Mayaguana is a constituent republic of Lucaya Region.
| Mayaguana Republic | |
|---|---|
| Mayaguana Island | |
| Constituent Republic of Vekllei | |
 |
|
| Part of the Lucaya Region | |
| Mayaguana is famous for Drumba, a genre of music that emerged there and in southeast Lucaya. | |
| Population | 31,150 |
| Demographics |
40% Lucayan Loyalists 40% Afro-Bahamian 20% Caribbean mixed
|
| Economy | Plantations & spices Fisheries & shipping, Food & drink |
| Produces | Sugar, Molasses, Rum, Fish, Lobster |
| Working week | 18.4 hours |
| Specialisation | Arts & Media |
| Accession | 1967, as part of West Indies Federation dissolution |
| Area | 280 km² |
| Capital | Abraham's Bay |
| Languages | English, Bahamian Creole |
The Mayaguana Republic is a constituent republic of Vekllei in the Lucayan archipelago, roughly equidistant from Haiti, Caicos and the main Lucayan chain. It is a flat, dry limestone island that rises to just 40 metres at its highest point. It is best known in Vekllei for its music conservatory. Its people are scattered across a handful of settlements, most of them on the western and northern coasts.
Like most of Lucaya Region, it was occupied by the British during the colonial period, but early attempts at growing cotton failed in its thin soils. Loyalist refugees, Haitian immigrants and freed slaves settled there instead, and lived by fishing, subsistence farming and salvaging ships wrecked on its reefs. Mayaguanan culture is informal and workmanlike, and in industrial terms the island provides little beyond sugar processing. It is a popular destination for other Lucayans, who visit for its annual concert series. Mayaguana is also famous for Drumba, a genre of music that emerged there and in southeast Lucaya.
Today, Mayaguana’s economy is dominated by sugar processing, fish, lobster and some boatbuilding in Betsy Bay. It grows a salt-tolerant variety of cane known as Salt Cane, but most of its work is processing cane for the Caribbea Cane refineries. The industry employs about a third of its workers during the harvest. A train line runs north from the capital of Abraham’s Bay to the cane fields, carrying both freight and passengers. There is a small airport with flights to Providence and Caicos.
The island is home to the Mayaguana Federal Conservatory, a major music school of CUWI housed in old colonial buildings on a bluff above the sea. It teaches the traditional music of the Caribbean, and students come from all over Lucaya to study there. Consequently, local schoolchildren receive music lessons from the conservatory, and good musicianship is ubiquitous throughout the republic.
Climate
Subtropical and dry with consistent trade winds. The exposed position and lack of elevation create challenging agricultural conditions that paradoxically favour the salt-tolerant cane varieties grown here.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 26° 21° 26° 21° 26° 21° 27° 21° 29° 22° 30° 25° 30° 25° 29° 25° 29° 25° 28° 25° 27° 25° 26° 23°
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 26° 21° 26° 21° 26° 21° 27° 21° 29° 22° 30° 25° Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 30° 25° 29° 25° 29° 25° 28° 25° 27° 25° 26° 23°
Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day 1 Jan
- Spring Carnival
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- Whit Monday
- Commonwealth Day 1 May
- Republic Day 22 Jul
- Emancipation Day 1 Aug
- Independence Day 10 Oct
- Christmas Day 25 Dec
- Boxing Day 26 Dec
- Glass
- Molasses
- Plastics
- Sugar
- Timber
- Pirates Well: Historic freshwater source and restored colonial settlement, now housing conservatory faculty and retired sailors in converted stone buildings.
- Betsy Bay Boatyards: Traditional boatbuilding workshops producing shallow-bottomed fishing vessels well suited to the complex reef systems surrounding the island.
- Guano Point Caves: Limestone cave system containing pre-Columbian artifacts and endemic bat species, monitored by [[LSRE]] field researchers.
- Abraham’s Bay Concert Hall: Primary performance venue for the conservatory, hosting regular concerts drawing audiences from across the [[lucaya|Lucayan]] and [[kalina|Kalinan]] commonwealths.
- East Point Lighthouse: Automated 19th-century lighthouse still operational, offering views across the Mayaguana Passage toward the [[Caicos]] republic.
- Agriculture, Land & Sea 14.1%
- Education 10.6%
- Arts & Media 10.1%
- Domestic 9.2%
All 19 groups
Hide table
- Agriculture, Land & Sea 14.1%
- Education 10.6%
- Arts & Media 10.1%
- Domestic 9.2%
| Occupation | Share | Posts |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Land & Sea | 14.1% | 5,550 |
| Education | 10.6% | 4,170 |
| Arts & Media | 10.1% | 3,980 |
| Domestic | 9.2% | 3,620 |
| Healthcare | 8.7% | 3,410 |
| Skilled Trades & Construction | 8.3% | 3,280 |
| Government & Civil Administration | 6.1% | 2,390 |
| Industry | 5.1% | 2,010 |
| Security & Defence | 4.2% | 1,650 |
| Transport | 4.2% | 1,640 |
| Retail, Distribution & Logistics | 3.3% | 1,290 |
| Hospitality & Participatory Trades | 2.9% | 1,130 |
| Economic Planning | 2.7% | 1,070 |
| Sport & Recreation | 2.7% | 1,050 |
| Law & Justice | 2.1% | 830 |
| Information & Communications | 2.0% | 770 |
| Science & Research | 1.8% | 720 |
| Energy & Resources | 1.1% | 420 |
| Religious & Ceremonial | 0.8% | 330 |
Register estimates of posts located in the republic, rounded; figures under 50 suppressed. Includes 70 posts held by non-residents.