Welcome to

GEOGRAPHY
Guyana officially the Co‑operative Republic of
Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of
South America. The capital city is Georgetown.
Indigenous people inhabited Guyana prior to European
settlement, and their name for the land, Guiana (“land
of water”), gave the country its name. Guyana is
bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Brazil to
the south and southwest, Venezuela to the west,
and Suriname to the east. With 215,000 square
kilometres (83,000 sq mi), it is also one of the least
densely populated countries on Earth. It has a wide
variety of natural habitats and very high biodiversity.
Administrative Regions are:
Region 1 – Barima-Waini
Region 2 – Pomeroon-Supenaam
Region 3 – Essequibo Islands-West Demerara
Region 4 – Demerara-Mahaica
ReGion 5 – Mahaica-Berbice
Region 6 – East Berbice-Corentyne
Region 7 – Cuyuni-Mazaruni
Region 8 – Potaro-Siparuni
Region 9 – Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Region 10 – Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice
The capital city, Georgetown is found in
Region 4 also known as Demerara Mahaica.
The population is concentrated along the
coastland, particularly in Georgetown, the
capital city, which has a population of 56,095.
The population of Region Four is 297,162.
Guyana’s administrative and commercial
activities are concentrated in this Region,
especially in and around Georgetown, the
main port.
 Natural Regions:

Guyana can be divided into four main Natural

Regions:

 The Low Coastal Plain: The Low Coastal

Plain is a narrow belt that borders the Atlantic
Ocean. The coastal plain is known for its silty
clay, pegasse and sandy soil, which is used for
planting fruits, vegetables, rice, sugar and
coconut.

 The Hilly Sand and Clay Region: The Hilly

Sand and Clay Region is mostly covered in
scrub (low) to medium height vegetation. Its
main resources and economic activities are
bauxite mining, logging and stone quarrying.
 The Hinterland Forest: The Hinterland Forest
is the main source of forest wealth for Guyana.
It makes up about 73% of the country’s land
mass. The region is known for its mountain
ranges, dense forest timber and rich gold and
diamond deposits.

 The Rupununi Savannah: The Rupununi

Savannahs were named after the Rupununi
River. The main economic activities are cattle
ranching, balata bleeding and farming.
 Towns of Guyana:
There are a total of ten (10) towns (also known as municipalities) in Guyana, these include:

 The Capital City of Guyana and the Centre of

Government
 Located in Region 4
 Promoted from township to city in 1842
 Has an approximate area of 39 square kilometres or
15 square miles
 Has an approximate population of 118,370 persons.
 The
Government
System
Guyana was first controlled by the
Dutch and then by the British. In
1961, we achieved internal self-
government through Cheddi Jagan-
leader of the People’s Progressive
Party (PPP). After some
government programs led to social
unrest, the opposing coalition was
founded by Forbes Burnham and
named the People’s National
Congress (PNC).
On May 26th 1966, Guyana gained independence from the British. The PNC, and therefore Burnham,
gained full power in the 1968 general election. However, the country was not yet a republic- so it lacked
a President. As expected though, Burnham obtained executive power as the country’s Prime Minister.

Then on February 23, 1970,

Guyana became a cooperative
republic within the Commonwealth
of nations. Arthur Chung became
the first president of the nation.
However, this was just a
ceremonial position. Executive
power remained
solely with Burnham.
Our Unicameral Parliament building is located on
Brickdam, Georgetown. It has seen and housed many
parties over several issues of national importance.
Currently, the PPP/C is the party in power. The same
party which was founded by the beloved Cheddi Jagan
(locally known as “Cheddi”).
It has seated our former president, David Granger (former
head of the APNU + AFC coalition). Along with the
Current President Dr Irfaan Ali.
It also occupied the world’ First female President: Ms.
Janet Jagan
 TOURIST
ATTRACTIONS
KAIETEUR FALLS IS THE
WORLD'S LARGEST SINGLE DROP
WATERFALL. IT EXTENDS
ACROSS THE POTARO RIVER AND
HAS A LENGTH OF 741 FEET!!
THE SHELL BEACH
LOCATED IN REGION 1 IS A
REFUGE FOR 4 OF THE
WORLD’S ENDANGERED
SPECIES OF MARINE
TURTLES. ONE OF THESE
SPECIES IS KNOWN AS THE
GIANT LEATHERBACK AND
IS KNOWN AS THE WORLD’S
LARGEST AND HEAVIEST
TURTLE IN EXISTENCE!!!
ETHNIC
GROUPS
 AMERINDIANS
AS THE FIRST INHIBITORS OF GUYANA,
THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE OF VAST IMPORTANCE. OUR
NATIONAL DISH IS AN AMERINDIAN CUISINE.
FOOD:
CASSAVA BREAD PEPPER POT
 CLOTHING:
LION CLOTH
HEAD BANDS
 CRAFT
TIBISIRI BASKETS
ARROWS
HAMMOCK
 EAST INDIANS
THIS GROUP MIGRATED FROM INDIA AND WOULD
HAVE CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE CULTURE OF
GUYANA
SWEET MEATS
FOOD:
ROTI AND CURRY
 CLOTHING AND
JEWELLERY
LEHENGA KURTA
NECKLACES
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

FLUTES
TASSA DRUMS
AFRO-GUYANESE
THEIR CULTURE IS
A PART OF THE
GUYANESE
CULTURE IN FORMS
OF:

-FOOD
-JEWELLERY
-MUSICAL
 TOP DISHES SUCH AS:

COOK-UP-RICE
YAM AND PLANTAIN
FOO-FOO
 JEWELLERY SUCH AS;
LEG BANDS ARMS BAND HUGE EARRING
 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
CONTRIBUTED;
DRUMS RATTLE
 CHINESE
CHINESE CULTURE HAS
BEEN ADDED TO THE
GUYANESE SOCIETY IN THE
FORM OF:
1-CRAFT
2-SPORT
3-FOOD
 CRAFT:

CHINESE SKILLS IN EMBROIDERY

HAS BEEN PASSED ON TO ALL
OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS.
 SPORTS:
THEY ARE EXCEEDINGLY SKILFUL IN;
AEROBICS MARTIAL ARTS
 DISHES SUCH AS:

FRIED RICE WANTON SOUP

 EUROPEANS
THIS GROUP IS OF IMMENSE IMPORTANCE TO THE
HISTORY OF OUR BELOVED GUYANA. THEY CAME IN
SEARCH OF WEALTH IN THE YEAR 1580.
SOME TYPICAL DISHES INCLUDE: PASTRIES
STEAMED
VEGGIES
 CLOTHING
SUIT TRADITIONAL
STOCKING JEWELLERY
 EUROPEANS
THEY WOULD HAVE BUILT SEA
WALLS AND KOKERS TO
PROTECT THE LAND FROM
FLOODS
THE EUROPEANS ARE
BRANCHED INTO FOUR BASIC
GROUPS;
• DUTCH
• FRENCH
• SPANISH
• ENGLISH
 PORTUGUESE
THEY CAME AS INDENTURED
IMMIGRANTS TO GUYANA IN 1835
FOOD CONTRIBUTED:
PANCAKES
GARLIC PORK
CUSTARD TART
PORTUGUESE
RELIGION
CHRISTIANITY
THEY WOULD HAVE
ESTABLISHED AND
EXTENDED ROMAN
CATHOLICISM!!
THEY WERE ALSO
QUITE SIMILAR TO
THE EUROPEANS.
THE PORTUGUESE
FOLKLORE
STORIES
 BACCOO
A Guyanese mythical belief
of a little creature that if
captured and fed well, brings
wealth luck!!!
OL’ HIGUE
LANGUAGE
Guyana is the only English speaking country
in South America. Most of the population –
especially in the rural areas – speak a form
of modified English mixed with African and
East Indian influences referred to as
“Creolese”. The various Amerindian tribes
speak their own dialects.
 THE NATIONAL FLAG

The National Flag of

Guyana also known
as the Golden
Arrowhead consists of
a green field
incorporating a red
hoist triangle and a
central yellow
arrowhead, separated
by black and white
borders.
THE FIVE COLOURS HAVE SYMBOLIC ATTRIBUTIONS
THE COLOURS OF THE NATIONAL FLAG:
• RED- symbolizes zeal and dynamism.
• BLACK- symbolizes endurance and perseverance.
• GOLD- represents mineral wealth. The richness of our beautiful
country is highlighted here!!
• WHITE- rivers and water. White suggests the many rivers,
which provide the basis for the indigenous name Guyana (LAND
OF MANY WATERS )
• GREEN- agriculture and forests. The green stands for the
jungles and fields that cover most of the country.
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
THE COAT OF ARMS
-The Amerindian Headdress symbolizes
the Amerindians who are the
indigenous people of Guyana, i.e, the
first people to live in the country.
-The Helmet is a monarchical insignia
that indicates that Guyana was once a
Monarchial country ruled by a King or
Queen.
-The Two Diamonds at the side of the
Amerindian Headdress symbolize the
country’s mineral wealth.
-The Jaguar holding the pickaxe
symbolizes labour. The Jaguar holding
the stalk of Rice and Sugarcane
symbolizes our two main agricultural
crops, sugar and rice.
-The Shield signifies protection for the
nation.
The Three Blue Wavy Lines on the
-

shield represents the many rivers of

Guyana (Essequibo, Demerara,
Berbice).
-The Victoria Regia Lily on the shield
is the National Flower, which was
discovered by Robert Schomburgh, a
German Botanist.
-The Canje Pheasant or Hoatzin at
the bottom of the shield is the
National Bird. It is rare bird which is
found mainly in this part of the
world.
-The banner to the bottom of the
coat of arms with the words One
People, One Nation, One Destiny is
the National Motto.
-The Coat of Arms was selected on
the recommendations of the National
History and Arts Council and
approved by the College of Arms,
THE
END!!