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Title: Guyana.
Author: United States. Department of State. Bureau of Public Affairs.
Journal: Backgr Notes Ser; 1985 Jan; ():1-8. PubMed ID: 12178099.
Abstract:
The population characteristics, geography, history, government, economy, political situation, and foreign relations of Guyana are briefly described. In 1984 population size was estimated at 775,000, and the annual population growth rate was 0.7%. Ethnically the population is 51% East Indian, 43% African and mixed African, 4% Amerindian, 4% European, and 2% Chinese. 57% of the population is Christian, 33% Hindu, and 9% Muslim. Schooling is compulsory for those aged 5-16 years, and the literacy rate is 86%. Life expectancy is 70 years, and the infant mortality rate is 41. The country is divided geographically into a coastal region, where 90% of the population lives; a strip of grass-covered savanna running to the south of the coastal region; and an interior, sparsely populated, forested region, which contains 85% of the the land surface of the country. In the late 1500s the Dutch settled in Guyana, and in 1796 the British became the de facto rulers of Guyana. Amerindians and then later African slaves were exploited as laborers during the colonial era. Still later, indentured workers were brought in from India, Portugal, and China. Guyana became an independent country in 1966 and a republc in 1970. Since 1964 the country has been ruled by Forbes Burnham, 1st as prime minister, and then after the adoption of a new constitution in 1980, as executive president. The government consits of a unicameral National Assembly, an executive president representing the major party in the assembly, a cabinet, and a judicary branch. Forbes is a member of the People's National Congress, which is the dominant party in the country. The party is supported primarily by urban blacks, and the goal of the party is to make Guyana into a nonaligned socialist country. The major opposition party is the People's Progressive Party, which favors the establishment of a Moscow oriented communist country and is supported primarily by the East Indian population. Currently, public sector enterprises dominate the economic system, and 51% of the population is employed in the public sector; however, there are also cooperative and private sector enterprises. 33.8% of the work force is engaged in agriculture, 44.5% in industry and commerce, and 21.7% in services. The gross national product (GNP) was US$419 million (1983), the annual economic growth rate was 10.1% (1982-3), and per capita income was US$457 (1983). Agriculture accounts for 26% of the gross domestic product (GDP), and major agricultural products are sugar and rice. Sugar processing and marketing is handled by a government owned company. Industry, primarily the mining and processing of bauxite and aluminum, accounts for 27% of the GDP. In 1983 exports totated US$193.3 million, and exports amounted US$243 million. During the last several years, the economic situation deterioritated. Productivity is declining, equipment and facilities are outdated, and many skilled workers are emigrating. A number of economic reforms were adopted, but recovery depends on the ability of the government to reach a standby facility agreement with teh International Monetary Fund. Guyana maintains ties with both communist and capitalists countries and is engaged in a major territorial dispute with Venezuela. Since 1966, the US provided Guyana with US$415 million in unilateral and bilateral aid.

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