Guyana, one of the world’s most beautiful and blessed countries, is located in the continent of South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the south, Suriname to the East, Venezuela to the west, and the Atlantic ocean to the north. It is the only country in South America with English as its official language. However, although English is the official language of Guyana, the Creolese dialect is more widely spoken than English in everyday conversations.
The landmass of Guyana measures an area of 214,970 square kilometers or 83,000 square miles. At the time of this writing, (last updated 8th of December, 2023), Guyana’s population stands at approximately 800,000.
The story of Guyana’s evolution into a civilized nation started when the Europeans came to search for the legendary Golden King named El Dorado. Indigenous tribes are believed to have lived in Guyana for thousands of years before that. According to some historical documents, the idea was being promulgated of a legendary king who ruled in a city made of pure gold somewhere in the Amazon rain forest, and the coordinates given on the map pinpointed its location to somewhere around Lake Parime in the highlands of Guyana. The European explorers, to common knowledge, never found the city, but they struck gold in other ways.
Guyana changed hands from the French, Dutch, and British Europeans at different periods. Evidence suggests that the French might have been the first colonizers, followed by the Dutch who finally ceded the territory to the British. The Dutch marked off three separate territories: Berbice, Essequibo, and Demerara. The success of the Dutch in trading and agriculture sparked jealousy among other Europeans. The French, Dutch, and British waged several wars for control of the territories. Finally, in 1814, the Dutch ceded the territories to the British Empire, which, at that time, commanded the world’s most powerful military force, and had colonized much of the known world, even as far as the Middle East.
British explorers discovered that the rich fertile plains of Guyana were suitable for the production of sugar cane. The Queen of England of that time decided to form one colony, uniting the three former Dutch colonies: Berbice, Essequibo, and Demerara into one “British Guiana.”
To meet the demand for labor forces on the plantations, the plantation owners first brought slaves from Africa. However, with the abolition of slavery, they contracted indentured laborers mostly from India, with a minority also from Portugal and China. Consequently, the population of Guyana is made up of mostly East Indians (about 41%) from India, and Africans from Africa (about 31%). The indigenous peoples, the Amerindians, generally avoided work on the sugar plantations, and they inhabited the mountainous areas and jungles of Guyana – where most of them still live to this day.
Guyana is made of six races or ethnic groups, estimated as follows:
East Indians – 41 percent
Africans – 31 percent
Amerindians – 10 percent
Portuguese, Chinese, and Europeans – 8 percent
Mixed ethnicity – 10%
A Brief Exposition on the six ethnic groups of Guyana
The Amerindians – The Amerindians are Guyana’s indigenous or “first people.” They are believed to have arrived thousands of years ago. They traveled to Guyana on foot from Asia crossing an ice passage, the Berring Straight, which later melted. The Amerindians might have come in search of food, or due to a nomadic lifestyle. The Amerindian’s primitive and natural lifestyles drew them mostly to the forested areas. They lived (and still live) in thatched roof mud huts and hunted wild animals and fish for food. When the Europeans came, they attempted to enslave the Amerindians on the plantations. However, their success in this practice was short-lived as the Amerindians, being “natural” survivors did not submit to a life of slavery, but escaped into the forests. Some historical documents, such as the Dutch Account of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolt, suggest that a small fraction of Amerindians were enslaved by Europeans. In modern times, many Amerindians do take up employment in and work alongside other ethnic groups in society. On a consistent basis a fraction of indigenous peoples are migrating out of the jungles and into civilized society – becoming doctors, teachers, nurses, lawyers, owning businesses, driving cars, and moving away rapidly from their original natural environment.
The Europeans – The Europeans were the next people after the Amerindians to come to Guyana. They included the French, Dutch, and English. The Europeans came in search of the Golden King called El Dorado in a quest for gold and other mineral wealth. The Europeans would later set up trading outposts, plantations, and other businesses in Guyanese territories, and engage the remaining four races: Africans, East Indians, Chinese, and Portuguese as laborers in Guyana.
The Africans – The Africans were brought to Guyana to work on the sugar plantations. Through the despicable slave trade of a bygone era, they were purchased from dominant tribes of Africans in West Africa who captured and bound them. The Europeans brought them to Guyana on large slave ships which plied the Middle Passage. The Africans didn’t take well to the harsh treatment of slave masters and staged several rebellions which generally resulted in the defeat of the slaves. Finally, a group of British activists managed to abolish slavery around the year 1834, and the Africans scattered into different parts of the country.
The East Indians – After the abolition of slavery, the Europeans looked to other parts of the world to source cheap labor for their sugar plantations. India was one such labor market. The Europeans devised a system called “Indentured Labor” where East Indians were contracted for a five-year period and paid low wages. They were also provided living quarters and benefits to work on the sugar plantations. The system was relatively successful and the East Indians coped with the hard labor of the sugar plantations much better than the Chinese and Portuguese who were tested before them.
The Chinese – The Chinese were also brought to Guyana to work as indentured laborers on the sugar plantations. However, they opted out after a short period of time, not taking a liking to the work. After leaving the plantations, the Chinese set up restaurants across Guyana and sold the much-loved Chinese fried rice, chowmein, and lowmein. Decades later, with the rise of China, the Chinese now own a variety of businesses in every niche from clothing to supermarkets and grocery stores to logging in Guyana.
The Portuguese – The Portuguese, like the Chinese and East Indians, were also brought to Guyana to work as indentured laborers, but they too found the work on the sugar plantations unsuitable and quit after a short time. The Portuguese, like some of the other races, engaged in other works and businesses around Guyana.
Racism in Guyana is no different than racism in any other part of the world. It exists. There are some who promote it and others who work to overcome it. The two main political parties in Guyana–PPC/C and APNU/AFC–have both demonstrated some level of racist tendencies.
In many parts of Guyana, racism is almost non-existent, with people of multiple racial backgrounds coexisting in harmony. However, in other places, racial slurs are commonplace.
Guyanese celebrate 14 national holidays. Of these, 9 are religious, and 5 are non-religious. Of the religious holidays, 3 belong to Islam, 2 to Hinduism, and 4 to Christians.
Other important days in Guyana which are not holidays
Enmore Martyrs’ Day – June 16 – Used to honor the death of five sugar workers during a protest against unfavorable working conditions and low wages.
Remembrance Day – Second Sunday of November – Used to honor those killed in World War 11.
United Nation’s Day – October 24
Commonwealth Day – Second Sunday in March
World Food Day – October 16
Places Across Guyana
Guyana has only one city, which is also the capital city of the country, Georgetown. The city of Georgetown itself, however, is comprised of many different “neighborhoods” such as Agricola, McDoom, Ruimveldt etc. Aside from the capital, Guyana consists of several towns. Between towns are villages and settlements. Some towns may consist of several neighborhoods. The country divided into three counties: Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo.
Towns in Guyana
At the time of this writing, Guyana has nine towns, as follows:
Lethem – Lethem became a town in the year 2016 – as a promise fulfilled by the then newly elected political party – APNU/AFC. Lethem lies along the southern border with Guyana and Brazil, and neighbors the Brazilian city of Bonfim.
The Guyanese economy, from 1966 to 2022 was stagnant and poor, with the worst periods being in the 1960s and 1970s. This was a result of decades of corrupt governments, mismanagement of major industries, and a brain-drain created by job offers in foreign countries which extracts the most educated people. However, in 2015, large reserves of sweet light crude was discovered off the coasts of Guyana bringing with it the promise of unprecedented riches.
Prior to oil, Guyana imported about 99% of its products from foreign countries, resulting in a very low GDF per capita. Oil promises to change all that, and Guyana has stuck to its projected path of being the world’s fastest growing economy in 2022 and 2023. This is projected to get much better in 2024 onwards.
Related: Guyanese Industries
Guyanese are also waking up to the realization that boosting the tourism sector would contribute greatly to the uplifting of the economy.
Related: Guyanese Politics: Burnham’s Produce or Perish Policy
Major Industries of Guyana:
The Sugar Industry: GUYSUCO: Guyana Sugar Corporation
The Guyana Sugar Corporation had for decades been the backbone of the Guyanese economy, but it has recently started failing. It was in fact the sugar industry which sparked Guyana’s journey to a civilized nation. The British set up the sugar industry to feed international demands for processed sugar. Today, sugar canes are planted in many fields across Guyana, taken to the estate for processing, and sugar exported to foreign markets.
There are several “Sugar Estates” in operation across Guyana, including:
The Skeldon Sugar Estate
The Albion Sugar Estate
The Wales Sugar Estate
The Enmore Sugar Estate
*Some of these estates may be out of operation as of 2022.
Other Industries of Guyana
The Bauxite Industry
The Rice Industry
The Gold Industry
The Timber Industry
The Tourism Industry
Products of Guyana
Sugar
Rice
Bauxite
Gold
Timber
Main Exports of Guyana
Rice
Sugar
Bauxite
Timber
Imports of Guyana
Guyanese import a cornucopia of products from foreign countries. Since Guyana has very few factories, it depends heavily on other industrial countries for many items, such as pens, pencils, razors, paper, notebooks, computers etc. Even some brands of canned orange juices and tomato paste are imported from foreign countries. This heavy, yet critical dependence on foreign goods weakens the country‘s currency significantly. At the time of this writing, (last updated December 2023) the Guyana dollar stands against the US dollar at 209: 1. That is, 209 Guyanese dollars is equal to 1 US dollar.
Guyana is ruled by a democratic government with a President elected every five years. The President may occupy office for a total of two terms or ten years. However, through rigged elections, President Burnham had stayed in office longer than he was constitutionally permitted. The last national elections took place in 2020 and the next national elections is expected to take place in 2025.
Presidents of Guyana
Dr. Cheddi Jagan
Linden Forbes Samson Burnham
Desmond Hoyte
Dr. Janet Jagan
Bharrat Jagdeo
Donald Ramoutar
David Granger
Dr. Irfaan Ali
Visa Requirements For Foreigners Entering Guyana
Citizens of commonwealth countries may enter Guyana without a visa and stay for a period of six months. Commonwealth citizens are permitted to work in Guyana, as in any other Commonwealth country during this six month period. Brazilians, Americans, and Canadians are granted 90-day tourist visa upon arrival in Guyana. Check with your local embassy to know more about visa requirements for visiting Guyana.
The Education System in Guyana
The education system in Guyana begins at the Nursery Level where children start the age of 3-4. They move to the Primary Level at the age of six to seven. The Primary School consists of the following years:
Year One: Prep One
Year Two: Prep Two
Year Three: Standard One
Year Four: Standard Two
Year Five: Standard Three
Year Six: Standard Four
Year Seven: Standard Five
Year Eight: Standard Six
The next level is the secondary school, also called “High School.”
Schools Across Guyana
Nursery
Hampshire Nursery
Rose Hall Nursery
Primary
Belvedere Primary
Rose Hall Primary
Port Mourant Primary
Secondary
Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary
J.C Chandisingh Secondary
New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary
St. cuthbert’s Secondary
Soesdyke Secondary
Universities and Colleges
University of Guyana
*This list will be expanded later.
National and Other Songs of Guyana
The National Anthem of Guyana
Words by A. L. Luker
Music by R. C. G. Potter
Dear land of Guyana, of rivers and plains,
Made rich by the sunshine, and lush by the rains,
Set gem-like and fair between mounts and sea-
Your children salute you. dear land of the free.
Guyana The Free
Valerie Rodway
Guyana, Guyana, this fair land of ours
Has broken the bondage of far distant powers,
ON THE BANKS OF THE KAKO RIVER
Words and Music by Walter E Hewick
Steal away, steal away to dreamland
Where the Kako and the Kukui kiss.
My Native Land
A. Cossou
Oh I care not that others rave over fair lands afar,
Where silvern lakes and placid streams mirror the evening star;
I care not though their wealth be great, their scenery be grand,
A POET’S PRAYER
Valerie Rodway
Bless Thou mine yes that they might see
The joy of all Eternity;
The sun by day, the moon by night
HYMN FOR GUYANA’S CHILDREN
Valerie Rodway
With humble hearts and heads bowed down
In thanks for each new day of toil
Song of the Republic
Words by Cleveland W. Hamilton
Music by Frank Daniels
From Pakaraima’s peaks of pow’r
To Courentyne’s lush sands,
ARISE, GUYANA
Valerie Rodway
When Freedom waved her banner bright
On Ayanganna’s verdant height,
A Nation’s glad triumphant song
Reverb’rant rose full, loud and long;
Guyana, fair Guyana,
A SONG OF HOPE
R.C.G. Potter
Marching towards the shining future,
Courage high, the past is gone,
Faith o’ercoming fear and doubting,
On to Glory’s sun-burst, On!
THE SONG OF GUYANA’S CHILDREN
Hawley-Bryant
Born in the land of the mighty Roraima,
Land of great rivers and far stretching sea;
TO SERVE MY COUNTRY
George Noel
Chorus:
Guyana! I want to serve my country!
Guyana! Beautiful, happy and free!
Guyana! Let’s co-operate with our Government
RIVER SONG
Hugh Sam
White sailed schooners dreaming up the river,
White winged seagulls curving in their pride,
Blunt nosed timber barges threaded like a bracelet
WAY DOWN DEMERARA
R.C.G.Potter
When your ship has passed the islands and the blue sea turns to brown,
And the leadsman calls ‘Five Fathoms’ when he casts the lead-line down,
And you see a long flat coastland and a smokeless wooden town,
THE BERBICE FERRY
Sr. Rose Magdalene
We’re riding on a ferry boat across the Berbice River
The water’s calm and gently flowing
‘LET US COOPERATE’
R. A. Pilgrim
Let us co-operate for Guyana
Let us co-operate for our land,
Let us resolve to fight together
N.A. (New Amsterdam, Berbice)
Anonymous
There’s a small town
By a river,
Where the ferry plies all day;
SALUTE TO GUYANA
W.R.A. Pilgrim
We hail thee, Guyana, our country, our home,
From coast to the hinterland your wonders abound.
TWILIGHT
Cecile E. Burgan-Nobrega
I dance upon the brink of day,
And try to keep the night away,
THE GOLDEN ARROWHEAD
Sr. Rose Magdalene
There are many flags in many lands
right across the world they’re spread.
TO THE HIBISCUS
Horace Taitt
Fair Hibiscus, long you linger
In the gardens of the poor,
Bringing joy and cheer and brightness
BLUE-SAKI
Jodina
Blue-Saki blue as the sky above, preening in yon lofty trees;
Blue-Saki blue is a pretty bird all dressed up in her party blue.
Chirpy chirpy chirpy chirp
CHILDREN OF GUYANA
Sr. Rose Magdalene
We are children of Guyana
And we love our native land.
BEAUTIFUL GUYANA
Hilton Hemerding
There’s a land just off the Atlantic,
Land of jungles, waterfalls and sweet scenery,
Where poor people farm the lands and hunt the waters,
TREAT ALL GUYANESE EQUAL
George Noel
Ah see mi mother an’ father working in harmony,
Building our new Guyana fo all deh children to see.
CITIZEN JOHN
Jodina
Citizen John is a positive man;
When he gets out he looks around with discerning eyes;
Citizen John he never pretends he didn’t see
ME CAWFEE IN DE MARNIN’
P.M de Weever
Some people likes de chocklet,
Some people likes de tea,
O Beautiful Guyana
Valerie Rodway
O beautiful Guyana
O my lovely native land
More dear to me than all the world
My Guyana, Eldorado
My Guyana, Eldorado
Best of all the world to me
In my heart where’er I wander
Memory enshrineth thee;
THE MANGO SELLERS
Sr. Rose Magdalene
Early in the morning, before the break of day
See the market women going on their way
Baskets filled with mangoes, ripe, juicy and sweet
