Most Portuguese trace their ancestry to the North Atlantic island of Madeira,[2] which already had a long history of sugar production, but was beset with economic depression and political issues.
[3] Those who stayed on after their indenture made up a Guyanese middle class, and were an important part of the commercial sector.
[3] Portuguese of Guyana support Roman Catholic churches, schools, and maintain their language through periodicals such as A Voz do Português,[4] A Liberdade, O Lusitano, Chronica Semanal and The Watchman.
[6] Many Portuguese Guyanese have since emigrated onward[3] and now live in London, Toronto, other parts of the Caribbean and the United States.
The general success of this group also led to animosity such as the 1856 ‘Angel Gabriel’ Riots in which Portuguese shops were looted and damaged.