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Co-operative Republic of Guyana Flag Coat of arms Motto: "One people, one nation, one destiny" Anthem: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains" Capital (and largest city) Georgetown 6°46′N, 58°10′W Official languages English Recognised regional languages Guyanese Creole, Akawaio, Hindustani, 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 (%) 8.4 Population  -  July 2007 estimate 751,0001 (162nd)  -  2007 census 751,223   -  Density 3.5/km² (217th) 9.1/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate  -  Total $1.378 billion (157th)  -  Per capita $4,612 (106th) HDI (2007) ▲ 0.750 (medium) (97th) Currency Guyanese dollar (GYD) Time zone (UTC-4) Internet TLD .gy Calling code +592 1 Population includes excess mortality caused by AIDS. Around one-third of the population (230,000) live in the capital, Georgetown. Guyana (pronounced /ɡaɪˈænə/ or /ɡiːˈɑːnə/), officially named the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is the only nation state of the Commonwealth of Nations on the mainland of South America. Guyana lies north of the equator, in the tropics, and is located on the Atlantic Ocean. 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. Culturally it is more associated with the Anglo-Caribbean countries than with Latin America and is the only English-speaking country in South America. It is also one of four non-Spanish-speaking territories on the continent, along with the countries of Brazil (Portuguese) and Suriname (Dutch) and the French overseas region of French Guiana (French). Image File history File links Flag_of_Guyana. ... Guyanese coat of arms This image depicts a seal, an emblem, a coat of arms or a crest. ... Flag ratio: 3:5 The flag of Guyana, known as The Golden Arrowhead, was adopted in 1966. ... ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE DESTINY So reads the banner displayed proudly at the base of Guyanas COAT OF ARMS. The design consists of an Amerindian head-dress symbolizing the indigenous people of the country, two diamonds at the sides of the head-dress representing mining industry, a helmet... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains is the national anthem of Guyana. ... Image File history File links LocationGuyana. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... Guyanas population is made up of five main ethnic groups--East Indian, African, Amerindian, Chinese, and Portuguese. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A regional language is a language spoken in a part of a country, be it may be a small area, a federal state or province, or a wider area. ... Guyanese Creole (Creolese by its speakers; also called Guyanese Creole English) is a creole language spoken by several hundreds of thousands of persons in Guyana. ... Akawaio is a Carib language spoken mainly in Guyana, most commonly in the region of the Upper Mazaruni. ... The word Hindustani is an adjective used to denote a connection to India, or, more precisely, the historical region that encompasses Northern India, Pakistan, and nearby areas. ... The Macushi are an ethnic group of Guyana and northern Brazil. ... Wai Wai is a popular snack in Nepal, Sikkim and parts of northern West Bengal. ... The Arawakan languages are an indigenous language family of South America and the Caribbean. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... States with semi-presidential systems are shown in yellow 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 functioning of the administration of a country. ... This page lists presidents of Guyana since 1970. ... Pres. ... This page lists chief ministers and prime ministers of Guyana. ... For the baseball player, see Sam Hinds (baseball). ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... 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 in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... The dollar (currency code GYD) has been the currency of Guyana since 1966. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .gy is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Guyana. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... A nation-state is a specific form of state, which exists to provide a sovereign territory for a particular nation, and which derives its legitimacy from that function. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2007 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma Appointed 24 November 2007 Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... World map showing the equator in red In tourist areas, the equator is often marked on the sides of roads The equator marked as it crosses Ilhéu das Rolas, in São Tomé and Príncipe. ... A noontime scene from the Philippines on a day when the Sun is almost directly overhead. ... West Indies redirects here. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... Overseas region (French: Région doutre-mer), is a recent designation given to the overseas departments which have similar powers to those of the regions of metropolitan France. ... Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2.1 Boundary disputes 3 Demographics 3.1 Languages 4 Regions and neighborhood councils 5 Politics 6 Economy 6.1 Summary 6.1.1 Communications 6.1.2 Transport 7 Culture 7.1 Religion 7.2 Events 7.3 Education 7.4 Public health 7.4.1 Service delivery 7.4.2 Health conditions 8 Environment and biodiversity 8.1 Ecology and World Heritage Site status 9 Landmarks 10 Military 11 Miscellaneous 12 See also 13 Notes and references 14 Further reading 15 External links [edit] History Main article: History of Guyana When the first Europeans arrived in the area around 1500, Guyana was inhabited by the Arawak and Carib tribes of Amerindians. 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). The British assumed control in the late 18th century, and the Dutch formally ceded the area in 1814. In 1831 the three separate colonies became a single British colony known as British Guiana. Guyana had been peopled for thousands of years before Europeans became aware of the area some five hundred years ago. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Arowak woman (John Gabriel Stedman) The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for cassava flour), was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in the West Indies. ... Carib family (by John Gabriel Stedman) Drawing of a Carib woman Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people, after whom the Caribbean Sea was named, live in the Lesser Antilles islands. ... For other uses, see Native Americans (disambiguation). ... Christopher Columbus (1451 – May 20, 1506) was a navigator, colonizer, and explorer and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas after the Vikings. ... Essequibo is the name of a Dutch colony founded in 1616 and located in the region of the Essequibo River. ... Berbice is the Second largest of the three counties in Guyana and is known as the ancient county. ... Demerara was one of the original British colonies that was joined into the colony of British Guiana, now Guyana. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Leopold I 1831 (MDCCCXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... British Guiana and its boundary lines, 1896 Flag of British Guiana 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. With the abolition of slavery in 1834 many of the former enslaved people began to settle in urban areas. Indentured laborers 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Old_residence. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Old_residence. ... Body of Ndyuka Maroon child brought before a shaman, Suriname 1955 A Maroon (from the word marronage or American/Spanish cimarrón: fugitive, runaway, lit. ... Slave redirects here. ... This article is about the 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[citation needed]. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... “The U.S. Air Force” redirects here. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and became a republic on 23 February 1970, remaining a member of the Commonwealth. 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. [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 Cheddi Jagan-led Marxists of Indian descent. Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2007 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma Appointed 24 November 2007 Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total... The United States Department of State, often referred to as the State Department, is the Cabinet-level foreign affairs agency of the United States government, equivalent to foreign ministries in other countries. ... CIA, see CIA (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Peoples National Congress is a formerly socialist political party in Guyana. ... Cheddi Jagan, also known as Cheddi Berret Jagan (March 22, 1918 – March 6, 1997), was the chief minister (1957-1964) and president (1992-1997) of Guyana. ... Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ... [edit] Geography Map of Guyana Kaieteur Falls in central Guyana Main article: Geography of Guyana Guyana is an Amerindian word meaning "Land of many waters".[2] The country can be characterized by its vast rain forests dissected by numerous rivers, creeks and waterfalls, notably Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River. The country enjoys a diverse, multicultural society, high floral and faunal biodiversity, prize-winning rum, and Demerara sugar. Guyana is also known internationally as the site of the notorious Jonestown Massacre. Download high resolution version (329x706, 9 KB)Map of Guyana from the 2002 CIA Factbook File links The following pages link to this file: Guyana Geography of Guyana Talk:Guyana Talk:Geography of Guyana Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... Download high resolution version (329x706, 9 KB)Map of Guyana from the 2002 CIA Factbook File links The following pages link to this file: Guyana Geography of Guyana Talk:Guyana Talk:Geography of Guyana Categories: CIA World Factbook images ... -1... -1... Kaieteur Falls is a waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. ... Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela Geographic coordinates: 5 00 N, 59 00 W Map references: South America Area: total: 214,970 km² land: 196,850 km² water: 18,120 km² Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Idaho Land boundaries: total: 2,462 km... Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... Kaieteur Falls is a waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. ... A gold dredger (known locally as a missile) on the Potaro River. ... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ... Demerara is used as the generic name of a type of specialty raw cane sugar often used in home baking and in sweetening coffee. ... Houses in Jonestown Jonestown was a town in Guyana established by Peoples Temple cult leader Jim Jones. ... 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. The Atlantic Ocean, not including Arctic and Antarctic regions. ... The Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, Australia. ... 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. Roraima and Guyana's tepuis are said to have been the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 novel The Lost World. There are also many steep escarpments and waterfalls, including the famous Kaieteur Falls. Between the Rupununi River and the border with Brazil lies the Rupununi savannah, south of which lie the Kanuku Mountains. 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;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Mount Roraima is the highest of the table-top mountains (called Tepuis) of the Guiana Highlands (or Guayana Highlands). ... A tripoint is a point at which three areas join. ... The Pacaraima or Pakaraima Mountains (Portuguese: Serra Pacaraimã, Spanish: Sierra Pacaraima) are the mountains of Guyana, lying in southwestern part of this country just near the border with Venezuela. ... Kukenan tepui. ... Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 - July 7, 1930) is the British author most famously known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction. ... The Lost World is a 1912 novel by Arthur Conan Doyle concerning an expedition to a plateau (native name is Tepuyes) in South America (Venezuela) where prehistoric animals (dinosaurs and other extinct creatures) still survive. ... Kaieteur Falls is a waterfall on the Potaro River in central Guyana. ... The Rupununi River is a river in southern Guyana, originating in the Kanuku Mountains. ... The Rupununi savannah is a savanna plain in Guyana between the Rupununi river and the Brazilian border, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region. ... 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. There is also the Corentyne along the border with Suriname. At the mouth of the Essequibo are several large islands. The 90-mile (145 km) Shell Beach along the north-west coasts. Guyana is a major breeding area for sea turtles (mainly Leatherbacks) and other wildlife. 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 without tributaries until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. ... The Berbice River located in eastern Guyana. ... The Corentyne River is a river in northern South America. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... 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 eight sea turtle species - the Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Green and Leatherback. ... Genera Family Cheloniidae (Oppel, 1811) Caretta Chelonia Eretmochelys Lepidochelys Natator Family Dermochelyidae Dermochelys Family Protostegidae (extinct) Family Toxochelyidae (extinct) Family Thalassemyidae (extinct) Sea turtles (Superfamily Chelonioidea) are turtles found in all the worlds oceans except the Arctic Ocean . ... Binomial name Dermochelys coriacea (Vandelli, 1761) The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is the biggest of all living turtles, reaching a length of over 2. ... The local climate is tropical and generally hot and humid, though moderated by northeast trade winds along the coast. There are two rainy seasons, the first from May to mid-August, the second from mid-November to mid-January. Naples beach in Florida lined with coconut trees is an example of a tropical climate. ... [edit] 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. 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.[3], [4],[5] A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession/control of land between two or more states, or over the possession/control of land by one state after it has conquered it from a former state no longer currently recognized by the occupying power. ... The Corentyne / Courantyne / Corantijn River is a river in northern South America. ... 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. ... United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Opened for signature December 10, 1982 in Montego Bay (Jamaica) Entered into force November 16, 1994[1] Conditions for entry into force 60 ratifications Parties 153[2] The term United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, also called simply... When the British surveyed British Guiana in 1840, they included the entire Cuyuni River basin within the colony. Venezuela did not agree with this as it claimed all lands west of the Essequibo River. 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. Venezuela and Great Britain accepted the award by treaty in 1905.[1] British Guiana and its boundary lines, 1896 Flag of British Guiana 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. ... The Essequibo River is the longest river in Guyana, and the largest river between the Orinoco and Amazon. ... The London Court of International Arbitration 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. ... In 1962, Venezuela renewed its 19th century claim, alleging that the arbitration award was invalid. The British and the Guyanese rejected this renewed claim, and efforts by all the parties to resolve the matter on the eve of Guyana's independence in 1966 failed. On 17 February 1966, in Geneva, the parties agreed in principle to settle the dispute peacefully, but no other agreement was reached. Later in 1966, Venezuela occupied and annexed the Guyanese half of Ankoko Island in the Cuyuni River. On 18 June 1970, at the Port of Spain meetings of the Caribbean nations, Venezuela and Guyana signed a protocol placing a moratorium on discussions on the border issue for a period of twelve years. The moratorium expired and was not renewed.[1] The only current agreement recognized by both sides is a semi-official agreement between the Guyanese Defense Force and the Venezuelan Army signed in 1990. Geneva (pronunciation //; French: Genève //, German:   //, Italian: Ginevra //, Romansh: Genevra) is the second most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich), and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French-speaking part of Switzerland). ... Ankoko Island is located at the confluence of the Cuyuni River and Wenamu River, at 6°43′N 61°8′W}, on the border between Guyana and Venezuela. ... Port of Spain, population 49,000 (2000), is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the countrys second largest city by population, after San Fernando. ... Venezuelan maps after 1962 started to show the territory as disputed or labeled it Zona en Reclamación (the "zone in process of reclamation"). After 1982, Venezuelan maps started to show Guayana Esequiba as an integral part of Venezuela without any indication that it was under Guyanese administration and in dispute. Guayana Esequiba is the territory of Guyana claimed by Venezuela. ... [edit] 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 laborers. 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. These groups of diverse nationality backgrounds have been fused together by a common language, i.e., English and Creole. Guyanas population is made up of five main ethnic groups--East Indian, African, Amerindian, Chinese, and Portuguese. ... Slave redirects here. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable language that originates seemingly as a new language, sometimes with features that are not inherited from any apparent source, without however qualifying in any appreciable way as a mixed language. ... The largest nationality sub-group is that of the East Indians (Indo-Guyanese), comprising 43.5 percent of the population in 2002. They are followed by people of African heritage (Afro-Guyanese) (30.2 percent). The third in rank 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, (0.06 percent or 476 persons) and the Chinese (0.19 percent or 1395). A small group (0.01 percent or 112 persons) did not identify their race/ethnic background. Guyanese of Indian (Asian Indian) origin. ... Afro-Guyanese Guyana Table of Contents Descendants of the Africans, the Afro-Guyanese came to see themselves as the true people of British Guiana, with greater rights to land than the indentured workers who had arrived after them. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... 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. 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. Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ... [edit] Languages English is the official language of Guyana. 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. Grammar is not standardized.[2] The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Cariban languages are an indigenous language family of South America. ... Guyanese Creole (Creolese by its speakers; also called Guyanese Creole English) is a creole language spoken by several hundreds of thousands of persons in Guyana. ... In addition to English, other languages of Guyana include Hindustani (a register of Hindi and Urdu which most linguists consider the same language), Guyanese Creole, Akawaio, Wai-Wai, Arawak and Macushi. The word Hindustani is an adjective used to denote a connection to India, or, more precisely, the historical region that encompasses Northern India, Pakistan, and nearby areas. ... Hindi (DevanāgarÄ«: or , IAST: , IPA:  ), an Indo-European language spoken all over India in varying degrees and extensively in northern and central India, is one of the 22 official languages of India and is used, along with English, for central government administrative purposes. ... Urdu ( , , trans. ... Guyanese Creole (Creolese by its speakers; also called Guyanese Creole English) is a creole language spoken by several hundreds of thousands of persons in Guyana. ... Akawaio is a Carib language spoken mainly in Guyana, most commonly in the region of the Upper Mazaruni. ... The Wai-wai (or Waiwai) are an ethnic group of Guyana and northern Brazil. ... Arowak woman (John Gabriel Stedman) The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for cassava flour), was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in the West Indies. ... The Macushi are an ethnic group of Guyana and northern Brazil. ... [edit] Regions and neighborhood councils Main articles: Regions of Guyana and Neighborhood Councils of Guyana Regions of Guyana Guyana is divided into 10 regions. The different regions are:[3][4] Map of the regions of Guyana in alphabetical order Guyana is divided into 10 administrative regions: Barima-Waini Cuyuni-Mazaruni Demerara-Mahaica East Berbice-Corentyne Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Mahaica-Berbice Pomeroon-Supenaam Potaro-Siparuni Upper Demerara-Berbice Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo External links Statoids Categories: Lists of subnational entities... Neighborhood councils of Guyana The regions of Guyana are divided into 27 neighborhood councils. ... Map of the regions of Guyana in alphabetical order Guyana is divided into 10 administrative regions: Barima-Waini Cuyuni-Mazaruni Demerara-Mahaica East Berbice-Corentyne Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Mahaica-Berbice Pomeroon-Supenaam Potaro-Siparuni Upper Demerara-Berbice Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo External links Statoids Categories: Lists of subnational entities... No Region Area km² Population Population per km² 1 Barima-Waini 20 339 24 275 1,2 2 Pomeroon-Supenaam 6 195 49 253 8,0 3 Essequibo Islands-West Demerara 3 755 103 061 27,5 4 Demerara-Mahaica 2 232 310 320 139,0 5 Mahaica-Berbice 4 190 52 428 12,5 6 East Berbice-Corentyne 36 234 123 695 3,4 7 Cuyuni-Mazaruni 47 213 17 597 0,4 8 Potaro-Siparuni 20 051 10 095 0,5 9 Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo 57 750 19 387 0,3 10 Upper Demerara-Berbice 17 040 41 112 2,4 Guyana 214 999 751 223 3,5 The regions are divided into 27 neighborhood councils. Region One (Barima-Waini) is found in the North West of Guyana. ... Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region 2) is a region in Guyana, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the region of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara to the east, the region of Cuyuni-Mazaruni to the south and the region of Barima-Waini to the west. ... Essequibo Islands-West Demerara is a region of Guyana, split in two by the Essequibo river. ... Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4) is a region of Guyana, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the north, the region of Mahaica-Berbice to the east, the region of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara to the south and the region of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara to the west. ... Mahaica-Berbice is a region of Guyana, bordering the Atlantic Ocean the north, the region of East Berbice-Corentyne to the east, the region of Upper Demarara-Berbice to the south and the region of Demerara-Mahaica to the west. ... First of all, the Regions here are not correct as they are called in Guyana. ... Bartica is the capital of Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) in Guyana. ... Potaro-Siparuni is a region in Guyana, bordering the region of Cuyuni-Mazaruni to the north, the regions of Upper Demerara-Berbice and East Berbice-Corentyne to the east, the region of Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo to the south and Brazil to the west. ... Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region 9) is a region of Guyana, bordering the region of Potaro-Siparuni to the north, the region of East Berbice-Corentyne to the east and Brazil to the south and west. ... Upper Demerara-Berbice is a region of Guyana, bordering the regions of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Demerara-Mahaica and Mahaica-Berbice to the north, the region of East Berbice-Corentyne to the east, and the regions of Potaro-Siparuni and Cuyuni-Mazaruni to the west. ... Neighborhood councils of Guyana The regions of Guyana are divided into 27 neighborhood councils. ... [edit] 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 pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly of Guyana. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. 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. 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 pluriform multi-party system. ... States with semi-presidential systems are shown in yellow 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 functioning of the administration of a country. ... Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of popular sovereignty by the peoples representatives. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This page lists presidents of Guyana since 1970. ... The head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... The National Assembly is the parliament of Guyana. ... In the law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ... 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. The two parties are principally organized along ethnic lines and as a result often clash on issues of governance. For other persons named Jimmy Carter, see Jimmy Carter (disambiguation). ... [edit] Economy Tractor in a rice field on Guyana's coastal plain. Main article: Economy of Guyana Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. 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. 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. 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 574 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Guyana Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 574 KB) Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Guyana Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... With a per capita gross domestic product of only $4,700 in 2006, Guyana is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. ... In classical economics and all micro-economics labour is one of three factors of production, the others being land and capital. ... This article is about the ore. ... This article is about sugar as food and as an important and widely-traded commodity. ... This article is about mineral extractions. ... The main economic activities in Guyana are agriculture (producing rice and Demerara sugar), bauxite mining, gold mining, timber, shrimp fishing and minerals. 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. Demerara is used as the generic name of a type of specialty raw cane sugar often used in home baking and in sweetening coffee. ... This article is about the ore. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... Reynolds Metals Company (RMC) was the second largest aluminum company in the United States. ... Alcan (ALaska CANada) is also one of the common names for the Alaska Highway that connects Dawson Creek, British Columbia, with Fairbanks, Alaska. ... A section of Bourda Market. The production of balatá (natural latex) was once big business in Guyana. 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Bourda-market. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Bourda-market. ... Binomial name Manilkara bidentata (A. DC.) Chev. ... This article is about the typesetting system. ... 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)[5] and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI);[6] See a list of companies in Guyana. The private sector of a nations economy consists of all that is outside 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. 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. 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. Tax rates around the world Tax revenue as % of GDP Economic policy Monetary policy Central bank   Money supply Gold standard Fiscal policy Spending   Deficit   Debt Policy-mix Trade policy Tariff   Trade agreement Finance Financial market Financial market participants Corporate   Personal Public   Regulation Banking Fractional-reserve Full-reserve   Free banking Islamic... President Bharrat Jagdeo has made debt relief a foremost priority of his administration. 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. Pres. ... [edit] Summary GDP/PPP (2006 estimate)  US$3.757 billion (US$4,900 per capita) Real growth rate   5.4% Inflation   6.0% Unemployment   9.1% (2000, understated[citation needed]) Arable land   2% Labor force   418,000 (2001 estimate) Agricultural produce sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimps Industrial produce   bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining Natural resources   bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish Exports   US$621.6 million (2006 estimate) sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimps, molasses, rum, timber. Imports   US$706.9 million (2006 estimate) manufactured items, machinery, petroleum, food. Major trading partners Canada, U.S., UK, Portugal, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Cuba (2005) GDP is an acronym which can stand for more than one thing: (in economics) an abbreviation for Gross Domestic Product. ... PPP is an abbreviation for: In real estate: prepayment penalty, a penalty paid when property is sold before an agreed-upon date. ... This article is about the ore. ... Molasses or treacle is a thick syrup by-product from the processing of the sugarcane or sugar beet into sugar. ... [edit] 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)[7] 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) This article is about the location. ... [edit] Transport 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)[8] 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). Railways: total: 187 km (all dedicated to ore transport) standard gauge: 139 km 1. ... Cheddi Jagan International Airport (IATA: GEO, ICAO: SYCJ) is located at , , 41 kilometres south of Guyanas capital, Georgetown. ... Ogle Airport (, ) is located on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Guyana, 6 miles east of the capital, Georgetown. ... [edit] Culture Holidays Date Name January 1 New Year's Day February 23