Guyana Country Information
The name Guyana means ” land of many waters ” and was derived from the original name of the Guyana region, which includes the region of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and parts of Venezuela and Brazil.
Location
Guyana is between 2 ° and 8 ° north latitude and between 57 ° and 61 ° west longitude in northern South America. It borders Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname and the Atlantic to the north. Guyana has a total area of 214,970 km². Visit themakeupexplorer for Trade Unions in South America.
Time zone
The time difference between Guyana and Germany is -6 hours in winter as well as in summer. There is no change to winter or summer time in Guyana.
Geography
Most of the country is sparsely populated rainforest. In the west and south of the country there are mountain ranges from which the most important rivers arise. There is a swampy coastal strip on the Atlantic coast. The highest point is the Roraima-Tepui mountain at 2,810 meters above sea level. The main river is the Essequibo, which flows into the Atlantic and has its source in the south of the country. In the National Park Potaro there are beautiful waterfalls to see, such as. The Kaieteur waterfall.
History
Until 1815, the area of what is now Guyana changed hands several times between the colonial powers of the Netherlands, Great Britain and France. In 1815 the area was officially transferred to the United Kingdom of Great Britain. In 1835 slavery was abolished and contact workers from British India followed to replace the Afro-Guyan who worked on the sugar cane plantations. In 1966, Guyana achieved independence. Ethnic conflicts between Afro-Guyans and Indian-Guyans have played a central role again and again since the 1960s. In 1989 the government of Guyana started an economic program that aimed to turn away from a state-controlled planned economy towards a free market economy with open markets.
Flora and fauna
About 70% of the country’s area is covered by tropical rainforest. Savannas and mangrove forests exist particularly in the coastal lowlands and in the southwest. Guyana has a diverse fauna with a particularly rich bird life with many different hummingbirds. Tapirs, jaguars, monkeys, deer, anteaters, sloths, armadillos, bush pigs, vultures, iguanas and many species of snakes are also found in Guyana.
Business
Guyana, rich in rainforests, lives mainly from agriculture and mining. The country has enormous deposits of bauxite, which is the most important export product. Gold, diamonds, sugar, rice, shrimp, rum and wood are also exported.
Memberships
Guyana is a founding state and a member of the international organization Caribbean Community (Caricom), which has existed since 1973.
Population
The population, most of which settled on the coastal area, is composed as follows according to their ethnic origin:
43% Indians, Creoles, indigenous peoples (mostly live in the highlands), Chinese and Portuguese.
Religion
At 58%, Christians make up the largest proportion of the Guyanese population. Then comes Hinduism, Islam and then there are still a few atheists and Rastafarians.
Language
The colloquial language in Guyana is English with a Creole accent, Hindi and various Indian dialects are also spoken, as well as Indian languages.
Food and drink
The cuisine of Guyana is very diverse due to the many cultural influences. Typical specialties are the Portuguese dish pork with garlic and Indian pepper pot. Further specialties are the African dishes Fufu ( plantain ) and Metemgee ( plantain with yams, manioc, Edow cooked in coconut milk and coconut meat) as well as Indian specialties such as chicken sag and other typical curry, lamb and shrimp dishes. There are also good Creole and Chinese restaurants in the capital, Georgetown.
The local beer is called Banks. When visiting Guyana, the Demerara rum, a specialty of the country, should be tried.
Money / currency
The currency of Guyana is the Guyana Dollar (GYD). Exchanges on the street are not recommended due to the risk of fraud. Some banks only change USD. Payment by credit card is possible in the capital and in larger hotels, restaurants and travel agencies.
Current
The voltage in Guyana is 240V, 60Hz.
Security / drugs
As a single traveler in the capital, Georgetown, you should be particularly careful and vigilant. Avoid going to gas stations after dark, as occasional robberies could occur on this occasion. Especially in larger crowds such as markets, bus stations, etc., valuables such as jewelry should not be carried and only little cash.
Entry
To enter Guyana, travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 6 months. No visa is required for stays of less than 90 days.
Addresses
Responsible for Guyana:
Germany Embassy, Guyana
7-9 Marli Street
PO box 828 Port-of-Spain
Port-of-Spain
Trinidad and Tobago
Phone:
+ 1-868-628-1630
+ 1-868-628-1632
Email:
[email protected]
website URL:
www.port-of-spain.diplo.de
In Germany:
Representations of Guyana in Europe
Embassy: The embassy in Brussels is responsible for Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Embassy of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in Brussels
Avenue du Bresil, 12
1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: 0032 – (0) 2 – 6 75 62 16
Fax: 0032 – (0) 2 – 6 72 55 98
0032 – (0) 2 – 6 75 63 31
Email: [email protected]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
In Germany https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/
In Austria https://www.bmaa.gv.at/
In Switzerland https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/de/home/travad/hidden/hidde2/surina.html
