Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001.

A typical building in rural Guyana. Guyana did not attact early European settlement. Spaniards first saw the coast in 1499, but there was no prospect of gold or cheap labor. The Macushi and Tirio peoples survived in isolation until 16th-century explorers, including Sir Walter Raleigh, arrived. The Netherlands made the first colonizing move in 1615. England established sugar and tobacco plantations in 1650.

A typical building in rural Guyana. In 1831, the three colonial settlements of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice merged to become British Guyana. After the abolition of slavery, Africans refused to work. A British company, Bookers, resurrected the sugar industry by importing labor from India. British Guyana was run as a colony until 1953, when a new constitution provided for home rule and an elected government. In 1966 the country became an independent member of the British Commonwealth with the name of Guyana, and in 1970 it became a republic with an elected president.

Some sheep on the side of the road

A cow grazing by the side of the road

Farmland. 36% of the population is engaged in farming.

A typical residence, note that it is elevated on stilts. Floods are common in this country.

More residence pictures.

More residence pictures.

More residence pictures.

Beachfront of the Atlantic Pegasus hotel, one of the nicest hotels in the capital of Guyana, Georgetown. Yes, the beach is black with muck and filthy.

Another shot of the atlantic ocean.

Green Wing Macaw

A vendor in Georgetown. Georgetown the capital of Guyana, became a city in 1842.

A building in downtown Georgetown.

The city is prevalent with standing water drainage ditches

A manatee Holding Pond.

A manatee Holding Pond.

A manatee Holding Pond.

A manatee Holding Pond.

Typical Market in downtown Georgetown

A Monkey

Monkey

Monkey

This is St. George's cathedral, reputed as the tallest wooden building in the world. This was not the tallest wooden building in history, but that has since burned down. Visit the official website by

Currently, the tallest wooden building in the world.

View from the front. Read about the history of the church

Person taking a nap in front of the church.

An abandoned Texaco station

A non-functioning traffic light. Actually I don't think I saw a functioning traffic light while I was there.

The Umana Yana

The Umana Yana

Oh, Deer.