East Berbice-Corentyne – Berbice uprising of 1763
East Berbice-Corentyne, Region 6 of Guyana, is rooted in the history of the former colony of Berbice. In 1763, enslaved people on the plantations rose up in the Berbice uprising, one of the largest revolts against slavery in the region; its leader Cuffy is today honoured as a national hero of Guyana.
New Amsterdam, the regional capital, grew up as a colonial town near the mouth of the Berbice River, and the fertile coastal lands along the Corentyne became known for farming. Today the region is Guyana's third-largest by area, with around 115,000 inhabitants and an economy based on agriculture and livestock. Do you have family stories from Berbice or the Corentyne coast? Share them with us!