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VenezuelaGuyana
A country on the northern coast of South America, Guyana was once a Dutch possession, Guyana had become a British possession in the first half of the 19th century. When slavery was abolished in the country in1834 black began to settle in the urban areas. This led to the importation of indentured labour from India to work on the sugar plantations. Since then this ethnocultural divide is evident and has resulted in chaotic politics. After its independence from the British in 1966, Guyana, the third smallest country in South America, has been ruled mostly by the parties having socialist leanings. In 1992, in what may be considered the first free and fair election in the country since its independence, Cheddi Jagan was elected president. After his death in 1997, his wife, Janet Jagan, became president only to abdicate power in 1999 due to poor health. She was succeeded by Bharrat Jagdeo, won both the elections held in 2001 and in 2006.
Travel overview
Guyana takes its name from an Amerindian word meaning Land of Many
Waters. True to its name the country is mostly characterized by vast
unspoiled dense forests and savanna grasslands, several rivers, creeks
and spectacular waterfalls.
Georgetown, the capital city, is a major tourist attraction. The Natural History Museum is one of Georgetown’s main attractions. The capital is famous for its 19th century wooden architecture and wonderful Botanical Gardens. Head towards Rupununi, a charming oasis in the desert. The legendary El Dorado, the inspiration for The Lost World, is located in Guyana.
Kaieteur Falls, Iwokrama Rain Forest, Shell Beach and Almond Beach are other places of interests in the country. Kaieteur National Park is a must see for the wildlife enthusiasts.
And of course Guyana is fast emerging as one of the most famous destinations in the world for a growing range of outdoor activities such as trekking, horse riding, fishing and hiking. For rafters and kayakers Guyana is a paradise.
Capital: Georgetown
Location: Northern South America
Climate: tropical; hot and humid
Total Area: 214,970 sq km
Total Population: 769,095
Population Growth Rate: 0.234%
Sex Ratio: 1.006 male(s)/female
Literacy: 98.8%
Ethnic Groups: East Indian, black, Amerindian, Chinese
Irrigated land: 1,500 sq km
Languages: English, Creole, Amerindian dialects, Caribbean Hindustani,
Urdu
Time Zone: UTC-4
Currency: Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Neighbouring countries: Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname ,
Type of govt.: republic
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Samuel Hinds
Major Political Parties: Alliance for Change or AFC, Guyana Action
Party or GAP, Justice for All Party, People's National Congress/Reform
or PNC/R, People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C , Organize, and
Rebuild or ROAR , The United Force or TUF , The Unity Party ,Vision
Guyana ,Working People's Alliance or WPA
Participation in International Organizations: ACP, Caricom, C, CDB,
FAO, CSN, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IADB, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, ICRM, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IFRCS, IMO, Interpol, IOM , ISO , IOC, ITU, ITUC, LAES, NAM,
OAS, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, PCA, OPANAL, RG, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UN, UNIDO,
WCL, WCO, UPU, WFTU, WIPO, WHO, WMO, WTO
Major Agricultural Products: rice, wheat, vegetable oils, sugarcane,
pork, poultry, beef, dairy products, fish, shrimp
Natural Resources & Minerals: bauxite, diamonds, hardwood timber,
gold, fish, shrimp
Industry & Transport: sugar, timber, bauxite, textiles, rice milling,
gold mining
Airports: 90
Railways: 187 km
Roadways: 7,970 km
Major Trade Partners: Canada, US, UK, Portugal, Jamaica, Trinidad
and Tobago, Cuba, China
Exports: $621.6 million
Imports: $706.9 million