Traveling Luck for Guyana
Guyana is located in Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela.
Land in Guyana is mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south.
Guyanese land covers an area of 214970 square kilometers which is slightly smaller than Idaho
As for the Guyanese climate; tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January).
Guyanese (singular and plural) speak English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu.
Places of note in Guyana
Guyanese National Map
Regions of Guyana
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Jane JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001.
The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02, based on 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. Growth slowed in 2003 and came back gradually in 2004, buoyed largely by increased export earnings; it slowed again in 2005. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from restructuring and partial privatization. Export earnings from agriculture and mining have fallen sharply, while the import bill has risen, driven by higher energy prices. Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 might broaden the country's export market, primarily in the raw materials sector.
Guyanese natural resources include bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively
Guyanese religion is Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5%.
Natural hazards in Guyana include flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons.
- Most visits to Guyana are trouble-free, but crime levels are high especially in Georgetown and towns in the coastal regions. Visitors to the eco-tourism sites (outside of Georgetown and the coastal regions) do not generally experience any problems.
- You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could take place in public areas, including those frequented by foreigners.
- If you are travelling to Guyana for the ICC Cricket World Cup, which runs from 11 March to 28 April 2007, with warm-up games in the region beginning on 5 March 2007, you should see the FCO’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 for general advice you may need before you travel.
- Around 6,700 British tourists/nationals visit Guyana every year. Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Guyana is for the replacement of stolen passports.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance
SAFETY AND SECURITY
There have been no reports of problems being encountered by travellers to the interior of Guyana visiting sites in the eco-tourism sites.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Increasingly people are being offered free air tickets to Guyana. On arrival the same people find their "sponsors" will only allow them to leave Guyana if they carry a "package" (usually cocaine). The Guyana anti-drug authorities are aware of this and will routinely stop or search Europeans travelling alone.