Guyana Travel Guide

Country Facts

Location

South America, northeast coast.

Language

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

Area

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

Time Zone

GMT- 4.

Electricity

110 and 220 volts AC, 60Hz.

Population

751,000 (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density

3.6 per sq km.

Capital City

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

Government

Republic.

Head of Government

Prime Minister Samuel A Hinds since 1997.

Head of State

President Bharrat Jagdeo since 1999.

Religion

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

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.

Communications

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.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Feb Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani)
19 Mar - 20 Mar Phagwah (Holi)
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
5 May Indian Heritage Day
26 May Independence Day
4 Jul Caricom Day
1 Aug Freedom Day
31 Aug Eid Al Fitr
26 Oct Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light)
7 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Yum an-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
23 Feb Republic Day (Mashramani)
8 Mar Phagwah (Holi)
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
5 May Indian Heritage Day
26 May Independence Day
2 Jul Caricom Day
6 Aug Freedom Day
19 Aug Eid Al Fitr
25 Oct Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
13 Nov Diwali (Hindu Festival of Light)
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas
(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