Mahdia, Guyana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Commercial area in Mahdia. 11 May 2006.
Commercial area in Mahdia. 11 May 2006.

Mahdia is a small community in the Potaro-Siparuni region of Guyana, located at 5°16′0″N, 59°8′60″W, at an altitude of 415 m (1364 ft). Commerce is centred around the area's gold and diamond mining operations. As such it responds to and is affected by the economic booms and busts.

The population of Mahdia (c. 500) is made up of three groups. The Patamonas are an indigenous Amerindian tribe. The Coastlanders are residents from elsewhere in Guyana who have moved to the Madhia area. The Islanders are the immigrants and their descendants from certain Caribbean Islands, particularly, St Lucia and Dominica. Within recent times there has been an influx of a group that is referred to as “foreigners” by the other residents of the area.

Madhia is a regional administrative center. The community has a police station, and schools that provide nursery and primary education. Madhia has a commercial sector which includes dry goods shops, boutiques, a fuel station, two hotels and a brothel. The area is also serviced by several trucks from the coast. These trucks travel to Madhia several times each week and sell vegetables, groceries and other supplies. There is a well in the area which is not functional. Residents consequently collect rainwater for domestic use.

Mahdia is accessible by road from Bartica, the Konawaruk Road (links Linden to Mabura) and from the capital, Georgetown, via a pontoon crossing on the Essequibo River at Mango Landing. Mahdia has a landing strip (Airport Code MHA) for small planes.