Story and photos by Tifaine Rutherford and Shakisa Harvey
A long drive several miles behind the Mahaica market leads to this agricultural community that is located along the Mahaica River. Cane Grove is home to approximately 3000 residents and comprises smaller settlements, which include Manager Drive, Saywah, Coconut Dam, Virginia, Strathavon, Hopeland, Cane Grove Estate and Waterside Dam. It is also one of the oldest sugar estates in Guyana. One prominent figure who was a product of this community was John Carter, who was Guyana’s first ambassador to the United States of America.
The first thing that comes to mind is a village that has an abundance of cane. Residents here say however that cane was the main form of farming done years ago, but that now they are involved in rice farming and the cultivation of other crops. For the most part they sell their produce to vendors at the Mahaica or Mahaicony markets.