aam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper
Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Independence:
26 May 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Constitution:
6 October 1980
Legal system:
based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch
law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October 1992); First Vice
President Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992); election last held on 5
October 1992; results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected president since he
was leader of the party with the most votes in the National Assembly
elections
head of government:
Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992)
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president, responsible to the
legislature
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly:
elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997);
results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total,
53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature
Political parties and leaders:
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN; People's National
Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;; People's National Congress (PNC),
Hugh Desmond HOYTE; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA,
Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE;
People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National
Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF),
Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY;
National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party
(GLP), Nanda GOPAUL
Other political or pressure groups:
Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations
(GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC)
note:
the latter two organizations are small and active but not well
organized
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL
chancery:
2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265-6900 through 6903
US diplomatic rep