Key facts
Date of Membership in CARICOM: 1 Aug 1973
Also Known as:Land of Many Waters
Status of Independence:Independent 1966/01/18
Area: 216,970 km2 (83,000 miles2)
Capital City: Georgetown
Population: 800,000 (2013)
Currency: Guyana Dollar
Highest National Award: Order of Excellence (OE)
Economy
GDP: EC$7,614Mn (2012)
GDP Growth: 4.6% p.a. 2009–13
GNI: US$3.1bn
GNI PC: US$3,750
GDP per Capita: EC$7, 614 (2012)
Key dates in history
1616 Dutch established colony in Essequibo River with Headquarters at Kyk-Over-Al, followed by Second and third colonies in Berbice and Demerara respectively
1814 Finally ceded to Britain by the Netherlands after severl exchanges between them
1831 Colonies consolidated into British Guiana
1953 First elections under Universal Adult Suffrage
1961 Elections held under self-governing constitution. Dr Cheddi Jagan, first Premier
1962-64 Prolonged labour and racial unrest, Fresh elections under Proportional Representation, Linden Forbes Samson Burnham becomes Premier
1966 Independence achieved, LFS Burnham, first Prime Minister
1970 Republican status, Arthur Chung, first President
1980 New constitution established, LFS Burnham elected first Executive President
1992 PPP regains power. Party leader Cheddi B. Jagan elected President