Guyana!!!

[Oriani]

Hello, as Elba and I said,this week I brought for you information about Guyana, which is next to my beloved country Venezuela.

The only English-speaking country in South America, the former British colony became independent in 1966. A third of its population is descended from African slaves imported by the Dutch to work on sugar plantations, about half are the descendants of indentured Indian agricultural workers brought in by the British after slavery was abolished.

Persistent tension between these two groups has caused political instability and is reflected in hostility between the two main parties, which are ethnically-based.


Until the 1990s more than 80% of Guyana's industries were state-owned. Mismanagement, falling commodity prices and high fuel costs created serious economic problems and led to a fall in an already-low living standard.

Since the late 1990s the government has divested itself of many industries, but it now faces new problems which include environmental threats to the coastal strip and rainforest, poverty and violent crime - the latter fuelled by the drugs trade.


The sugar industry - a key source of foreign exchange and Guyana's main employer - has been hit by the loss of preferential access to EU markets and a cut in the European sugar subsidy system.

Many Guyanese seek their fortunes outside the country; the exodus of skilled migrants is among the highest in the region.

Guyana has a long-running dispute with its neighbour, Surinam, over the ownership of a potentially oil-rich offshore area. A UN tribunal aims to settle the issue, which came to a head in 2000 when Surinamese patrol boats evicted a Canadian-owned rig from a concession awarded by Guyana.

The demarcation of the Guyana-Venezuela border is also disputed.

This is how Guyana looks like

[babara]

Its interesting!! I like the waterfall of there.

[Oriani]

Its interesting!! I like the waterfall of there.

Yes, and the Hihgest one is in Venezuela!

[babara]

Yes, and the Hihgest one is in Venezuela!

Yes I think so It looks really high and beautiful.
And make me cheerful when look at it!

[Elba]

Well Done Oriani!

A little more about Guyana:
Guyana is an Amerindian word meaning "Land of many waters". The country can be characterized by its vast rain forests dissected by numerous rivers, creeks and waterfalls, notably Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River. Guyana's tepuis are famous for being the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 novel The Lost World. The country enjoys a friendly, multicultural society, high floral and faunal biodiversity, prize-winning rum, British Colonial architecture and Demerara sugar.

Though physically part of South America, culturally Guyana is Caribbean rather than Latin American and it is considered part of the West Indies. Other languages of Guyana include Creolese, Hindi, Wai-Wai, Arawak and Macushi

Music and entertainment in Guyana follows the lead of other Caribbean countries and India. Radio stations play the latest Chutney, Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Hip-Hop as well as Bollywood influences of bhangra and other Hindi music. Local television stations air American, British and Indian broadcasts. Night clubs in Georgetown belt out the latest music late into the night on weekends.


Cuisine
Guyana has a similar cuisine to the rest of the Carribean such as, Chicken Curry, Roti, and Jerk Chicken. It also has many variations of Indian foods such as dahl and rice. They have pine tarts and cheese rolls

Sport
The major sports in Guyana are cricket (Guyana is part of the West Indies as defined for international cricket purposes), softball cricket (beach cricket) and soccer. The minor sports in Guyana are netball, rounders, lawn tennis, basketball, table tennis, boxing, and a few others.

[Cypress]

Nice topic! Very interesting an informative! Oriani and Elba, good job! But what about famous people from Guyana? Can you guys name a few?

[Elba]

Maybe you don´t know nobody famous from Guyana Cypress, but Mick Jagger know Mario Amres and the Renaissance

Check that: http://www.reggaenationguyana.com/

And how about Dave Martins: http://www.dtradewinds.com/

hear him please

[BONITA]

nice topic

its really have an intresting places to visit

[feanor]

this county has a splendid nature.. but it is bad to hear that such a beauty is being tainted by political tension and ethnic struggles.

[edumelo]

this county has a splendid nature.. but it is bad to hear that such a beauty is being tainted by political tension and ethnic struggles.

Unfortunately it always happens.