Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana

Data code: GY

Type of government: republic

Capital: Georgetown

Administrative divisions: 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

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 9 October
1992); the president is elected by the majority party in the
National Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held
within five years; legislative elections last held 5 October 1992
(next to be held NA 1997); results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected
president by the PPP
head of government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 9 October 1992)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president; is
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;
Good and Green Georgetown (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; 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 acti