsp The main street of Matthews Ridge The infrastructure of the village is elementary Cell phone service is available through the Digicel mobile network Electric current is available during certain hours of the day provided by the town s generator Goods are brought into Matthews Ridge from Georgetown and Port Kaituma 2 The village is served Matthews Ridge Airport 9 The village has a Pentecostal as well as Jehovah Witness church 2 Climate editThe area experiences an annual shift between rainy and dry seasons Average temperature ranges between 80 and 100 F References edit a b 2012 Population by Village Statistics Guyana Retrieved 16 August 2020 a b c d e Matthew s Ridge Stabroek News 2012 03 11 Retrieved 2021 01 28 Miners thrilled with Matthews Ridge manganese find Kaieteur News Online 23 July 2013 Retrieved 19 August 2020 a b Mining Railways in Guyana 2014 International Steam Retrieved 29 November 2021 Guyana Aims to Become a Top Manganese Producer Investing News 24 May 2012 Retrieved 19 August 2020 October 15 November 2018 Matarkai education sector bolstering amidst challenges DEO Ministry of Education Retrieved 19 August 2020 Region one RDC seeks to address issues affecting Matthew s Ridge Kaieteur News Online Retrieved 19 August 2020 MWJ Facility Great Circle Mapper Retrieved 30 November 2021 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matthews Ridge Guyana Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matthews Ridge Guyana amp oldid 1187253237, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
