Barima-Waini

Prior to the 1980 administrative reform in Guyana, the Barima-Waini Region was known as the 'North West district'.[4]

Mabaruma became the administrative centre when it was decided that the former centre, Morawhanna, was too susceptible to flooding.[5]

The region is named after two rivers that flow through the region; the Barima River and the Waini River.

Barima-Waini is a heavily forested region. The Atlantic coastal strip of Region One features a number of beaches, including, from west to east, Almond Beach, Luri Beach, Shell Beach, Turtle Beach, Foxes Beach, Iron-punt Beach, Pawpaw Beach and Father's Beach. Marine turtles nest on some of these beaches. There are also a number of Amerindian communities in this area, including Santa Rosa Mission.

The main economic activities in the Barima-Waini region are forestry and gold mining.[2] The northern and northeastern sections include thousands of acres of rich alluvial soil, of which its main crops include coffee, ground provisions (such as cassava, eddoes and yams), cabbage, beans, corn, peanuts, and citrus fruits. (This is the area which supplies the famous Pomeroon casareep).

The Matthews Ridge-Port Kaituma manganese industry was discontinued in 1968[6] when falling world prices made it uneconomical to continue. Mining has resumed as of 2011.[7]

The Mabaruma sub-region includes the region's capital of Mabaruma, as well as Barabina, Hosororo, Wauna and Kumaka.[8] White Water and Kamwatta.[9]

Moruca sub-region include Waramuri, Warapoka, Santa Cruz, Kokerite, Chinese Landing, Kwebena and Santa Rosa,[3] and Haimacabra[9]

Matakai sub-region includes Sebai,[9] Port Kaituma, Matthew's Ridge, Baramita,[10] Arakaka,[11] Morawhanna.[12]

The region has two secondary schools, North West Secondary School in Mabaruma, established in 1965, and Santa Rosa Secondary School, established in 1992.

The Government of Guyana has administered three official censuses since the 1980 administrative reforms, in 1980, 1991 and 2002.[13] In 2002, the population of Barima-Waini was recorded at 24,275 people.[14] Official census records for the population of Barima-Waini are as follows:

(including name variants):

• 
  Shell Beach
• 
  Mabaruma
• 
  Santa Rosa School
• 
  Baramani River
• 
  Kumaka District Hospital

• Ankoko Island
• Jonestown