Guyana Country & Tourist Information

Location
South America, northeast coast.

Area
214,969 sq km (83,000 sq miles).

Population
751,000 (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density
3.6 per sq km.

Capital
Georgetown.
Population: 250,000 (2005 estimate).

Government
Republic.

Language
English is the official language, but Creole, Hindi, Urdu and Amerindian dialects are also spoken.

Religion
50% Christian, 33% Hindu, less than 10% Muslim.

Time
GMT- 4.

Electricity
110 and 220 volts AC, 60Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Samuel A Hinds since 1997.

Head of State
President Bharrat Jagdeo since 1999.

Recent History
President Bharrat Jagdeo won a five-year term in the August 2006 general elections. His Indo-Guyanese Progressive People’s Party won more than 54% of the vote.

Telephone
Country code: 592.

Mobile Telephone
Network providers include Cel Star Guyana Inc and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) (website: www.gtt.co.gy). Mobile phones can be hired from GT&T.

Internet
Internet cafes are available in Georgetown.

Media



Post
Post offices are found across the country.

Press
• The daily state-owned newspaper is The Guyana Chronicle (website: www.guyanachronicle.com).
• The independent Stabroek News (website: www.stabroeknews.com) and the Kaieteur News are published weekdays.
• On weekends, there are also The Mirror, The Sunday Chronicle and The Sunday Stabroek.

Radio
• Local radio can be heard online (website: www.homeviewguyana.com).
• Guyana Broadcasting Corporation is government owned and runs three radio channels: Hot FM, Radio Roraima and Voice of Guyana.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani).
9 Mar Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
11 Mar Phagwah (Holi).
10 Apr Good Friday.
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
5 May Indian Heritage Day.
26 May Independence Day.
6 Jul Caricom Day.
3 Aug Freedom Day. 
21 Sep Eid Al Fitr.
17 Oct Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light).
28 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani).
26 Febr Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet).
Mar* Phagwah (Holi).
2 Apr Good Friday.
5 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
5 May Indian Heritage Day.
26 May Independence Day.
5 Jul Caricom Day.
2 Aug Freedom Day. 
11 Sep Eid Al Fitr.
5 Nov Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light).
17 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25-26 Dec Christmas.

* Date to be confirmed.

Note
(a) Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. (b) Hindu festivals are declared according to local astronomical observations and it is only possible to forecast the month of their occurrence.

Contact Information:

Guyana Tourism Authority
National Exhibition Center, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, Guyana
Tel: 223 6351.
Website: www.guyana-tourism.com

Guyana High Commission in the UK
3 Palace Court, Bayswater Road, London W2 4LP, UK
Tel: (020) 7229 7684.
Website: www.guyana.org
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1730 (except national and UK holidays); Mon-Fri 0930-1430 (consular enquiries).

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com  

Embassy of the Republic of Guyana in the USA
2490 Tracy Place, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 265 6900.
Website: www.guyana.org


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