Bethany Village Explained

Official Name:Bethany Village
Other Name:Bethany Mission
Settlement Type:Mission
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Pushpin Map:Guyana
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Guyana
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Guyana
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Pomeroon-Supenaam
Leader Title:Toshao
Leader Name:Sonia Latchman[1]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2012
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:526
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Coordinates:6.9964°N -58.6325°W

Bethany Village is a mission located on the Araburia River, a tributary three miles up the Supenaam River in Pomeroon-Supenaam, Essequibo in Guyana.

Overview

Bethany is an Amerindian settlement that started as a Seventh-day Adventist community, and derived its name from the bible. The main access to the coast is via the Supenaam River to the Town of Supenaam, but there is also an airstrip located 1 mile from the centre of the community. Bethany is next to another Amerindian Village, Mashabo.

Settlement began in the 1880s due to the close proximity to the forest for logging, as well as a nearby Dutch sawmill at the time. Logging continues to be important for the village.[3] Small scale farming is done,[4] producing bora, pak choi, eddo, yam, plantain and pumpkin, but capturing of wild life is prohibited.

Public services

Bethany has a primary and nursery school, community centre, recreational park, health centre, an airstrip, a Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It also has a Seventh-Day denominated medical missionary college. Travel to the village is by boat, and Guyana Adventist Medical Aviation Service provides flights for medical emergencies.[5]

Snakes are prevalent in and around the village, and have been known to take off with domesticated animals of Bethany residents.

References

  1. News: Bethany on lockdown following rise in COVID-19 cases . 25 May 2021. 27 November 2021.
  2. Web site: 2012 Population by Village. Statistics Guyana. 16 August 2020.
  3. Web site: Scenic Bethany. 2021-01-07. Guyana Chronicle. en-US.
  4. News: Bethany revisited. Stabroek News. 29 August 2020.
  5. Web site: 2016-09-25. From Bethany, Supenaam with blessings. 2021-01-07. Kaieteur News. en-US.