by Gloria S. Akande

Created on: January 10, 2010

The tropical state of Guyana, the non-Spanish speaking and the only English speaking state in South America is a delight and a place for nature lovers.  Over eighty per cent of the country is tropical rainforest. The country is about slightly smaller than Idaho and is located on the Atlantic northern coast of South America; Guyana is bordered on the east by Venezuela, on the west by Suriname and on the south by Brazil. Wrought with political tension and boundary disputes in the past the country achieved its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 and is a democratic republic today.

The indigenous people of Guyana are the Amerindians, the Warao, Arawak, and Carib of which there are seven tribes: Akawaio, Arekuna, Barama River Carib, Macusi, Patamona, Waiwai, and the Wapisiana tribes. Guyana was colonized by the Dutch, the English and the French. The Dutch established in the 17th century, which were later taken over by the British in 1831 who later abolished slavery in 1834. The Black population settled in the urban areas. The large sugar plantations that needed to be worked lead to the influx of Asian Indian indentured servants to Guyana.  The British crown colony was granted home rule in 1953 and Cheddi Jagan who had Marxist views, was elected Chief Minister. The government was suspended and an interim government was installed. Two political parties were formed, that of the Jagan, the Progressive People’s Party and a split off party lead by Burnham, the People’s National Congress.  After the Guyana received autonomy, Jagan became Prime Minister and riots and strikes believed to be caused by the CIA caused a weakening of his Jagan’s rule in 1964.  Burnham later became Prime Minister and remained in the post after Guyana received independence from the United Kingdom in 1966. In 1992, the country had its first democratic election and Cheddi Jagan was elected President.  His wife Janet Jagan became president after his death. She was succeeded by Bharrat Jagdeo in 2001.

Progress in Guyana has been hindered by racial and border disputes. The country has 43% Afro-Guyanese descendants and 51% East Indian descendants. During the re-election of Jagdeo in 2005, Afro-Guyanese claimed widespread election fraud which led to racial riots. Guyana has had border disputes with Surinam and Venezuela in oil rich area which has compromised some economic development.

Despite politics, economic misadventures and ethnic tensions the

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