Berbice

Berbice is a historical and geographic region in eastern Guyana, named after the Berbice River. The region lies along the Atlantic coast and extends inland along the Berbice and Corentyne rivers. It forms part of the modern administrative region of East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 6). Major towns include New Amsterdam on the Berbice River and Corriverton near the Corentyne, with agriculture and fishing as traditional economic activities.

Geography: The Berbice River empties into the Atlantic close to New Amsterdam. The Corentyne River forms part of the eastern boundary with Suriname. The terrain is largely lowland rainforest and coastal savanna, traversed by several smaller rivers and canals used for irrigation and transport.

History: In the 17th century, the Dutch established the Berbice Colony along the river. It remained under Dutch control until it was taken by the British in the early 19th century and incorporated into British Guiana. The region is notable for the 1763 Berbice Slave Uprising led by Cuffy, an important episode in the history of resistance to slavery in the Americas.

Economy and society: Traditional economic activities included sugar, rice, and livestock farming, along with fishing and forestry. In the modern era the region remains agriculturally oriented, with rice as a dominant crop, and has a diverse population including Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, and indigenous communities.

See also: Berbice Uprising; East Berbice-Corentyne region; New Amsterdam (Guyana).