# Paruima

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Village in Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Guyana

Paruima Village Paruima Location in Guyana Coordinates: 5°48′23″N 61°03′48″W / 5.8065°N 61.0632°W / 5.8065; -61.0632 Country Guyana Region Cuyuni-Mazaruni Government • Toshao Lee Williams[1] Population (2012)[2] • Total 207

**Paruima** is an Indigenous village of [Pemon](/source/Pemon) Amerindians in the [Cuyuni-Mazaruni](/source/Cuyuni-Mazaruni) Region of [Guyana](/source/Guyana). The village was founded as a mission of the [Seventh-day Adventist Church](/source/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church). It is the only [Pemon](/source/Pemon_language) speaking community in Guyana.[3]

## Overview

Reverend A.W. Cott of the [Seventh-day Adventist Church](/source/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church) was a missionary among the Pemon people in Venezuela. In 1930, Cott was expelled from Venezuela, and decided to settle in Paruima in Guyana together with his fellow missionaries, and Amerindian converts.[4]

Paruima has a primary school, and a health centre.[1] In 2017, the school was destroyed when the river flooded. It has been rebuilt in 2019.[3] It is also home to the Paruima Mission Academy, a college for missionaries.[5] The main access is by air via the [Paruima Airport](/source/Paruima_Airport).[6]

The *toshao* (village chief) as of 2018 is Lee Williams. Williams first ran for *toshao* in 1997 at the age of 19. Twenty one years later, he was elected as the toshao and remained in office until 2021 when a new toshao was elected. Every three years new elections are held, Lennox Percy, who was the vice under Lee Williams is currently serving his second term in office as the toshao of Paruima, new elections are set for May, 2024. In 2020, Williams was also elected to the [National Assembly](/source/National_Assembly_(Guyana)).[1]

## Nature

Oshi Falls

The [Oshi Falls](/source/Oshi_Falls) are located near the village.[6] The Oshi Falls are one of the tallest waterfalls of Guyana. A permit from the Office of Indigenous Affairs is required to visit the falls.[7]

In January 2021, a new species of orchid from the tepuis in the [Guiana Highlands](/source/Guiana_Highlands)[8] was identified and described by Eric Hágsater, a Mexican botanist, and Mateusz Wrazidlo, a Silesian explorer. Wrazidlo asked the family of Calio Elliman, his guide from Paruima, to name the plant. Elliman opted for "katarun yariku" ([Pemon](/source/Pemon_language) for "high flower"). The orchid has been officially named *[Epidendrum katarun-yariku](/source/Epidendrum_katarun-yariku)*.[9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-toshao_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-toshao_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-toshao_1-2) ["From Paruima to Parliament: Toshao Lee Williams vows to work for his people's betterment"](https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/08/23/sunday/from-paruima-to-parliament/). *Stabroek News*. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-census2012_2-0)** ["2012 Population by Village"](https://statisticsguyana.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Population_By_Village_2012.zip). *Statistics Guyana*. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-school_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-school_3-1) ["Modern primary school for Paruima"](https://education.gov.gy/web/index.php/mediacenter/external-sources/item/5120-modern-primary-school-for-paruima). *Ministry of Education, Guyana*. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Walter F. Edwards (July 1978). ["A Preliminary Sketch of Arekuna (Carib) Phonology"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1264946). *International Journal of American Linguistics*. **44** (3): 223.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Paruima Mission Academy"](https://www.facebook.com/paruimamissionacademy). *Paruima Mission Academy on Facebook*. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-times_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-times_6-1) ["Let's discover Paruima"](https://www.guyanatimesinternational.com/lets-discover-paruima/). *Guyana Times International*. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Waterfalls in Guyana"](https://traveltips.usatoday.com/waterfalls-guyana-106347.html). *USA Today*. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** HÁGSATER, ERIC; WRAZIDLO, MATEUSZ (2020-11-18). ["Epidendrum katarun-yariku (Orchidaceae), a new species of the Schistochilum group from the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands in South America"](https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.472.1.4). *Phytotaxa*. **472** (1): 33–40. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.11646/phytotaxa.472.1.4](https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fphytotaxa.472.1.4). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1179-3163](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1179-3163).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Liz Kimbrough. ["New orchid species from Guiana Highlands named by Indigenous group"](https://news.mongabay.com/2021/01/new-orchid-species-from-guiana-highlands-named-by-indigenous-group/). *Monga Bay*. Retrieved 2 March 2021.

v t e Settlements in Guyana For the definition of city, town, etc see Settlements in Guyana. Cities Georgetown (neighborhoods: Cummingsburg, Kingston, Sophia, Stabroek, Werk-en-rust) Towns Anna Regina Bartica Corriverton Lethem Linden Mabaruma Mahdia New Amsterdam Rose Hall Villages Achiwib Adventure Agatash Aishalton Albion Annai Annandale, Demerara-Mahaica Annandale, Pomeroon-Supenaam Apoteri Aranaputa Assakata Awarewaunau Baracara Baramita Belfield Belladrum Beterverwagting Better Hope Burma Buxton Campbelltown Cane Grove Capoey Charity Clonbrook Cornelia Ida Cove and John Crabwood Creek Den Amstel Enmore Enterprise Esau and Jacob Fort Island Fort Wellington Goed Fortuin Hackney Hampton Court Helena Hiawa Hogg Island Hosororo Hyde Park Imbaimadai Isseneru Issano Ituni Jacklow Jonestown Kabakaburi Kamarang Kamwatta Hill Kanashen Karasabai Karaudarnau Kartabo Kasuela Kato Katoonarib Koriabo Kuru Kururu Kurupukari Kurupung Kwakwani Kwebanna Leonora Lima Sands Lusignan Mahaica Mahaicony Maruranau Matthews Ridge Met-en-Meerzorg Micobie Moleson Creek Monkey Mountain Moraikobai Morawhanna Nabaclis Nappi Nonpareil Onderneeming Orealla Paradise Paramakatoi Parika Pickersgill Plaisance Port Kaituma Port Mourant Providence Queenstown Rewa Rockstone Rosignol Sand Creek Santa Mission Santa Rosa Sawariwau Saxacalli Skeldon Soesdyke Spring Garden St. Cuthbert's Mission St. Ignatius St. Monica Karawab Stewartville Suddie Supenaam Surama Timehri Toka Triumph Tumatumari Tuschen Uitvlugt Unity Victoria Vreed en Hoop Vriesland Wakapau Weldaad Whitewater Windsor Forest Wowetta Yupukari Zeeburg Zeelandia Communities Abary Arakaka Bush Lot El Paso Governor Light Karinambo Kumaka, Barima-Waini Kumaka, East Berbice-Corentyne Long Creek Mora Point Noitgedacht Orinduik Princeville Silver Hill Tumatumari Landing Estates Catherinas Lust Dadanawa Ranch Wichabai Missions Bethany Village Paruima

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paruima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paruima) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paruima?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.