WAKENAAM

Wakenaam is an island in the mouth of the Essequibo River. It is 17.5 square miles, and is, therefore, one of the largest islands in the river. In 1690, after the French invaded Fort Island, the Dutch plantation owners moved to, and settled on, the island of Wakenaam.
The name Wakenaam is Dutch in origin, and means “Waiting for a name”. One of these Dutch men started a plantation, and named it Maria Johanna, which is thought to be named after his twin daughters.

The British, in 1716, took control of Wakenaam and Maria Johanna. In 1803, the plantation owner was Hugenoltz. The plantation was bought by Mr. Boddart and Company in 1832, and then by Adam Ramkin in 1851. The plantation was surveyed by Henry Rainford, and 88 house lots were laid out, most of them to accommodate the workers.

The Colonial Government took control of the plantation because of bankruptcy, and later sold it to a company in April 1871, whose shareholders were predominantly former slaves. The sale price was $700.
There were many disagreements among shareholders as to what was the best way to develop the land. Ultimately, the plantation was taken over by the Partition Ordinance in 1914. In 1921, a village was created, and a tax system was introduced.

Any visitor to Maria Johana can still observe evidence of Dutch occupation, and the fact that slaves worked there. There is a unique Dutch sluice, which, after a century, still stands immaculate and spectacular. Every now and then, various types of Dutch bottles and coins are found in the ground. The island still contains old Dutch graves at various locations, and there is also a Dutch well.

The main economic activities of Wakenaam are agriculture (cash crops), poultry and coconut oil.

Wakenaam has multiple villages, including Good Success, San Souci, Melville, Eagles Rust, New Belle Plaine, Sarah, Caledonia, Zeelandia, Meerzorg, Fredericksburg and Maria Johanna.