MORUCA is comprised of several communities which make up the sub-region, one of three found in the North West District. The other sub-regions are at Mabaruma, the administrative capital of the entire Region One, and Matarkai, where one can find Port Kaituma and Matthew’s Ridge.Moruca is divided into 11 titled communities, including Santa Rosa, Assakata, Chinese Landing, Waramuri, Santa Cruz and Kariako, to name a few.
Santa Rosa, the largest and more populated of all communities, has an estimated population of 5000 residents and is governed by a Village Council led by a Toshao. Since Moruca is a sub-region of the North West District, Government plays an administrative role in its affairs. As such, an Assistant Regional Executive Officer is based at Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa comprises several small communities, called “satellite villages”, many of which are surrounded by swampy savannah lands and hence are referred to as islands. They include Kabucalli, St Peter’s, Mathurin Point, Poloma and Hobo.
Kumaka, located within Santa Rosa, is the business hub and administrative centre of Moruca. The post office, police station, hospital and markets, among other businesses, are all located at Kumaka.
The Santa Rosa Roman Catholic Mission played a key role in the historical development of Moruca, having been established there since 1818.
Accommodation for visitors is provided at the Kumaka Guest House and the Regional Guest House at Acquero, once the administrative hub of the area.
Another private guest house operates at Moruca, all located within minutes of Kumaka, the centre of town.
Mobile phone services are available in the area; telecommunications giant Digicel has an office at Kumaka.
There are many shops and a supermarket, called Clevies, at Santa Rosa. The latter facilitates shopping in a modern ambience.
GETTING TO MORUCA FROM GEORGETOWN
A trip to Parika from Georgetown costs an average $500 by bus and $3000 by taxi. The taxi fare may vary, depending on the taxi service used.
It is advisable to travel early, to arrive at Parika at day-clean and catch the calm waters off Parika before the Essequibo gets rough around 10:00 hrs.
The trip from Parika leads to Supenaam, another port located on the Essequibo Coast. That trip, which lasts between 30 and 45 minutes, costs $1300 per person. From Supenaam, the trip leads to the port of Charity, roughly an hour away. The fare is $1000 per person to Charity. The taxi drivers may attempt to increase the fare based on the number of passengers that travel with them from Supenaam. The onus lies on the passenger to discuss and decide same.
Once at Charity, the Moruca boat operators willingly take passengers’ bags and load to their boats. This aspect of the trip can take an hour or more, and the wait is determined by the availability of passengers.
The boat operators include the famous “Peanut and Sons”. His mobile numbers are 688-3457, 675-4354 and 614-8855. Another operator can be reached on 681-2533, 697-9581 and 685-3821.
The boats depart Charity for Moruca at least by midday or later, depending on passengers’ availability, and the journey takes on average an hour and a half. The cost is $3000 per person one way.
The journey takes the passengers up to the mouth of the Pomeroon River, a brief ride through the edges of the Atlantic Ocean and inwards to the Moruca River. Be sure to walk with a camera to record the view.
There are a number of turns along the Moruca River. The boat ride ends at Kumaka. There are taxi drivers there who willing drop passengers to their destination.
Travel within and outside the Moruca community can be accomplished by boat, bus and cars.
Electricity supply runs from 05:00hrs to 08:00hrs, and from 14:00hrs to 22:00hrs.
There are several cook-shops at Moruca and the prices are within $1000 for a healthy bite.
No littering: The environment is kept in a clean state. Several garbage bins lining the roadway can be attributed to this.
