Some information about Guyana!

Guyana, In full the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana, is located in South America. It is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by Suriname, on the south by Brazil, and on the west by Brazil and Venezuela. Guyana is equatorial. Temperature on the coast ranges from 20 C to 33.8 C and in the interior between 18.3 C and 39.4 C. Unlike many other West Indian countries, Guyana is not affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. The capital of Guyana is Georgetown. Guyana's population is 730,000. Guyana is 215,000 square kilometers (83,000 sq miles) in area. The government of Guyana is Democratically elected- Presidential Form of Government. Guyana is a member of the Commonwealth, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Non-Aligned Movement. The Head of State is Samuel Hinds. Guyana's time is Four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. The Official language is English. The Currency is known as the Guyana Dollar. One dollar Canadian get get you approximately 100 Guyana dollars.

History of Guyana!

The territory that is now Guyana was first charted by Spanish explorers in 1499. By the mid 18th century Dutch settlers and traders had prevailed over rival Spanish and British expeditions. Although formal possession fell to the British in 1814, the Dutch system of administration persisted during most of the precolonial period(the colony of British Guiana came into being in 1831). Guyana received its first constitution under the British administration in 1928, but universal suffrage was not granted until 1953.

More History on Guyana!

• 1961-Guyana received full internal self-government, and the People's Progressive Party (PPP), under the leadership of Cheddi Jagan, gained a majority in the legislative assembly.
• 1962-Jagan introduced a program of severe economic austerity that caused violent riots and a general strike.
• 1963-Disorders took on racial overtones; persons of African descent clashed with the East Indian supporters of Jagan.
• 1965-The British Guiana Independence Conference met in London, and a new constitution was approved.
• May 26, 1966-Guyana was declared an independent nation. It joined the United Nations in 1966. Guyana became a charter member of the Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA) in 1968.
• 1978-The term of the National Assembly was extended for a year beyond its five year limit in anticipation of a new constitution; it was extended again in 1979.

Culture of Guyana!

Until its independence, Guyana was tied culturally more closely to Suriname and French Guiana than to the rest of South America. Guyana was settled by East Indians, who still speak Urdu, Hindi and Tamil dialects; black Africans; and a few Europeans, mostly from great Britain. These various ethnic strains have remained fairly distinct, and today each group has its own style of life and culture, although the ties of nationhood tend to bind them together.

Fruits and Vegetables grown in Guyana!

• Giunep-a small round fruit with a green shell which you peel off. The inside is a white colour jelly, that you suck and then you throw away the big seed in the middle.
• Tamarind-a long fruit with a brown shell which you peel off and you chew the brown inside pieces until you get to the seed.
• 5 finger(starfruit)-A yellow fruit that is cut in slices. When it is cut it is shaped like a star.
• Mango-an orange fruit that is sweet inside(or can be eaten sour with salt if green) and has a big seed in the middle.
• Coconut-a round fruit with a brown skin, the inside is white and filled with sweet water in the coconut that you drink.
• dongs-small, round green fruit with a seed in the middle.
• papaya-yellow fruit with small seeds inside. You do not eat the seeds only the fruit part.
• breadfruit-round fruit with a green shell. Inside is white. People in Guyana peel off the outer shell, slice this fruit thin, fry it, and eat it for breakfast.
• june plum(golden apple)-small, round fruit which is green on the outside and yellow and sour on the inside.
• In Guyana the cherries are a bright red. Guyana's cherries are sour compared to cherries grown here in Ontario which are a dark red colour and sweet.
• Other fruits grown in Guyana-banana, jambon, guava, pongrame, breadfruit, pineapple, watermelon.

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