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Guyana |
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Motto: |
One People, One Nation, One Destiny |
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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.
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Geographic
coordinates: |
5 00 N, 59 00 W |
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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 19th
century and was finally ceded to Britain in 1814. Independence was
achieved in 1966 and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana declared in
1970. |
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Elections |
President elected by the majority
party in the National Assembly following legislative elections, which
must be held at least every five years; elections last held 19 March
2001 (next to be held NA); Prime Minister appointed by the President. |
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Major Political Parties: |
People's Progressive Party/Civic
(PPP/Civic),. People's National Congress (PNC), Working People's
Alliance (WPA), The United Force (TUF) |
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Economic Summary: |
Over 1994-1997 agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors grew by an
average of 8% per year; mining and quarrying grew by 6.4%; manufacturing
by 5.9% and construction by 14.2%.
Agriculture is the main sector with a share of 34.7% of GDP in 1998,
slightly lower than the average of 38.1% in 1994-1997. Sugar and
rice, the two main crops, have been seriously affected by adverse
weather conditions. In 1998 sugar accounted for 10.4% of GDP from
an output of 255,655 tons (notwithstanding adverse weather
conditions).
Forestry has become more significant, and is a potential growth
sector.
The mining sector accounted for 16% of GDP in 1998 and is estimated
to employ about 4% of the workforce. The sector grew by an
impressive 9.5% between 1990-96, but slowed between 1997-98 due to soft
world prices. The two main sub-sectors, gold and bauxite, have
experienced growth in output during the 1990s but at differing rates
influenced mainly by world prices.
Manufacturing contributed about 11% to GDP over the 1994-1998 period.
The main activities are processing and refining of agricultural products
such as sugar and rice
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Airport: |
Cheddi Jagan International, Timehri |
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Status: |
Cooperative Republic. Independence
Day - 26 May 1966; Republic Day - 23 February 1970 |
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Capital: |
Georgetown |
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Head of Government: |
President
Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after
resignation of President JAGAN
Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December 1997)
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the President, responsible to the
legislature.
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Area: |
214,970 square kilometers
(83,000 square
miles) |
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Population: |
773,400 (mid-1998) |
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Currency: |
Guyana Dollar |
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GDP Per Capita (at current market prices): |
EC$2,589m (1997) |
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Total Exports: |
EC$1,450.1m (1998) |
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Total Imports: |
EC$1,501.3m (1998) |
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Intra-Regional Exports: |
EC$72.8m (1994) |
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Intra-Regional Imports: |
EC$178.9m (1994) |
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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; 08:00-08:15:30 hrs Friday
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National Holidays: |
New Year's Day (01 January); Republic Day (23 February), Good Friday,
Easter Monday, Labour Day (01 May), Phagwah, Eid-ul-Azah (as decreed),
Youman Nabi (as decreed), CARICOM Day (first Monday in July), Freedom
Day (01 August), Diwali, Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26
December) |
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Date of CARICOM Membership: |
1 August 1973 |
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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)
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Highest National Award: |
Order of Excellence |
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Favourite Dish: |
Guyana Pepper pot; Guyana Cook-up; Curry and
Roti |
Last Updated: November 2001
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