| 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. Bharrat Jagdeo
President
Date of Birth: 23
January 1964
Marital Status: Married
Education
1984 - M.S (Economics), Friendship
University, Moscow
Professional/Political Career:
1977 - Member, Progress Youth
Organisation (PYO), youth arm of the
People's
Progressive Party (PPP)
1980 - Member of the PPP. Served
in leadership positions on District
and
Regional Committees
1990 - Economist, State Planning Secretariat
1992 - Special Advisor to Minister of
Finance in the PPP/Civic Government
1993 - Junior Minister of Finance; Member
of the PPP Central and Executive
Committees
1995 - Senior Minister of Finance.
Acted as Prime Minister on several occasions
1999 (August) - Appointed President
2001 - Elected President
2006 - Re-elected 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 |
| National symbols: |
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