Official Name: Republic of Guyana (RG)

Capital    : Georgetown

Important Cities: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Area: 214,970 km²
Population: Population: 772,298

Ethnicity: East Indian 49 per cent, black race 32 per cent, mulatto 12 per cent, Indian 6 per cent, white and  

                          Chinese 1 per cent.

Language: English, Indian dialects, Creole, Hindu, Urdu.

Religion: Christian 38%, Hindu 28%, Muslim 21%, other 8%.

Geographical situation: Only the south and the central parts of the west of the country are mountainous, with the coastal plains in the north and a low plateau area in the south of the country, which is mostly covered by areas of low elevation (generally not exceeding 500 metres). The Roraina mountain in the west of the country is the highest peak in the entire northeastern part of the South American continent with an altitude of 2810 metres. The central part of the country is covered with forests, while the southern and southwestern parts are covered with savannas. The main rivers are the Courantyne, Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo, which flow in a south-north direction to the Atlantic Ocean. The population per km² is 3.5 inhabitants, but the population density is not evenly distributed. In the coastal areas and river valleys there are areas where the population density reaches 50-60 inhabitants per km². In contrast, in most of the country the density remains between 1-3 per km². Today, people of East Indian origin make up 43 per cent of the population and people of African origin 30 per cent. The rest of the population is made up of natives, Europeans, mulattoes and Chinese. Christians make up 57 per cent of the population, Hindus 28 per cent and Muslims more than 10 per cent. Guyana's economy is based on agriculture (sugar cane and rice are the two leading crops) and underground wealth (mainly bauxite, the ore of aluminium). Industry is based on agriculture (sugar industry) and underground resources. Its main exports are sugar and aluminium.
Mode of Government: Presidential Republic.
Political Parties: PPP

History: It is estimated that the first settlement in Guyana, formerly British Guiana, was made by groups travelling to North America from Asia. These first settlers settled in the region in which Guyana is located. The natives of Guyana, called Amerindians, were living a simple lifestyle in the ancient period when great civilisations were being formed in South America. At the time of the discovery of Guyana by Europeans, the natives of Guyana consisted of two groups, the Arawaks in the coastal region and the Caribs in the interior. The name of the region, Guyana, means 'region of waters' in the indigenous language.

The first Europeans to settle in Guyana, discovered in 1498 during Christopher Columbus' third voyage of discovery to the region, were the Dutch, who established a trading colony here in 1616. Aiming to trade with the locals, the Dutch gradually established settlements in the interior. Guyana, which was also claimed by the Spanish, was officially annexed to the Netherlands with the Treaty of Munster in 1648. The development of coffee, sugar cane and cotton agriculture in Guyana during the Dutch period left the local labour force inadequate. The Dutch West India Company, which ruled the country, started to bring slaves from Africa from the middle of the 17th century. African slaves, who had an important place in Guyana's economy, often rebelled due to inhumane labour conditions. At the end of the 1763 slave revolt led by Cuffy, who is now considered one of the national heroes of Guyana, most of the Europeans had to leave Guyana. This rebellion could only be suppressed with the help of the French and the British.
     After the prohibition of slavery in 1834, slaves started to work for their former owners with a salary. From the second half of the 19th century onwards, large numbers of agricultural labourers were brought from India. The Ruimveldt labour revolt in 1905 was suppressed by British troops. With the new constitution adopted in 1928, the country became a British colony under a governor. The "great depression" of the 1930s also affected Guyana. The fall in the prices of sugar, rice and bauxite, the country's most important sources of income, led to an increase in unemployment and poverty in Guyana, resulting in many riots. Although the British administration took various reform decisions to prevent these rebellions, most of them could not be implemented.
     As a result of the conference held in London in November 1965, Guyana's independence was decided on 26 May 1966.
     Immediately after independence, Venezuela occupied the island of Ankoko on the Cuyuni River due to border problems and claimed the west coast of Guyana. The 1968 elections were won by the People's National Congress alone. Guyanese of African descent became more influential in the administration of the country. In January 1969, whites and natives living on Guyana's border with Venezuela rebelled against the central government, but the rebellion was suppressed. The country was renamed the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on 23 February 1970 and relations with Britain were severed. The new constitution envisaged a transition to socialism. Foreign-owned enterprises were nationalised. Under L. F. Burnham, the country became more authoritarian. Following the unsolved murders and unrest in 1979, the constitution was amended in 1980 and the presidential system was introduced. The country was divided into ten administrative regions.

Islam in the country: Muslims first entered the country with slaves of African origin, but most of them were Christianised or migrated to Africa. South Asians brought to Guyana from 1838 onwards were instrumental in the spread of Islam in the country. By 1917, more than 250,000 labourers of Indian origin were brought to Guyana. Muslims among them built the first mosque in Guyana and the first Islamic school in Urdu in 1865. Islam was officially recognised in the country together with Hinduism after independence. Most of the Muslims are Sunni. There are many non-governmental organisations established by Muslims in Guyana. In 1935, the United Sadr Islamic Anjuman, the first Islamic organisation, was established to prevent the spread of Ahmadiyya in the country. In 1972, this organisation split into two, one pro-government and one opposition. The organisation has more than 120 institutions throughout the country. In 1973, The General Congress of Islamic Brotherhood was organised, which includes all Muslims in the country. The Guyana Islamic Trust, which has been active since 1978, specialises in Islamic education. The Islamic Institute of Guyana and the Islamic School are operated by this organisation.
     The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana, which was established in 1979 to help Muslims, has grown over time and provides assistance to non-Muslims, especially in areas such as education and poverty. Other organisations such as Hujjatul Ulamaa, Muslim Youth Organization, Guyana Muslim Mission Limited and Tabligh Jammat, the Rose Hall Town Islamic Centre are also active. Ramadan and Eid al-Adha are official holidays in the country, and Mawlid Qandil is also celebrated. Guyana became a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in 1998. Muslims in Guyana, most of whom are engaged in agriculture and some of whom own businesses, are represented in the parliament and various ministries. Muslims have built around 130 mosques in the country.[1]

Economy: Sugar, rice, wheat, vegetables, cattle, pigs, poultry, dairy products;  Exports: Sugar, gold, bauxite, aluminium, rice, timber, molasses, rum, shrimp; Export partners: Canada 18.9 per cent, USA 18.9 per cent, UK 11.8 per cent, Portugal 8.1 per cent, Jamaica 5.3 per cent, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2 per cent (2005);

Import products: Industrial goods, machinery, petrol, food; Import partners: USA 26.7 per cent, Trinidad and Tobago 23.9 per cent, Cuba 6.6 per cent, UK 5 per cent, China 4.1 per cent (2005);

Currency: Guyana Dollars.

National Income per Capita: 2.600 USD

Industry: Industry: Bauxite, sugar, rice, timber, seafood, textiles, gold mining;

Energy: Electricity production: 818.8 million kWh (2004)Electricity consumption: 761.5 million kWh (2004); Electricity exports: 0 kWh (2004); Electricity imports: 0 kWh (2004)
Transport: Highways: 7,970 km (1996); Waterways: 5,900 km

Ports: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika ;

Airfields: 90 Railways: 187 km.
Education: Literacy rate: Data for 15 years and over in total population: 98.8%.

International organisations and institutions to which it is a member: ACP (African - Caribbean - Pacific Countries), C, Caricom (Caribbean Community and Common Market), CCC (Customs Cooperation Council), CDB (Caribbean Development Bank), ECLAC (United Nations), OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)[2]

[1]   Encyclopaedia of Islam, TDV.

[2]   oic-oci.org