Guyana Introduction

Guyana is a country in north-eastern South America. It has a North Atlantic Ocean coastline in the northeast, and lies between Suriname to the east and Venezuela to the west, with Brazil to the south. It is a member of the British Commonwealth, formerly being the colony of British Guiana, and is now the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay. Substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively.

Guyana Weather

Guyana is tropical, hot, humid and rainy, with very little variations in high and low temperatures.

Fortunately, the country of Guyana is right in the path of the northeast trade winds, and afternoon sea breezes bring cooling relief to the coastal areas, where most of the population lives.

There are two rainy seasons (May - June) and from (November - January); the west and northwest receive the highest amounts of precipitation, while the southeast rainfall is light.

The average daily high temperature in Georgetown is near 85° F, while the average lows hover in the mid 70s.

Guyana Attractions

Georgetown

Guyana History

At the time the first Europeans arrived in the area around 1500, Guyana was inhabited by Arawak and Carib tribes of Amerindians. European invasion/settlement began in the early 17th century with the Dutch, who established three separate colonies; Essequibo (1616), Berbice (1627), and Demerara (1752). The British assumed control in the late 18th century and the Dutch formally ceded the area in 1814. The three became a single British colony known as British Guiana in 1831.

The abolition of slavery in 1834 led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured laborers from Madeira (Portugal) (beginning in 1834), Germany (first in 1835), Ireland (1836), Scotland (1837), Malta (1839), China and India (beginning in 1838) to work on the sugar plantations. In 1889 Venezuela claimed the land up to the Essequibo. Ten years later an international tribunal ruled the land belonged to British Guiana; however, the dispute continues.

Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and became a republic in 1970, remaining a member of the Commonwealth. The CIA and United States State Department along with the British government played a strong covert role in influencing who would control Guyana during this time.

Guyana Politics

Legislative power rests in the unicameral Guyanese parliament, called the National Assembly, with 53 members chosen on the basis of proportional representation from national lists named by the political parties. An additional 12 members are elected by regional councils at the same time as the National Assembly.

Executive authority is exercised by the president, who appoints and supervises the prime minister and other ministers. The president is not directly elected; each party presenting a slate of candidates for the assembly must designate in advance a leader who will become president if that party receives the largest number of votes. Any dissolution of the assembly and election of a new assembly can lead to a change in the assembly majority and consequently a change in the presidency. An ethnocultural divide between the two main ethnic groups has persisted and has on occasion led to turbulent politics.

The highest judicial body is the Court of Appeal, headed by a chancellor of the judiciary. The second level is the High Court, presided over by a chief justice. The chancellor and the Chief Justice are appointed by the president. The Audit Office of Guyana (AOG) is the country's Supreme Audit Institution (SAI).

Guyana is a full and participating founder-member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the headquarters of which is located in Georgetown. The CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME) will, by necessity, bring Caribbean-wide legislation into force and a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Heads of Government Bharrat Jagdeo 1999 - Present Janet Jagan 1997 - 1999 Samuel Hinds March 6, 1997 - 19 December 1997 Desmond Hoyte 1985 - 1992 Forbes Burnham 1966 - 1985 Cheddi Jagan 1957 - 1964, 1992 - 1997

Heads of State Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt: 26 May - 16 December 1966 Sir David James Gardiner Rose: 16 December 1966 - 10 November 1969 Sir Edward Victor Luckhoo: 10 November 1969 - 22 February 1970 Arthur Chung 1970 - 1980 *Note: Guyana has adopted the Presidential System form of Government hence the current Head of State (the President) also holds the portfolio of Head of Government and Supreme Executive Authority.