Spaniards
The Spanish are unique to the Iberian peninsula, expressing the Portuguese’ and Spaniards’ distinct heritage and sovereignty. (Mayfield, 12).
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella petitioned Pope Alexander IV to recognize the land as Spanish possessions after Christopher Columbus made his territorial discoveries. At that time, the Pope’s declaration was regarded as the supreme law in the Christian world and was important for Spain to gain recognition of its discoveries.
The Basque Country of Northern Spain attempt to use their unique national dress was one way to express their independent history as the only surviving Spanish community free of Latin historic influence.
The Dutch
The Dutch were the first European’s to establish settlement in the area of Guyana, “a trading post twenty-five kilometers upstream from the mouth of the Essequibo River…The initial purpose of the Dutch settlements was trade with indigenous people. The Dutch aim soon changed to acquisition of territory as other European powers gained colonies elsewhere in the Caribbean (Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress, 13).
The British
Walter Raleigh was the first British European to discover Guyana. The indigenous people are the Arawak speaking Lucayan, part of the Taino people. Until the 1880s the economy was based on sugarcane production, than the prices fell. The fall in sugarcane prices stimulated a shift toward rice farming, mining, and forestry. The colonists built the first railroad system in South America in Guyana. The railroad system was 61 miles long, starting in Georgetown and going to Rosignol. Also, there was 19 miles of 3'6" line between Vreeden Hoop and Parika.
One of the very few Brititsh Guyanese stamps. The stamps today are very valuable because they are not made anymore and are so rare.