Guyana
LOCATION
Guyana is located on the North East Coast of South America, bordering Venezuela to the West, Brazil to the South, and Suriname to the East.
LANGUAGE
English is the official language of Guyana.
GEOGRAPHY
Guyana has four distinct geographical areas: the Low Coastal Plain; the Hilly Sand and Clay Belt; the Highland Region and the Interior Savannahs. The area is 214,970 sq.km. Approximately 75% of the land area is still intact forest, and 2.5% is cultivated. The coastline is 1 metre to 1.5 metres below sea level at high tide, necessitating an elaborate system of drainage canals. The most valuable mineral deposits are bauxite, gold, and diamonds. The main rivers are the Demerara, Berbice, Corentyne and Essequibo.
CLIMATE
Guyana is a tropical destination that is pleasant and warm for most of the year, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, November to January). Mean temperature of 27 ° C and the average temperature range from 24 ° C to 31 ° C. Rainfall is approximately 2,300mm per year in Georgetown.
POPULATION
Guyana’s population is approximately 747,884 (Census 2012); 90% of the population live along the coastal strip and banks of major rivers.
CLOTHING
Light weight, casual clothing can be worn throughout the year.
GOVERNMENT
Guyana became independent from Britain in 1966 and a Co-operative Republic in 1970, when a non-executive President replaced the Governor-General. A new constitution in 1980 gave the President wide executive powers. The Cabinet is headed by the President, and there is a 65-member National Assembly elected by proportional representation.
