Cove and John

Cove and John is located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana (East Coast of Demerara), 18 miles east of Georgetown and bordered by Nabaculis to the west and Victoria to the east. It has a population of about 3000. This village has the Guyana Sevashram (Hindu Temple).

Location

It is located about 19 miles southeast of the capital city Georgetown. The Atlantic Ocean sits to the North; and some of the country's largest rice fields are just beyond its southern horizon.

Culture

The culture in Cove and John slightly resembles that of the Indian immigrants who crossed the Atlantic Ocean over 150 years ago. Even though well over 90% of the population remains Indo-Guyanese - a small group of Chinese and Amerindian families are the minority - the culture is very similar to that of the rest of the British Caribbean, but with, according to the locals, an East Indian flair.

In the beginning, the culture of Cove and John resembled very much that of the mother country, India, but as African and Chinese infiltrated the village a slight variety was added. The residents of Cove and John, Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, and Chinese brought their foods, traditions, religion and customs with them.

Over the years, the population of Indians has lost their mother tongue completely, and although Indian music remains very popular, the English language, with a slight Creole touch, has taken complete control. No one speaks Hindi anymore in Cove and John and it is consider a dead language. The colloquial English use is heavily influenced by the British. Being a colony for many years, Guyana is touched with a flair of British in almost everything and so is Cove and John. Like the British custom to drink tea many of daily activities are in small ways reflective of the past. Even the system of Government, although it has been slightly modified over the years, still imitates the British rules and laws.

Many of the original religious customs and traditions that have not been lost were modified by the ages and vestiges of an East Indian heritage appear in a number of the festivities. For example, few weddings are ever complete without the ceremonial rubbing of the dye; an old Indian wedding custom that is accepted among every religion. Holidays like Christmas and Diwali are examples of occasions where the entire community celebrates together in a congenial integration of faith.

Schools

Cove and John has two primary schools and one high school. The schools are: Cove and John Primary, St Andrews Primary School, and the Hindu College.

Seawall

This small village is protected from the Atlantic Ocean by large concrete seawalls. The main pump station pumps water out whenever rain falls.

References

Coordinates: 6°45′17″N 57°58′26″W / 6.75486°N 57.97388°W