Helena, Guyana
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Helena
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|settlement_type = Village
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|subdivision_name = 25px Guyana
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|subdivision_name1 = Demerara-Mahaica
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|population_total = 1,568
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Helena is a village in the Demerara-Mahaica Region of Guyana. Administratively the village is subdivided in Helena No.1 and Helena No.2 and is part of the Mahaica subregion.{{cite news|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2017/12/17/sunday/beyond-gt/helena-number-2/ |title=Helena Number 2|website=Stabroek News|author=Joanna Dhanraj|date=17 December 2017|access-date=4 December 2021}}
History
Helena started as a sugar plantation. By 1896, the plantation was abandoned and purchased by the government of British Guiana to be divided into small lots. The settlement initially suffered from neglect, because many of the owners did not live in the village.{{cite book|url=http://www.guyana.org/features/guyanastory/chapter81.html |title=The Guyana Story - Indian Settlements|year=2005|author=Odeen Ishmael|publisher=Guyana.org|access-date=4 December 2021}} In 1848, construction started on the Demerara-Berbice Railway linking Georgetown with New Amsterdam.{{cite web|url=https://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/guyana01.htm |title=The Public Railways of Guyana, 2014, Part 1|website=International Steam|access-date=4 December 2021}} In August 1864, the railway reached Helena where the Mahaica station opened. The station remained the terminus until 1890 when work resumed.{{cite book|url=http://www.guyana.org/features/guyanastory/chapter73.html |title=The Guyana Story - The early period of road and railway transport |year=2005|author=Odeen Ishmael|publisher=Guyana.org|access-date=4 December 2021}} The railway closed in 1972.
Overview
The economy of Helena is mainly based on farming. Helena has a primary school, and a private secondary school.{{cite news|url=https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2009/04/26/new-private-school-opens-at-mahaica/ |title=New private school opens at Mahaica|website=Kaieteur News Online|access-date=4 December 2021|date=26 April 2009}} The village has one church and two mandirs. In 2008, a statue of Sir James Douglas, the first governor of British Columbia, was unveiled in front of the former railroad station, because he was born and raised in the region.{{cite news|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/08/31/news/guyana/statue-of-sir-james-douglas-unveiled-at-mahaica-birthplace/ |title=Statue of Sir James Douglas unveiled at Mahaica birthplace |website=Stabroek News|date=31 August 2008|access-date=4 December 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Settlements in Guyana}}
Category:Populated places in Demerara-Mahaica
{{Guyana-geo-stub}}