| Also known as: |
Land of Many Waters
(Root: Guiana (Carib))
|
| Motto: |
One People, One Nation, One
Destiny
|
| Location: |
On the northern coast of the
South American continent bounded by the Atlantic
Ocean on the north, Brazil to the southwest,
Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the
northwest. |
| History: |
Guyana was originally inhabited
by Amerindians. It was settled by the Dutch in
the 16th century and changed hands between the
Dutch, British and French from the late 16th to
early 19th century, and was finally ceded to
Britain in 1814. Independence was achieved in
1966 and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
established in 1970.
|
| Elections: |
Last elections 2006. Next
elections due 2011 |
| Ruling Coalition: |
People's Progressive Party/Civic
(PPP/C) |
| Major Political
Parties: |
People's Progressive Party/Civic
(PPP/C), People's National Congress/Reform
(PNC/R), Guyana Action Party/Working People's
Alliance (GAP/WPA), The United Force (TUF),
Rise, Organise and Rebuild (ROAR)
|
| Economic Summary: |
The Economic Recovery Programme
introduced heading into the 1990s brought a
market turnaround in the country's economy.
Spurred by foreign investment, the major
productive sectors responded favourably to the
market-oriented policies.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors are
important areas of economic activity, with
Guyana being a major producer of rice and
sugar.
Forestry has become more significant, and is a
potential growth sector.
The mining sector is also important with gold
and bauxite production leading the way.
Manufacturing, mainly the processing and
refining of agricultural products, continues to
be of importance to Guyana.
|
| Airport: |
Cheddi Jagan International |
| Status: |
Cooperative Republic.
Independence - 26 May 1966; Republic - 23
February 1970 |
| Capital: |
Georgetown |
| Head of
Government: |
H.E. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo
President
|
| Area: |
216,970 km2 (83,000
miles2) |
| Population: |
751,400 (2004) |
| Currency: |
Guyana Dollar |
| GDP: |
EC$2,100 (2004) |
| GDP Per Capita: |
EC$2,795 (2004) |
| Total Exports: |
EC$1,484.6 Mn (2004) |
| Total Imports: |
EC$1,707 Mn (2004) |
| Intra-Regional Exports: |
EC$303.6 Mn (2004) |
| Intra-Regional Imports: |
EC$499.8 Mn (2004) |
| Business Hours: |
Commercial: 08:00-16:00 hrs
Monday to Friday; 08:00-12:30 hrs Saturday
Government: 08:00-16:00 hrs Monday to Thursday;
08:00-15:30 hrs Friday |
| National Holidays: |
New Year's Day (01 January);
Republic Day (23 February), Good Friday, Easter
Monday, Labour Day (01 May), Phagwah (as
decreed), Eid-ul-Azah (as decreed), Youman Nabi
(as decreed), CARICOM Day (first Monday in
July), Freedom Day (01 August), Diwali (as
decreed), Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing
Day (26 December)
Holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed the
following Monday |
| Date of CARICOM
Membership: |
1 August 1973 |
| National
Anthem: |
Dear Land
of Guyana
Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains
Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by the
rains,
Set gem-like and fair between mountains and sea
-
Your children salute you, dear land of the free.
Green land of Guyana, our heroes of yore
Both bondsmen and free, laid their bones on your
shore;
This soil so they hallowed, and from them are
we,
All sons of one mother, Guyana the free.
Great land of Guyana, diverse though our
strains,
We are born of their sacrifice, heirs of their
pains,
And ours is the glory their eyes did not see -
One land of six peoples, united and free.
Dear land of Guyana, to you will we give
Our homage, our service, each day that we live;
God guard you, great Mother, and make us to be
More worthy our heritage - land of the free.
(Words by A.L. Luker, music by R.C.G. Potter) |
| Highest National Award: |
Order of Excellence |
| Favourite Dish: |
Guyana Pepperpot;
Guyana Cook-up; Curry and roti |
| Government web page: |
http://www.op.gov.gy |
