Now that Bartica is a town, Agatash, a small scenic community 3 miles away, could perhaps be deemed a suburb. It is obliquely opposite the famed Sloth Island and a haven to its population of 450 residents, who are among the friendliest people I have met.
One uses Second Avenue, Bartica to get to Agatash, by means of a taxi, which must climb several steep hills. Once across the Quetaro Bridge, you are in Agatash. The name is said to be of Arawak origin: ‘Aga’ meaning water and ‘tash’, land.
Organised religion abounds. Villagers are members of the Full Gospel, Presbyterian, Seventh-day Adventist and Anglican churches. I visited on the Phagwah holiday and children filled the road running to rub powder on each other.