Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "One people, one nation, one destiny"
Capital (and largest city)		Georgetown 6°46′N, 58°10′W
Official languages		English
Recognised regional languages		Guyanese Creole, Akawaio, Hindi, Macushi, Wai-Wai, Arawakan, Cariban
Demonym		Guyanese
Government		Semi-presidential republic
-	President	Bharrat Jagdeo
-	Prime Minister	Sam Hinds
Independence
-	from the United Kingdom	May 26, 1966
Area
-	Total	214,970 km² (84th) 83,000 sq mi
-	Water (%)	8. The Flag of Guyana, known as The Golden Arrowhead, was adopted in 1966 The Coat of arms of Guyana ( Co-operative Republic of Guyana) was granted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 25 February 1966, after A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Guyana ' s population ( Guyanese people) is made up of six main ethnic groups -- East Indian African Amerindian European Mixed Race and Chinese Georgetown, estimated population 310320 (2002 Guyana census is the Capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A regional language is a Language spoken in an area of a Nation state, whether it be a small area a federal State or Province, or Guyanese Creole ( Creolese by its speakers also called Guyanese English or simply Guyanese) is a Creole language spoken by more "Akawaio" redirects here For the Akawaio people see Ingarikó. Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is The Macushi (Macuxi are an ethnic group of Guyana and northern Brazil. The Arawakan languages (also Arahuacan, Arawakanas, Arahuacano, Maipurean, Maipuran, Maipureano, Maipúrean The Cariban languages are an indigenous Language family of South America. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The semi-presidential system is a System of government in which a prime minister and a President are both active participants in the day-to-day administration When Guyana was declared a republic in 1970 the president was elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term and possessed largely ceremonial powers Bharrat Jagdeo (born 23 January 1964) has been the President of Guyana since 11 August 1999. Heads of Government of Guyana (1953-Present Chief Ministers of Guyana (1953-1961 Premiers of Guyana (1961-1966 Prime Ministers of Guyana (1966-Present Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds (born 27 December 1943) is a Guyanese politician who has been Prime Minister of Guyana almost continuously since Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 451 - The Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here Surface areas between 100000 km² and 1000000 km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 4
Population
-	March 2008 estimate	751,0001 (162nd)
-	2007 census	769,095
-	Density	3. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 5/km² (217th) 9. List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² 1/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$1. The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 378 billion (157th)
-	Per capita	$4,612 (106th)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 750 (medium) (97th)
Currency		Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Time zone		(UTC-4)
Internet TLD		.gy
Calling code		+592
1	Population includes excess mortality caused by AIDS. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The dollar ( Currency code GYD) has been the Currency of Guyana (formerly British Guiana) since 1839. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Around one-third of the population (230,000) live in the capital, Georgetown.

Guyana (pronounced /ɡaɪˈænə/ or /ɡuyːˈɑːnə/), officially named the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and previously known as British Guiana, is the only nation state of the Commonwealth of Nations on the mainland of South America. For the online game see Jennifer Government NationStates. The nation-state is a certain form of State that derives its legitimacy South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Bordered to the east by Suriname, to the south and southwest by Brazil and to the west by Venezuela, it is the third-smallest country on the mainland of South America. Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the It is one of four non-Spanish-speaking territories on the continent, along with the countries of Brazil (Portuguese), Suriname (Dutch) and the French overseas region of French Guiana (French). Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal. Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname Overseas region (Région d'outre-mer is a recent designation given to the overseas departments which have similar powers to those of the regions of Metropolitan French Guiana (Guyane française officially fr ''Guyane'' is an Overseas department (French département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Culturally, Guyana associates primarily with the English-speaking Caribbean countries such as Jamaica and Trinidad.

History

Main article: History of Guyana

The first Europeans arrived in the area around 1500. Guyana had been peopled for thousands of years before Europeans became aware of the area some five hundred years ago Guyana was inhabited by the Arawak and Carib tribes of Amerindians. The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for Cassava flour was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Although Christopher Columbus sighted Guyana during his third voyage (in 1498), the Dutch were first to establish colonies: Essequibo (1616), Berbice (1627), and Demerara (1752). Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Essequibo is the name of a Dutch Colony founded in 1616 and located in the region of the Essequibo River. Berbice is a region in Guyana, sometimes known as the "ancient county Demerara in South America was one of the original British colonies that were joined into the colony of British Guiana, now Guyana. The British assumed control in the late 18th century, and the Dutch formally ceded the area in 1814. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system In 1831 the three separate colonies became a single British colony known as British Guiana. Year 1831 ( MDCCCXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a British Guiana was the name of the British Colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.

The State House, Guyana's Presidential Residence.

Escaped slaves formed their own settlements known as Maroon communities. Maroons redirects here and may refer to Queensland state rugby league team. With the abolition of slavery in 1834 many of the former enslaved people began to settle in urban areas. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another Indentured labourers from modern day Portugal (1834), Germany (first in 1835), Ireland (1836), Scotland (1837), Malta (1839), China and India (beginning in 1838) were imported to work on the sugar plantations. History See also History of Madeira Pre-Portuguese times Pliny mentions certain Purple Islands the position of which with reference to the Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

In 1889 Venezuela claimed the land up to the Essequibo. Ten years later an international tribunal ruled the land belonged to British Guiana.

During World War II the United States arranged for its air force to use British airports in South America, including those in British Guiana. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a

Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and became a republic on 23 February 1970, remaining a member of the Commonwealth. A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States State Department and the CIA, along with the British government, played a strong role in influencing who would politically control Guyana during this time. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all ^[1] They provided secret financial support and political campaign advice to pro-western Guyanese of African descent, especially Forbes Burnham's People's National Congress to the detriment of the Cheddi Jagan-led People's Progressive Party, mostly supported by Guyanese of Indian descent. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham ( 20 February 1923 &ndash 6 August 1985) was a Guyanese political leader and leader of Guyana The People's National Congress is a Socialist Political party in Guyana. Cheddi Berret Jagan ( March 22, 1918 &ndash March 6, 1997) was a Guyanese politician who was Chief Minister of British The People's Progressive Party is a Political party in Guyana which has governed continuously since 1992

Geography

Map of Guyana

Kaieteur Falls in central Guyana

Main article: Geography of Guyana

Guyana is an Amerindian word meaning "Land of many waters". Kaieteur Falls is a great Waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. Guyana is a country in Northern South America and part of Caribbean South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. [1] The country can be characterized by its vast rain forests dissected by numerous rivers, creeks and waterfalls, notably Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River. Kaieteur Falls is a great Waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. The Potaro River is a river in Guyana in northern South America. The country enjoys a diverse, multicultural society, high floral and faunal biodiversity, prize-winning rum, and Demerara sugar. Biodiversity is the variation of Life forms within a given Ecosystem, Biome or for the entire Earth. Demerara (also spelled as 'demerera' is used as the generic name of a type of specialty raw cane Sugar often used in home baking and in sweetening coffee and tea Guyana is also known internationally as the site of the notorious Jonestown Massacre.

Guyana can be divided into four natural regions: a narrow and fertile marshy plain along the Atlantic (low coastal plain) coast where most of the population lives, then a white sand belt more inland (hilly sand and clay region), containing most of Guyana's mineral deposits, the dense rainforests (Forested Highland Region) across the middle of the country, the grassy flat savannah in the south and finally the larger interior highlands (interior savannah) consisting mostly of mountains that gradually rise to the Brazilian border. Rainforests are Forests characterized by high Rainfall with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750–2000 mm (68-78 inches

Guyana's main mountains are contained here, including Mount Ayanganna (6,699 ft (2,042 m)) and on Mount Roraima (9,301 ft (2,835 m) – the highest mountain in Guyana) on the Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela tripoint, part of the Pakaraima range. Mount Ayanganna is a Sandstone Tepui in the Pakaraima Mountains of western Guyana, 85 kilometres east of Mount Roraima at. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Mount Roraima (also known as Roraima Tepui, or Cerro Roraima in Spanish Monte Roraima in Portuguese marks the border between Venezuela |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the For other meanings see Tripoint (disambiguation. Tripoint (also known as tri-border area) is a geographical point at The Pacaraima or Pakaraima Mountains ( Portuguese: Serra Pacaraima, Spanish: Sierra Pacaraima) are the Mountains of Roraima and Guyana's tepuis are said to have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 novel The Lost World. A Tepui (or Tepuy) (ˈtɛpˌwi is a table-top mountain ( Mesa) found only in the Guayana highlands of South America, especially in Venezuela Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930 was an Anglo-Scottish Author most noted for his stories about the The Lost World is a novel released in 1912 by Arthur Conan Doyle concerning an expedition to a Plateau in South America where prehistoric There are also many steep escarpments and waterfalls, including the famous Kaieteur Falls. Kaieteur Falls is a great Waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. Between the Rupununi River and the border with Brazil lies the Rupununi savannah, south of which lie the Kanuku Mountains. The Rupununi River is a river in southern Guyana, originating in the Kanuku Mountains. The Rupununi savannah is a Savanna plain in Guyana located between the Rupununi River and the Brazilian Border, in the Upper Takutu-Upper The Kanuku Mountains are a group of mountains in Guyana, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region

There are many rivers in the country, the three main ones being (west to east) the Essequibo, the Demerara, and the Berbice. The Essequibo River is the longest River in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. The Demerara River is a River in eastern Guyana that rises in the central Rainforests of the country and flows to the north for 346 Kilometres The Berbice River, located in eastern Guyana, rises in the highlands of the Rupununi region There is also the Corentyne along the border with Suriname. The Corentyne / Courantyne / Corantijn River is a river in northern South America. Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by At the mouth of the Essequibo are several large islands. The 90-mile (145 km) Shell Beach along the north-west coasts. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Shell Beach, located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana in the Barima-Waini Region near the Venezuelan border is a nesting site for four of the Guyana is a major breeding area for sea turtles (mainly Leatherbacks) and other wildlife. Sea turtles ( Superfamily Chelonioidea) are Turtles found in all the world's oceans except the Arctic Ocean. The leatherback turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea) is the largest of all living turtles

The local climate is tropical and generally hot and humid, though moderated by northeast trade winds along the coast. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of A tropical climate is a kind of Climate typical in the Tropics. There are two rainy seasons, the first from May to mid-August, the second from mid-November to mid-January.

Boundary disputes

Guyana was in a border dispute with both Suriname, which claimed the land east of the Corentyne River in southeastern Guyana, and Venezuela which claims the land west of the Essequibo River as part of Guayana Esequiba. A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession/control of land between two or more States or over the possession or control of land by one state after it has conquered Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by The Corentyne / Courantyne / Corantijn River is a river in northern South America. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The Essequibo River is the longest River in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. Guayana Esequiba is the territory of Guyana claimed by Venezuela. The dispute with Suriname was arbitrated by the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea and a ruling in favor of Guyana was announced in September, 2007. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS) also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty is the international agreement that resulted ^[2][3][4]

When the British surveyed British Guiana in 1840, they included the entire Cuyuni River basin within the colony. British Guiana was the name of the British Colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana. The Cuyuni River is a River in northern Guyana and eastern Venezuela. Venezuela did not agree with this as it claimed all lands west of the Essequibo River. The Essequibo River is the longest River in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. In 1898, at Venezuela's request, an international arbitration tribunal was convened and in 1899 they issued an award giving about 94% percent of the disputed territory to British Guiana. An arbitral tribunal (or arbitration tribunal) is a panel of one or more Adjudicators which is convened and sits to resolve a dispute by way of Arbitration Venezuela and Great Britain accepted the award by treaty in 1905. ^[5].

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Guyana

The present population of Guyana is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, composed chiefly of the descendants of immigrants who came to the country either as enslaved people or as indentured labourers. Guyana ' s population ( Guyanese people) is made up of six main ethnic groups -- East Indian African Amerindian European Mixed Race and Chinese As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another The population therefore comprises groups of persons with nationality backgrounds from Europe (especially the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Portugal), Africa, China, India, and the Middle East, with the Aboriginal Indians as the indigenous population. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. These groups of diverse nationality backgrounds have been fused together by a common language, i. e. , English and Creole. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable Language that originates seemingly as a nativized Pidgin.

The largest nationality sub-group is that of the descendants of India, also known as East Indians (Indo-Guyanese), comprising 43. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Indo-Guyanese are people with roots in the Indian subcontinent who are citizens or nationals of Guyana. 5 percent of the population in 2002. They are followed by people of African heritage (Afro-Guyanese) (30. Afro Guyanese are the inhabitants of Guyana of Black African origin 2 percent). The third in number are those of mixed heritage (16. 7 percent), while the Aboriginal Indians are fourth with 9. 2 percent. The smallest groups are European, including Portuguese, (0. The history of Portuguese community in Guyana is directly related to the end of Slavery. 06 percent or 476 persons) and the Chinese (0. The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following A person who resides in and holds citizenship of the People's Republic of China (including Hong 19 percent or 1395). A small group (0. 01 percent or 112 persons) did not identify their race/ethnic background.

The population distribution in 2002 was determined by nationality background. The distribution pattern has been similar to those of the 1980 and 1991 censuses, but the share of the two main groups has declined. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population The East Indians were 51. 9 percent of the total population in 1980, but by 1991 had fallen to 48. 6 percent, and then 43. 5 percent in 2002 census. Those of African descent increased slightly from 30. 8 to 32. 3 percent during the first period (1980 and 1991) before falling to 30. 2 percent in the 2002 census. With small growth in the population, the decline in the shares of the two larger groups has resulted in the relative shares of the ‘Mixed’ and Amerindian groups. The Amerindian population rose by 22,097 persons between 1991 and 2002. This represents an increase of 47. 3 percent or annual growth of 3. 5 percent. Similarly, the ‘Mixed’ population increased by 37,788 persons, representing a 43. 0 percent increase or annual growth rate of 3. 2 percent from the base period of 1991 census. The whites and Chinese populations which declined between 1980 and 1991 regained in numbers by the 2002 census by 54. 4 percent (168 persons) and 8. 1 percent (105 persons) respectively. However, because of their relatively small sizes, the increase has effectively a zero effect on the overall change. The Portuguese group has declined constantly over the decades.

Languages

English is the official language of Guyana. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States In addition, Amerindian languages are spoken by a small minority, while Guyanese Creole (an English-based creole with African and Indian syntax) is widely spoken. The Cariban languages are an indigenous Language family of South America. Guyanese Creole ( Creolese by its speakers also called Guyanese English or simply Guyanese) is a Creole language spoken by more Grammar is not standardized. ^[6]

In addition to English, other languages of Guyana include Guyanese Creole, Akawaio, Wai-Wai, Arawak and Macushi. Guyanese Creole ( Creolese by its speakers also called Guyanese English or simply Guyanese) is a Creole language spoken by more "Akawaio" redirects here For the Akawaio people see Ingarikó. The Wai-wai (or Waiwai are an ethnic group of Guyana and northern Brazil. The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for Cassava flour was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in The Macushi (Macuxi are an ethnic group of Guyana and northern Brazil.

Regions and neighborhood councils

Main articles: Regions of Guyana and Neighborhood Councils of Guyana

Regions of Guyana

Guyana is divided into 10 regions:^[7][8]

The regions are divided into 27 neighborhood councils. The South American Commonwealth of Guyana is divided into ten regions Barima-Waini Pomeroon-Supenaam Essequibo Islands-West The regions of Guyana are divided into 27 neighborhood councils The South American Commonwealth of Guyana is divided into ten regions Barima-Waini Pomeroon-Supenaam Essequibo Islands-West Barima-Waini (Region One is a region of Essequiban Guyana a territory in dispute by Guyana and Venezuela located in the northwest of the country Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region 7 is a region in Guyana, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the north the region of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara to the east Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region 5 is a region of Guyana, split in two by the Essequibo River. Demerara-Mahaica (Region 3 is a region of Guyana, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the north the region of Mahaica-Berbice to the east the region of Mahaica-Berbice (Region 6 is a region of Guyana, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the north the region of East Berbice-Corentyne to the east the region East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 4 is one of ten regions in Guyana covering the whole of the east of the country Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region 2 is a region of Esequiban Guyana a territory in dispute by Guyana and Venezuela bordering the regions of Barima-Waini, Essequibo Islands-West Potaro-Siparuni (Region 8 is a region in Guyana, bordering the region of Cuyuni-Mazaruni to the north the regions of Upper Demerara-Berbice and East Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region 10 is a region of Guyana, bordering the region of Potaro-Siparuni to the north the region of East Berbice-Corentyne Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region 9 is a region of Guyana, bordering the regions of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Demerara-Mahaica and Mahaica-Berbice The regions of Guyana are divided into 27 neighborhood councils

Politics

Main article: Politics of Guyana

Politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the The semi-presidential system is a System of government in which a prime minister and a President are both active participants in the day-to-day administration Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its When Guyana was declared a republic in 1970 the president was elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term and possessed largely ceremonial powers This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly of Guyana. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The National Assembly is the Parliament of Guyana. It has 65 members 53 members elected for a five-year term by Proportional representation and 12 members The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State The 2006 national elections were the first peaceful elections in recent times. The elections were free and fair and were a welcome departure from the turmoil of previous elections.

Historically, politics is a source of tension in the country and violent riots have often broken out during elections. During the 1970s and 1980s, the political landscape was dominated by The People's National Congress, who retained their power by skewing election results. In 1992, the first "free and fair" elections were overseen by former American president Jimmy Carter, and the People's Progressive Party has led the country since. James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 The two parties are principally organized along ethnic lines and as a result often clash on issues of governance.

Economy

Tractor in a rice field on Guyana's coastal plain.

Main article: Economy of Guyana

Guyana's economy depends on agriculture. With a per capita Gross domestic product of only $4700 in 2006 Guyana is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labour and a deficient infrastructure. Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids Until recently, the government was juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. Low prices for key mining and agricultural commodities combined with troubles in the bauxite and sugar industries had threatened the government's tenuous fiscal position and dimmed prospects for the future. Bauxite is the most important Aluminium Ore. It consists largely of the minerals Gibbsite Al(OH3 Boehmite γ-AlO(OH and Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. However, the Guyanese economy has rebounded slightly and exhibited moderate economic growth since 1999, based on an expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time Exports of Guyana include rice, sugar, molasses, bauxite, gold, furniture, electrical and household appliances, alcoholic beverages, chemicals and pharmeceuticals, wood, wood products, processed food, spices, fish, fruits, vegetables, hides, skins, leather and leather products, flowers and plants, textiles, yarns, fabrics, gold jewelry, toys and games, travel goods, stationery, paper products, ceramics, handicrafts, wildlife, packaged foods, and tobacco.

The main economic activities in Guyana are agriculture (producing rice and Demerara sugar), bauxite mining, gold mining, timber, shrimp fishing and minerals. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Demerara (also spelled as 'demerera' is used as the generic name of a type of specialty raw cane Sugar often used in home baking and in sweetening coffee and tea Bauxite is the most important Aluminium Ore. It consists largely of the minerals Gibbsite Al(OH3 Boehmite γ-AlO(OH and Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 The sugar industry, which accounts for 28% of all export earnings, is largely run by Guysuco, which employs more people than any other industry. Many industries have a large foreign investment. The mineral industry, for example, is heavily invested in by the American company Reynolds Metals, the Canadian Alcan and the Korean/Malaysian Barama Company has a large stake in the logging industry. Reynolds Metals Company ( RMC) was the second largest Aluminum company in the United States, and the third largest in the world

A section of Bourda Market.

The production of balatá (natural latex) was once big business in Guyana. Balatá ( Manilkara bidentata) is a species of Manilkara native to a large area of northern South America, Central America and LaTeX (ˈleɪtɛ Most of the balata bleeding in Guyana took place in the foothills of the Kanuku Mountains in the Rupununi. Early exploitation also took place in the North West District, but most of the trees in the area were destroyed by illicit bleeding methods that involved cutting down the trees rather than making incisions in them.

Folk uses of balatá included the making of homegrown cricket balls, the temporarily filling of troublesome tooth cavities, and the crafting of figurines and other decorative items (particularly by the Macushi people of the Kanuku mountains).

Major private sector organizations include the Private Sector Commission (PSC)^[9] and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI);^[10] See a list of companies in Guyana. In Economics, the private sector is that part of the economy which is both run for private Profit and is not controlled by the State. The following is a list of companies in Guyana, South America.

In addition, the government initiated a major overhaul of the tax code with the start of 2007. The Value Added Tax (VAT) was brought into effect, replacing six different taxes. Value added tax ( VAT) or goods and services tax ( GST) is a consumption Tax levied on value added. Prior to the implementation of the VAT it had been relatively easy to evade sales tax and many businesses were in violation of tax code. Many businesses were very opposed to VAT introduction because of the extra paperwork required; however, the Government has remained firm on the VAT. By replacing several taxes with one flat tax rate, it will also be easier for government auditors to spot embezzlement. Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets usually financial in nature by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted While the adjustment to VAT has been a tough one, it may improve day-to-day life because of the significant additional funds the government will have available for public spending.

President Bharrat Jagdeo has made debt relief a foremost priority of his administration. Bharrat Jagdeo (born 23 January 1964) has been the President of Guyana since 11 August 1999. He has been quite successful, getting US$800 million⁸ of debt written off by the IMF, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in addition to millions more from other industrial nations. Mr. Jagdeo was lauded by IDB President Moreno for his strong leadership and negotiating skills in pursuing debt relief for Guyana and several other regional countries.

Summary

Communications

Telephones

110,100 main lines (ITU, 2005)
400,000 mobile cellular (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

1 (government-owned, broadcasting on AM, FM, and shortwave)^[11]

Television broadcast stations

21 (in 2007; one government-owned station; the rest are private stations which relay a variety of American programmes via satellite services)

Internet hosts

3,000 (ITU, 2006)

Internet users

160,000 (ITU, 2005)

Transport

Cross-border bridge from Guyana to Brazil under construction near Lethem.

Main article: Transport in Guyana

Railways

Total 116 miles (187 km), all dedicated to ore transport (2001 estimate)

Highways

Total 4,952 miles (7,970 km), of which 367 miles (590 km) paved and 4,586 miles (7,380 km) unpaved (1999 estimate)

Waterways

669 miles (1,077 km)^[12]

Ports and harbors

Georgetown, Port Kaituma

Airports

1 international airport (Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri); 1 regional int'l airport (Ogle Airport); and about 90 airstrips, 9 of which have paved runways (2006 estimate). The transportation sector comprises the physical facilities terminals fleets and ancillary equipment of all the various modes of transport operating in Guyana, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport is the national airport of Guyana Ogle Airport ( is located on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Guyana, 6 miles east of the capital Georgetown.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Guyana

See also: Literature of Guyana and Music of Guyana

Guyana, along with Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil, is one of the four non-Hispanic nations in South America. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though Events 1455 - Traditional date for the publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western Book printed from Movable Mashramani, often abbreviated to " Mash " is an annual festival that celebrates Guyana becoming a Republic in 1970 Holi ( or language|Bhojpuri]] also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring Festival observed in India, Eid ul-Fitr or Id-ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiṭr) often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim Holiday that marks the end of Mawlid ( Eid Milad an Nabi ( Turkish:Mevlid ( Qur'anic مَوْلِدُ آلنَبِيِّ mawlidu n-nabiyyi, “Birth of the Prophet” Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a Holiday in some largely Christian cultures especially Roman Catholic Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Labour Day is an annual Holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from efforts of Events 553 - The Second Council of Constantinople begins 1215 - Rebel Barons renounce their allegiance to King John Indian Arrival Day is a Holiday celebrated on May 30 in Trinidad and Tobago each year since the 1990s Events 451 - The Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place An Independence Day is an annual celebration commemorating the Anniversary of a Nation 's assumption of independent Statehood, usually after ceasing Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Emancipation Day is celebrated in various locations in observation generally of the emancipation of slaves Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth Guyana is one of a few mainland territories that is considered to be a part of the Caribbean region Guyana has produced a number of authors most of whom write in the English language. Guyana is a South American country whose musical traditions are a mix of Indian African European and native elements Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by French Guiana (Guyane française officially fr ''Guyane'' is an Overseas department (French département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Guyana's culture is very similar to that of the English-speaking Caribbean, to the extent that Guyana is included and accepted as a Caribbean nation and is a founding member of the Caricom (Caribbean Community) economic bloc and also the home of the Bloc's Headquarters, the CARICOM Secretariat. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies Its geographical location, its sparsely populated rain forest regions, and its substantial Amerindian population differentiate it from English-speaking Caribbean countries. Its blend of Indo-Guyanese (East Indian) and Afro-Guyanese (African) cultures gives it similarities to Trinidad and distinguishes it from other parts of the Americas. Guyana shares similar interests with the islands in the West Indies, such as food, festive events, music, sports, etc. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Guyana plays international cricket as a part of the West Indies cricket team, and the Guyana team plays first class cricket against other nations of the Caribbean. The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as The Windies or The West Indies, is a multi-national Cricket team representing Guyana cricket team is the representative First class cricket team of Guyana. First-class cricket refers to the class of Cricket matches of three or more days scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players and officially adjudged first-class by In addition to its CARICOM membership, Guyana is a member of CONCACAF, the international football federation for North and Central America and the Caribbean. CONCACAF (the Confederation of North Central American and Caribbean Association Football) is the continent-wide governing body for football in North America, Another aspect of Guyanese culture is its rich folklore about Jumbees. A Jumbee is a type of Spirit or Demon in Guyanese Folk tale. Overview The Jumbee is a Guyanese Creolese name given to a

Religion

Main article: Religion in Guyana

According to the 2002 Census, Guyana's religions breakdown is 28. Christianity and Hinduism are the dominant religions in Guyana 4% Hindu, 16. 9% Pentecostal, 8. 1% Roman Catholic, 7. 3% Muslim, 6. 9% Anglican, 3% Seventh-day Adventist, 16. 5% other Christian denominations, 4. 3% no religion, 0. 5% Rastafarian, 0. 1% Bahá'í, and 2. 2% other faiths. ^[13] Most Guyanese Christians are either Protestants or Roman Catholics and include a mix of all races. Hinduism is dominated by the Indians who came to the country in the early 1800s, while Islam varies between the Afro-Guyanese, Indian-Guyanese, and Arab-Guyanese.

Events

Mashramani (Mash) · Phagwah (Holi) · Deepavali (Diwali)

Education

Bishops' High School

Guyana's educational system was at one time considered to be among the best in the Caribbean, but it significantly deteriorated in the 1980s because of the emigration of highly educated citizens and the lack of appropriate funding. Mashramani, often abbreviated to " Mash " is an annual festival that celebrates Guyana becoming a Republic in 1970 Holi ( or language|Bhojpuri]] also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring Festival observed in India, Holi ( or language|Bhojpuri]] also called the Festival of Colours, is a popular Hindu spring Festival observed in India, Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant Although the education system has recovered somewhat in the 1990s, it still does not produce the quality of educated students necessary for Guyana to modernize its workforce. The country lacks a critical mass of expertise in many of the disciplines and activities on which it depends.

The educational system does not sufficiently focus on the training of Guyanese in science and technology, technical and vocational subjects, business management, nor computer sciences. The Guyanese education system is modeled after the former British education system. Students are expected to write SSEE (secondary school entrance exam) by grade 6 for entrance into High School in grade 7. They write CXC at the end of high school. Recently they have introduced the CAPE exams which all other Caribbean countries have now introduced. The A-level system left over from the British era has all but disappeared and is now offered only in a few schools (current as at January 2007). The A-level, short for Advanced Level, is a General Certificate of Education qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, The reason for the insufficient focus or various disciplines can be directly attributed to the common choices made by students to specialize in areas that are similar (math/chemistry/physics or geography/history/economics). With the removal of the old A-level system that encouraged this specialization, it is thought that it will be more attractive for students to broaden their studies.

There are wide disparities among the geographical regions of the country in the availability of quality education, and the physical facilities which are provided are in poor condition.

Further adding to the problems of the educational system, many of the better-educated professional teachers have emigrated to other countries over the past two decades, mainly because of low pay, lack of opportunities and crime. As a result, there is a lack of trained teachers at every level of Guyana's educational system.

There are however several very good Private schools that have sprung up over the last fifteen years. Those schools offer a varied and balanced curriculum.

Public health

Service delivery

The delivery of health services is provided at five different levels in the public sector:

• Level I: Local Health Posts (166 in total) that provide preventive and simple curative care for common diseases and attempt to promote proper health practices. Community health workers staff them.
• Level II: Health Centres (109 in total) that provide preventive and rehabilitative care and promotion activities. These are ideally staffed with a medical extension worker or public health nurse, along with a nursing assistant, a dental nurse and a midwife.
• Level III: Nineteen District Hospitals (with 473 beds) that provide basic in-patient and outpatient care (although more the latter than the former) and selected diagnostic services. They are also meant to be equipped to provide simple radiological and laboratory services, and to be capable of gynecology, providing preventive and curative dental care. They are designed to serve geographical areas with populations of 10,000 or more.
• Level IV: Four Regional Hospitals (with 620 beds) that provide emergency services, routine surgery and obstetrical and gynecological care, dental services, diagnostic services and specialist services in general medicine and pediatrics. They are designed to include the necessary support for this level of medical service in terms of laboratory and X-ray facilities, pharmacies and dietetic expertise. These hospitals are located in Regions 2, 3, 6 and 10.
• Level V: The National Referral Hospital (937 beds) in Georgetown that provides a wider range of diagnostic and specialist services, on both an in-patient and out-patient basis; the Psychiatric Hospital in Canje; and the Geriatric Hospital in Georgetown. There is also one children’s rehabilitation centre.

This system is structured so that its proper functioning depends intimately on a process of referrals. Except for serious emergencies, patients are to be seen first at the lower levels, and those with problems that cannot be treated at those levels are referred to higher levels in the system. However, in practice, many patients by-pass the lower levels.

The health sector is currently unable to offer certain sophisticated tertiary services and specialized medical services, the technology for which is unaffordable in Guyana, or for which the required medical specialists simply do not exist. Even with substantial improvements in the health sector, the need for overseas treatment for some services might remain. The Ministry of Health provides financial assistance to patients requiring such treatment, priority being given to children whose condition can be rehabilitated with significant improvements to their quality of life.

In addition to the facilities mentioned above, there are 10 hospitals belonging to the private sector and to public corporations, plus diagnostic facilities, clinics and dispensaries in those sectors. These ten hospitals together, provide for 548 beds.

Eighteen clinics and dispensaries are owned by GUYSUCO.

The Ministry of Health and Labour is responsible for the funding of the National Referral Hospital in Georgetown, which has recently been made a public corporation managed by an independent Board. Region 6 is responsible for the management of the National Psychiatric Hospital. The Geriatric Hospital, previously administered by the Ministry of Labour, became the responsibility of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in December 1997.

Health conditions

One of the most unfortunate consequences of Guyana's economic decline in the 1970s and 1980s was that it led to very poor health conditions for a large part of the population. Basic health services in the interior are primitive to non-existent and some procedures are not available at all. The U. S. State Department Consular Information Sheet warns "Medical care is available for minor medical conditions. Emergency care and hospitalization for major medical illnesses or surgery is limited, because of a lack of appropriately trained specialists, below standard in-hospital care, and poor sanitation. Ambulance service is substandard and may not routinely be available for emergencies. " Many Guyanese seek medical care in the United States, Trinidad or Cuba.

Compared with other neighboring countries, Guyana ranks poorly in regard to basic health indicators. In 1998, life expectancy at birth was estimated at 66. 0 years for Guyana, 71. 6 for Suriname, 72. Suriname ( Dutch: Suriname; Sranan Tongo: Sranan) officially the Republic of Suriname (traditionally spelled Surinam by 9 for Venezuela; 73. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the 8 for Trinidad and Tobago, 74. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ˈtrɪnɪdæd ən təˈbeɪgoʊ is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American 7 for Jamaica, and 76. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. 5 for Barbados. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation In Guyana, the infant mortality rate in 1998 was 24. 2, in Barbados 14. 9; in Trinidad and Tobago 16. 2; in Venezuela 22; in Jamaica 24. 5; and in Suriname 25. 1.

Maternal mortality rates in Guyana are also relatively high, being estimate at 124. 6/1000 for 1998. Comparable figures for other Caribbean countries are 50/1000 for Barbados, 75/1000 for Trinidad and 100/1000 for Jamaica.

It must be emphasized, however, that although Guyana's health profile still falls short in comparison with many of its Caribbean neighbours, there has been remarkable progress since 1988, and the Ministry of Health is constantly upgrading conditions, procedures, and facilities. Open heart surgery is now available in the country, and in the second half of 2007 an ophthalmic center will open.

The leading causes of mortality for all age groups are cerebrovascular diseases (11. 6%); ischemic heart disease (9. 9%); immunity disorders (7. 1%); diseases of the respiratory system (6. 8%); diseases of pulmonary circulation and other forms of heart disease (6. 6%); endocrine and metabolic diseases (5. 5%); diseases of other parts of the Digestive System (5. 2%); violence (5. 1%); certain condition originating in the prenatal period (4. 3%); and hypertensive diseases (3. 9%).

The picture in regard to morbidity patterns differs. The ten leading causes of morbidity for all age groups are, in decreasing order: malaria; acute respiratory infections; symptoms, signs and ill defined or unknown conditions; hypertension; accident and injuries; acute diarrhoeal disease; diabetes mellitus; worm infestation; rheumatic arthritis; and mental and nervous disorders.

This morbidity profile indicates that it can be improved substantially through enhanced preventive health care, better education on health issues, more widespread access to potable water and sanitation services, and increased access to basic health care of good quality.

Guyana also suffers from the highest suicide rate of any South America country. The Guyana Health Minister, Leslie Ramsammy, estimates that at least 200 people commit suicide each year in Guyana, or 27. 2 people for each 100,000 people each year. [2]

Environment and biodiversity

Satellite image of Guyana 2004.

Blue-and-yellow Macaw. The Blue-and-yellow Macaw ( Ara ararauna) also known as the Blue-and-gold Macaw, is a member of the group of large Neotropical Parrots

See also: Category:Flora of Guyana and Category:Fauna of Guyana

Guyana abounds with plant and animal life. Each region boasts unique species.

The following habitats have been categorized for Guyana: coastal, marine, littoral, estuarine palustrine, mangrove, riverine, lacustrine, swamp, savannah, white sand forest, brown sand forest, montane, cloud forest, moist lowland and dry evergreen scrub forests (NBAP, 1999). About 14 areas of biological interest have been identified as possible hotspots for a National Protected Area System.

More than 80% of Guyana is still covered by forests, ranging from dry evergreen and seasonal forests to montane and lowland evergreen rain forests. These forests are home to more than a thousand species of trees. Guyana's tropical climate, unique geology, and relatively pristine ecosystems support extensive areas of species-rich rain forests and natural habitats with high levels of endemism. Approximately eight thousand species of plants occur in Guyana, half of which are found nowhere else.

Guyana is one of the countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. Biodiversity is the variation of Life forms within a given Ecosystem, Biome or for the entire Earth. Guyana, with 1,168 vertebrate species, 1600 bird species, boasts one of the richest mammalian fauna assemblages of any comparably sized area in the world. Vertebrates are members of the Subphylum Vertebrata, Chordates with backbones or spinal columns The grouping sometimes includes Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs.

The Guiana Shield region is little known and extremely rich biologically. The Guiana Shield (Guayana is one of the three Cratons of the South American Plate. Unlike other areas of South America, over 70% of the natural habitat remains pristine.

The rich natural history of British Guiana was described by early explorers Sir Walter Raleigh and Charles Waterton and later by naturalists Sir David Attenborough and Gerald Durrell. Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c 1552 – 29 October 1618 was a famed English writer Poet, Soldier, Courtier and Explorer Charles Waterton ( June 3, 1782 - May 27, 1865) was an English naturalist and explorer. Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS (born 8 May 1926 in London, England Gerald ('Gerry' Malcolm Durrell OBE ( January 7, 1925 &ndash January 30, 1995) was a naturalist, Zookeeper

Ecology and World Heritage Site status

Countries interested in the conservation and protection of natural and cultural heritage sites of the world accede to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage that was adopted by UNESCO in 1972. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 Guyana is no exception, and signed the treaty in 1977. In fact, Guyana was the first Caribbean State Party to sign the treaty. Sometime in the latter half of the mid-1990s, Guyana seriously began the process of selecting sites for World Heritage nomination and three sites were considered: Kaieteur National Park, Shell Beach and Historic Georgetown. Kaieteur National Park is a National Park located in the Potaro-Siparuni Region of Guyana. Shell Beach, located on the Atlantic coast of Guyana in the Barima-Waini Region near the Venezuelan border is a nesting site for four of the By 1997, work on Kaieteur National Park was started and in 1998 work on Historic Georgetown was begun. To date, however, Guyana has not made a successful nomination.

Among many other mammals, Guyanese jungles are home to the jaguar. The jaguar (Panthera onca,, or—especially in British English — is a New World Mammal of the Felidae family and one of

In 2000, Guyana submitted the Kaieteur National Park, including the Kaieteur Falls, to UNESCO as its first World Heritage Site nomination. Kaieteur Falls is a great Waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. The proposed area and surrounds have some of Guyana's most diversified life zones with one of the highest levels of endemic species found anywhere in South America. The Kaieteur Falls is the most spectacular feature of the park falling a distance of 226 m and exceeding the height of Niagara Falls (USA/Canada) five times. Unfortunately, the nomination of Kaieteur Park as a World Heritage Site was not successful, primarily because the area was seen by the evaluators as being too small, especially when compared with the Central Suriname Nature Reserve that had just been nominated as a World Heritage Site (2000). The dossier was thus returned to Guyana for revision.

Guyana continues in its bid for a World Heritage Site. Work continues, after a period of hiatus, on the nomination dossier for Historic Georgetown. A Tentative List indicating an intention to nominate Historic Georgetown was submitted to UNESCO in December 2004. There is now a small committee put together by the Guyana National Commission for UNESCO to complete the nomination dossier and the management plan for the site. Recently, in April 2005, two Dutch experts in conservation spent two weeks in Georgetown supervising architecture staff and students of the University of Guyana in a historic building survey of the selected area. This is part of the data collection for the nomination dossier.

Meanwhile, as a result of the Kaieteur National Park being considered too small, there is a proposal to prepare a nomination for a Cluster Site that will include the Kaieteur National Park, the Iwokrama Forest and the Kanuku Mountains. The Iwokrama Forest is nearly 3710 square kilometres (1430 mile² of central Guyana located in the heart of the Guiana Shield, one of the four last pristine tropical The Kanuku Mountains are a group of mountains in Guyana, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region The Iwokrama Rain Forest, an area rich in biological diversity, has been described by Major General (Retired) Joseph Singh as “a flagship project for conservation. ” The Kanuku Mountains area is in a pristine state, and is home to more than four hundred species of birds and other animals.

There is much work to be done for the successful nomination of these sites to the World Heritage List. The State, the private sector and the ordinary Guyanese citizens each have a role to play in this process and in the later protection of the sites. Inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage will open Guyana to more serious tourists thereby assisting in its economic development.

Guyana exhibits two of the World Wildlife Fund's Global 200 eco-regions most crucial to the conservation of global biodiversity, Guianan moist forests and Guyana Highlands moist forests and is home to several endemic species including the tropical hardwood Greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiei). The Global 200 is the list of Ecoregions identified by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF as priorities for conservation Chlorocardium rodiei ( Greenheart) is a member of the family Lauraceae.

Landmarks

St. George's Cathedral

St. George's Anglican Cathedral 

One of the tallest wooden structures in the world, and the second tallest wooden church after the Todaiji Temple in Japan. St George's Anglican Cathedral is one of the tallest wooden structures in the world and the second tallest wooden church at a height of 43 is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan.

Demerara Harbour Bridge 

The world's fourth-longest floating bridge (formerly the longest). The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a long floating toll bridge. It was commissioned on 2 July 1978.

Kaieteur Falls 

One of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. Kaieteur Falls is a great Waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Building

Houses the largest and most powerful political union in the Caribbean.

Providence Stadium 

Situated in Providence on the east bank of the Demerara River and built in time for the ICC World Cup 2007, it is the largest sports stadium in the country. The Providence Stadium is a sports stadium in Guyana, replacing Bourda as the National stadium. The Demerara River is a River in eastern Guyana that rises in the central Rainforests of the country and flows to the north for 346 Kilometres It is also near the Providence Mall, forming a major spot for leisure in Guyana.

Guyana International Conference Centre

Presented as a gift from the People's Republic of China to the Government of Guyana. It is the only one of its kind in the country.

Stabroek Market

A large cast-iron colonial structure that looked like a statue was located next to the Demerara River.

The City Hall

A beautiful wooden structure also from the colonial era.

Queen's College

Top educational intuition in Guyana

Military

Main article: Military of Guyana

Forces

Guyana Defence Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps) · Guyana People's Militia (now Defunct);(GPM) · Guyana National Service (now defunct);(GNS) · Guyana Police Force

Available manpower

206,199 males aged 15 to 49, of which 155,058 are fit for service (2002 estimates)

Miscellaneous

• The 1856 British Guiana 1c magenta stamp is considered the rarest in the world, with only one copy known to exist. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF is the military service of Guyana. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF is the military service of Guyana. The British Guiana 1¢ magenta is "egarded by many as the world's most famous stamp.
• The 1959 film Green Mansions, starring Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins, was filmed in Guyana (then British Guiana). For the 1959 Audrey Hepburn film of this title see Green Mansions (film. Audrey Hepburn ( &ndash) was an English/Dutch Academy Award - Emmy Award - Tony Award - and Grammy Award -winning film and stage actress Anthony Perkins ( April 4, 1932 – September 12, 1992) was an Academy Award -nominated Golden Globe -winning American
• Guyana is the only South American country where the death penalty is still in use for serious crimes and where male homosexuality is still illegal. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation.
• On November 18, 1978, 913 people (all American) died in the Jonestown Massacre, a mass murder-suicide that took place in the jungle of Northwest Guyana. Events 326 - The old St Peter's Basilica is consecrated 1302 - Pope Boniface VIII issues the Papal bull Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Jungle usually refers to a dense Forest in a hot climate such as a Tropical rainforest.
• The 1990 edition of the Guinness Book of Records lists the Guyanese-born Sir Lionel Luckhoo as "the world's most successful lawyer. Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U Sir Lionel Alfred Luckhoo KCMG, CBE, QC ( March 2 1914 &ndash December 27 1997) was a Guyana born " He obtained 245 consecutive acquittals for clients that were accused of murder.
• A Guyanese saying is that if you eat labba and drink black water while visiting Guyana, you are bound to return. (Labba is a small agouti or South American rodent that can be eaten in a dark stew called "pepperpot"; "Black water" is the water found in the many creeks in the interior of Guyana, made black by tannin found in rotting vegetation. Agouti refers to a number of species of Rodents as well as a number of genes affecting coat coloration in several different animals Not to be confused with the Jamaican name for Callaloo, a soup or stew made with dark greens Tannins are Astringent, bitter plant Polyphenols that either bind and Precipitate or shrink Proteins The astringency from the tannins is what )
• Andrew "Six-Heads" Lewis was the first man from Guyana to win a world boxing championship, when he beat James Page to claim the WBA Welterweight Championship of the World.
• Abdul Kadir, a former PNC member of the Guyanese parliament, and Guyanese immigrant Russell Defreitas were arrested on 2 June 2007 for allegedly plotting to blow up fuel lines for New York City airports. Abdul Kadir is the name of Abdul Kadir (cricketer (1944—2002 Pakistani cricketer Abdul Kadir (cricketer fl The 2007 John F Kennedy International Airport attack plot was an alleged Islamist terrorist plot to blow up a system of Jet fuel supply tanks and
• In March and April 2007 Guyana hosted the Cricket World Cup--the premier event on the Cricket World Calender. The Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International (ODI Cricket.
• The video for "Gyasi Went Home", the third single from Sounding a Mosaic, the second album from Canadian band Bedouin Soundclash, was filmed in Guyana. Sounding A Mosaic is the second album from the Canadian rock band Bedouin Soundclash. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Bedouin Soundclash is a Canadian band from Kingston, Ontario. The song and video were inspired by the band's bassist, Eon Sinclair, going back to his parents' hometown and seeing the changes, and the lyrics reference Guyanese history, such as Sir Walter Raleigh's search for gold in the region. Eon Sinclair (born 1981) was born in Guyana and is the bassist for Canadian Indie rock group Bedouin Soundclash. Sir Walter Raleigh or Ralegh (c 1552 – 29 October 1618 was a famed English writer Poet, Soldier, Courtier and Explorer
• There is a variation of the Red Tailed Boa Constrictor, named Guyana Red Tail, that hails from this region.

See also

Notes and references

Further reading

• Stanley E. Brock, All the Cowboys Were Indians and Jungle Cowboy
• Donald Haack, Bush Pilot In Diamond Country
• Hamish McInnes, Climb To The Lost World (1974)
• Andrew Salkey, Georgetown Journal (1970)
• Marion Morrison, Guyana (Enchantment of the World Series)
• Bob Temple, Guyana
• Noel C. Bacchus, Guyana Farewell: A Recollection of Childhood in a Faraway Place
• Marcus Colchester, Guyana: Fragile Frontier
• Matthew French Young, Guyana: My Fifty Years in the Guyanese Wilds
• Margaret Bacon, Journey to Guyana
• Father Andrew Morrison SJ, Justice: The Struggle For Democracy in Guyana 1952-1992
• Vere T. Daly, The Making of Guyana
• D. Graham Burnett, Masters of All They Surveyed: Exploration, Geography and a British El Dorado
• Ovid Abrams, Metegee: The History and Culture of Guyana
• Evelyn Waugh, Ninety-Two Days
• Gerald Durrell, Three Singles To Adventure
• Colin Henfrey, Through Indian Eyes: A Journey Among the Indian Tribes of Guiana
• Stephen G. Arthur Evelyn St John Waugh (ˈiːvlɪn ˈwɔː (28 October 1903 &ndash 10 April 1966 was an English Writer, best known for such darkly humorous and Gerald ('Gerry' Malcolm Durrell OBE ( January 7, 1925 &ndash January 30, 1995) was a naturalist, Zookeeper Rabe, U. S. Intervention in British Guiana: A Cold War Story
• Charles Waterton, Wanderings in South America
• David Attenborough, Zoo Quest to Guiana (Lutterworth Press, London: 1956)

External links

Government

• President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana - Official Website
• Encyclopaedia Britannica - Guyana Country Page
• National Assembly
• Official Website of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA)
• Official Website of the Guyana Office for Investment - GO-Invest
• Government of Guyana National HIV/AIDS Programme - National website providing HIV/AIDS information to health professionals, general public and partners. Charles Waterton ( June 3, 1782 - May 27, 1865) was an English naturalist and explorer. Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS (born 8 May 1926 in London, England
• Declassified US State Department documents detailing covert action from the start of postwar independence

General

• Open Directory Project - Guyana directory category
• Guyana USA - Movement to bring Guyana into the USA as a state
• SDNP Guyana - Guyanese directory and host to ministerial sites
• Guyana YellowPages - Guyana online Yellow Pages business directory.
• BBC profile of Guyana
• Hinduism in Guyana and Suriname
• Map of Guyana - Tourist Destinations
• [3] - U. S. State Department Consular Information Sheet for Guyana with entry requirements and travel information and warnings
• Guyana entry at The World Factbook

News media

• Guyana Portal
• Guyana and the Caribbean News and Information
• Guyana News and Information One of the most popular websites for current news and information, this site also hosts an email directory of people from the Guyanese Community and Discussion Forum.
• GINA - Government Information Agency. Updated daily.
• The Guyana Chronicle - Local daily government run newspaper.
• Kaieteur news - Local daily independent newspaper.
• Stabroek News - Local daily independent newspaper. Updated daily and maintains archives for 7 days.
• Voice of Guyana International - independent owned Internet radio
• - BBC Caribbean NewsGuyana Suicide rates.

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Map

• Guyana on Google Maps.