Difference between revisions of "Georgetown, Guyana" - New World Encyclopedia

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{{Infobox Settlement
 
{{Infobox Settlement
 
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|official_name          = Georgetown, Guyana
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|official_name          = City of Georgetown
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|pushpin_map_caption    =Location in Guyana
 
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|subdivision_name      = [[Image:Flag of Guyana.svg|25px]] [[Guyana]]
 
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|subdivision_type1      = Admin.&nbsp;division
 
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|leader_name            = Hamilton Greene
 
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|established_date      = 1781
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|established_date2      = 29 April 1812
 
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'''Georgetown''' is the [[Capital (political)|capital]] and largest city of [[Guyana]], located in the [[Demerara-Mahaica]] region. The city serves as a retail and administrative centre, as well as a financial services centre.
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'''Georgetown''' is the [[Capital (political)|capital]] and largest city of [[Guyana]] on the mainland of [[South America]]. The city is located on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] at the mouth of the [[Demerara River]], in the region known as Demerara-Mahaica. A retail and administrative center, and a financial services center, Georgetown is Guyana's chief seaport. The city's existence and survival from the elements depends on a sea wall, drainage canals, and sluice gates as it is situated three feet, about one meter, below the high tide level.
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Founded by the British in 1781 and named for King [[George III of the United Kingdom]], Georgetown long served as the capital of [[British Guiana]]. The city also came under both French and Dutch rule. It was largely rebuilt by the French by 1784. A devastating [[fire]], in 1945, ruined the commercial heart of the capital, and destroyed historical and [[architecture|architectural]] gems which lent greatly to the city's character.
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Guyana is the third smallest country on the mainland of South America and is one of the poorest countries in the [[Western Hemisphere]]. Following its independence from the [[United Kingdom]] in 1966, the country was subject to [[socialism|socialist]] policies that resulted in a deteriorating [[economics|economy]]. A reform program began in 1989 and reduced the government's role in the country's economics and encouraged foreign investment. However, city leadership lacked accountability, exacerbating many of the city's problems. This issue was being addressed in 2008 by Georgetown's mayor, [[Hamilton Green]]—a possible important first step in instituting good governance and ensuring equitable prosperity.  
  
 
==Geography==
 
==Geography==
[[Image:Dwelling in city.jpg|left|thumb|250px|A colonial era building.]]
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[[Image:Dwelling in city.jpg|left|thumb|225px|A colonial era building.]]
[[Image:Laluni St panorama.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Laluni St, Queenstown, Georgetown, 2006.]]
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[[Image:Laluni St panorama.jpg|thumb|left|225px|Laluni St, Queenstown, Georgetown, 2006.]]
Georgetown was named after King [[George III]] when the city was founded by the British in 1781. It is situated on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] coast at the mouth of the [[Demerara River]] and it was nicknamed "Garden City of the Caribbean".
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Georgetown was named after King [[George III]] when the city was recaptured by the British in 1812. It is situated on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] coast at the mouth of the [[Demerara River]] and was nicknamed "Garden City of the Caribbean."
  
The local climate is tropical, hot and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds. The average maximum daytime temperature year-round is 86°F (30°C). Mean annual precipitation is 40 inches (1004mm).
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The local [[climate]] is tropical, hot and humid, and moderated by northeast trade winds. The average maximum daytime [[temperature]] year-round is 86°F (30°C). Mean annual precipitation is 40 inches (1004 mm).
  
Georgetown, which is laid out in a north-south, east-west grid, is interlaced with canals protected by [[kokers]], or sluices, was built by the Dutch and later the British provided drainage to a city that lies three feet (one meter) below high-tide level. A long sea wall helps prevent flooding. The city covers an area of 15 square miles (38.8 square kilometers).
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Georgetown, which is laid out in a north-south, east-west grid, is interlaced with [[canal]]s protected by [[kokers]], or sluices. The city was built by the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] and later the [[Great Britain|British]] provided drainage to the city that lies three feet (one meter) below high-tide level. A long sea wall helps prevent flooding. The city covers an area of 15 square miles (38.8 square kilometers).
  
Georgetown has expanded dramatically through the years and may be divided into three Geographical regions: Central Georgetown that includes the business district as well as the seat of the federal Government; Greater Georgetown, that contains some of the most expensive and luxurious metropolitan neighbourhoods; and South Georgetown, along the eastern bank of the Demerara River, which is a poor area.
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Georgetown has expanded dramatically through the years and may be divided into three regions: Central Georgetown that includes the business district as well as the seat of the federal Government; Greater Georgetown, that contains some of the most expensive and luxurious metropolitan neighborhoods; and South Georgetown, a poor area along the eastern bank of the Demerara River.
  
The city has an abundance of tree-lined streets and avenues and contains many wooden colonial buildings and markets. Regent St is Georgetown's premier shopping district, while Sheriff St is Guyana's main entertainment hot spot.
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The city has an abundance of tree-lined streets and avenues and contains many wooden colonial buildings and markets. Regent Street is Georgetown's premier shopping district, while Sheriff Street is Guyana's popular entertainment center.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
[[Image:Kingston Georgetown 19 Century.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Kingston, Georgetown in the 19th century]]
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[[Image:Kingston Georgetown 19 Century.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Kingston, Georgetown in the nineteenth century]]
 
[[Image:Boundary lines of British Guiana 1896.jpg|right|thumb|250 px|Boundary lines of British Guiana in 1896.]]
 
[[Image:Boundary lines of British Guiana 1896.jpg|right|thumb|250 px|Boundary lines of British Guiana in 1896.]]
[[Image:Old residence.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The "Old Residence," a relic of colonial times.]]
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[[Image:Old residence.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The State House, Guyana's presidential residence.]]
The history of Guyana began before the arrival of Europeans, when the region of present-day [[Guyana]] was inhabited by [[Carib]], [[Arawak]], and [[Warao]] peoples. Guyana's first sighting by Europeans was by [[Alonzo de Ojeda]] and [[Amerigo Vespucci]] in 1499. In 1595 the area was explored by English explorers under Sir Walter Raleigh. The [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]] began exploring and settling in [[Guyana]] in the late [[16th century|sixteenth century]], followed by the [[British people|British]]. Both began trading with the Amerindian peoples upriver.
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The history of Guyana began before the arrival of [[Europe]]ans, when the region of present-day [[Guyana]] was inhabited by [[Carib]], [[Arawak]], and [[Warao]] peoples. Guyana's first sighting by Europeans was by [[Alonzo de Ojeda]] and [[Amerigo Vespucci]] in 1499. In 1595, [[Sir Walter Raleigh]] explored the area for [[England]]. The [[Dutch]] began exploring and settling in Guyana in the late sixteenth century, followed by the [[British]]. Both began trading with the Amerindian peoples upriver.
  
The first Dutch settlement was established on the [[Pomeroon River]] in 1581. The settlers were evicted by Spaniards and [[Amerindian|Indians]], probably in 1596. Until 1804 there were estates, now forgotten, Sandy Point and Kierfield, on the seaward side of the present seawall of [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]].
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The first Dutch settlement was established on the [[Pomeroon River]] in 1581. The settlers were evicted by Spaniards and [[Amerindian|Indians]], probably in 1596. Until 1804, there were estates, now forgotten, at Sandy Point and Kierfield, on the seaward side of the present seawall of Georgetown.
  
The city of Georgetown began as a small town in the 18th century. Originally, the capital of the [[Demerara-Essequibo]] colony was located on [[Borselen Island]] in the Demerara River under the administration of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]]. When the colony was captured by the [[British Empire|British]] in 1781, Lieutenant-Colonel [[Robert Kingston]] chose the mouth of the Demerara River for the establishment of a town which was situated between Plantations Werk-en-rust and Vlissengen.
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Georgetown began as a small town in the eighteenth century. Originally, the capital of the [[Demerara-Essequibo]] colony was located on [[Borselen Island]] in the Demerara River under the administration of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]]. When the [[British]] captured the colony in 1781, Lieutenant-Colonel [[Robert Kingston]] chose the mouth of the Demerara River for the establishment of a town which was situated between Plantations Werk-en-rust and Vlissengen.
  
The [[France|French]] developed this town and made it their capital city when they captured the colony in 1782. The French called the capital [[La Nouvelle Ville]]. They established stringent regulations for private building in an attempt to guard against the dangers of flood and fire. Buildings were to have brick foundations, kitchens were to be tiled and set apart, and no thatch was to be used.  
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The [[France|French]] captured the colony in 1782 and developed this town, making it their capital city, [[La Nouvelle Ville]]. To guard against the dangers of flood and fire, buildings were required to have brick foundations, tiled, separate kitchens, and no thatch was to be used.  
  
At that time, the small town was bordered by two canals, the Croal St Canal and the Hadfield St Canal. There was one main dam known as Brickdam.  
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At that time, the small town was bordered by two canals, the Croal Street Canal and the Hadfield Street Canal. There was one main [[dam]] known as Brickdam.  
  
When the town was taken by the Dutch in 1784, it was renamed [[Stabroek, Guyana|Stabroek]] after [[Nicolaas Geelvinck]] (1732 &mdash; 1787), Lord of Stabroek, and President of the [[Dutch West India Company]]. The town closely resembled a town in the Netherlands, and Dutch settlers soon built walls similar to those used in their homeland to keep the Atlantic Ocean out from the north, and divert water coming from the higher ground to the south. Eventually the town expanded and covered the estates of Vlissengen, La Bourgade and Eve Leary to the North, and La Repentir to the South.
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When the town was taken by the Dutch in 1784, it was renamed [[Stabroek]] after [[Nicolaas Geelvinck]] (1732&mdash;1787), Lord of Stabroek, and President of the [[Dutch West India Company]]. The Dutch settlers soon built walls similar to those used in their homeland to keep the [[Atlantic Ocean]] out from the north, and divert water coming from the higher ground to the south. Eventually the town expanded and covered the estates of Vlissengen, La Bourgade, and Eve Leary to the North, and La Repentir to the South.
  
When the British regained control in 1812, it was renamed Georgetown, in honour of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]]. The town began to expand and develop and Robbstown,  
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When the British regained control in 1812, it was renamed Georgetown, in honor of [[King George III]]. The town began to expand and develop, and Robbstown, Cummingsburg, Kingston, and Werk-en-Rust were added.
Cummingsburg, Kingston, and Werk-en-Rust were added.
 
  
The abolition of slavery in 1834 led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations.  
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The abolition of [[slavery]] in 1834 led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from [[India]] to work the [[sugar]] plantations.  
 
   
 
   
 
Under the English administration, the town was controlled by a Board of Police. However with the abolition of slavery, the powers of the Board of Police proved ineffective and on March 1, 1837, an ordinance established a mayor and town council.  
 
Under the English administration, the town was controlled by a Board of Police. However with the abolition of slavery, the powers of the Board of Police proved ineffective and on March 1, 1837, an ordinance established a mayor and town council.  
  
Georgetown gained official city status on August 24, 1842, during the reign of [[Queen Victoria]]. In 1848, the British built a railroad, five miles long, from Georgetown to Plaisance, which was the first railroad on the South American continent  
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Georgetown gained official city status on August 24, 1842, during the reign of [[Queen Victoria]]. In 1848, the British built a railroad, five miles (eight kilometers) long, from Georgetown to Plaisance, which was the first railroad on the [[South America]]n continent.
  
 
In 1928, British Guiana was made a crown colony, a move that reasserted British control at a time when political and labor unrest was rising.  
 
In 1928, British Guiana was made a crown colony, a move that reasserted British control at a time when political and labor unrest was rising.  
  
On February 23, 1945, the Great Fire, as it came to be known, devastated the commercial heart of the capital, and consumed a host of historical and architectural gems which had given the city its aesthetic flair. Most buildings in the business district were rebuilt in reinforced concrete.
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On February 23, 1945, the Great Fire, as it came to be known, devastated the commercial heart of the capital, and consumed a host of historical and architectural gems which had given the city its character. Most buildings in the business district were rebuilt in reinforced concrete.
 
 
Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, and became a republic on February 23, 1970, though remaining a member of the Commonwealth. Burnham became the first prime minister and moved Guyana toward socialism, including nationalizing foreign companies that dominated the bauxite and sugar industries.
 
  
Greater Georgetown came into being on 29th April 29, 1970.
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Guyana achieved independence from the [[United Kingdom]] in 1966, and became a republic on February 23, 1970, though remaining a member of the Commonwealth. Forbes Burnham (1923-1985) became the first prime minister and nationalized foreign companies that dominated the [[bauxite]] and sugar industries. Greater Georgetown came into being on April 29, 1970.
  
In 1992, Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997) was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet Jagan (b. 1920), became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health.  
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In 1992, Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997) was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet Jagan (b. 1920), became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health.
  
 
==Government==
 
==Government==
 
[[Image:Cottage of city Georgetown.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Victoria Law Courts.]]
 
[[Image:Cottage of city Georgetown.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Victoria Law Courts.]]
Guyana is a republic in which the chief of state president is elected as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, every five years. The head of government is the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. The unicameral National Assembly comprises 65 members elected every five years. A cabinet of ministers is appointed by the president.  
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[[Guyana]] is a republic in which the chief of state is the president, who is elected as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, every five years. The head of government is the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. The unicameral National Assembly comprises 65 members elected every five years. A cabinet of ministers is appointed by the president.  
  
 
Guyana is divided into 10 regions, each headed by a chairman who presides over a regional democratic council. The regions are divided into 27 neighborhood councils. Local communities are administered by village or city councils.
 
Guyana is divided into 10 regions, each headed by a chairman who presides over a regional democratic council. The regions are divided into 27 neighborhood councils. Local communities are administered by village or city councils.
  
As the capital of Guyana, Georgetown is the location of Parliament Building, the Court of Appeals, the official residence of the Head of State as well as the Head of Government. Georgetown is the seat of the Caribbean Community ([[Caricom|CARICOM]]) Secretariat, which is the the administrative Arm of the Caribbean Regional Integration Organisation.
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As the capital of Guyana, Georgetown is the location of Parliament Building, the Court of Appeals, the official residence of the Head of State as well as the Head of Government. Georgetown is the seat of the Caribbean Community ([[Caricom|CARICOM]]) Secretariat, which is the the administrative Arm of the Caribbean Regional Integration Organisation.  
  
Georgetown is governed by a mayor, whose office includes the deputy mayor, city clerk and city engineer, and supervises the city constables. The city council is the legislative branch of the city government. The Georgetown Magistrate Court has judicial responsibility for the Georgetown Magisterial District.
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Georgetown is governed by a mayor, whose office includes the deputy mayor, city clerk, and city engineer, and supervises the city constables. The city council is the legislative branch of the city government. The Georgetown Magistrate Court has judicial responsibility for the Georgetown Magisterial District.
  
Guyana is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. The nation is also a trans shipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the United States.
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[[Guyana]] is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children [[Slave trade|trafficked]] for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. The nation is also a trans shipment point for [[narcotics]] from [[South America]]—primarily [[Venezuela]]—to [[Europe]] and the [[United States]].
  
 
== Economy ==
 
== Economy ==
 
[[Image:Stabroek Market Clock by Khirsah1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Stabroek Market Clock]]
 
[[Image:Stabroek Market Clock by Khirsah1.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Stabroek Market Clock]]
 
[[Image:Bourda-market.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|A section of Bourda Market, Georgetown.]]
 
[[Image:Bourda-market.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|A section of Bourda Market, Georgetown.]]
The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-07, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment.
+
The Guyanese economy showed moderate economic growth in the first decade of the twenty-first century, based on expansion in the [[agriculture|agricultural]] and [[mining]] sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient [[infrastructure]]. The government, in 2008, was juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The [[bauxite]] mining sector was expected to benefit from restructuring and partial privatization, and the state-owned [[sugar]] industry was to conduct efficiency increasing modernizations.
  
Georgetown is Guyana's largest city and is the country's chief commercial and manufacturing centre. Large sugar refineries are located in the city. Businesses include: Demerara [[sugar]], [[timber]], [[bauxite]], [[gold]], and [[diamond]]s, which are exported through Georgetown's harbour.
+
Georgetown is Guyana's largest [[city]] and is the country's chief commercial and manufacturing center. Large sugar refineries are located in the city. Businesses include: Demerara [[sugar]], [[timber]], [[bauxite]], [[gold]], and [[diamond]]s, which are exported through Georgetown's harbor.
  
This city accounts for a large portion of Guyana's GDP, estimated at $2.819-billion in 2007. Guyana's per capital GDP was estimated at $3700 in that year.  
+
This city accounts for a large portion of Guyana's GDP, estimated at $2.819-billion in 2007. Guyana's per capital GDP was estimated at $3700 in that year.  
  
Georgetown is serviced by a ferry, the [[Demerara Harbour Bridge]] and many newly constructed highways. The four-lane East Coast Highway was completed in 2005. Most of West Coast, East Bank, East Coast and Berbice, Guyana are served by numerous buses. Also taxis serve almost everywhere along the coast, primarily (in large numbers) Georgetown.  
+
Georgetown is serviced by a ferry, the [[Demerara Harbour Bridge]] and the four-lane East Coast Highway that was completed in 2005. Numerous buses and taxis serve Georgetown.  
  
The [[Cheddi Jagan International Airport]] acts as the air transportation hub of the city, which is located on the right bank of the Demerara River, 41 kilometres south of Georgetown. Closer to the city is the newly-expanded [[Ogle Airport]], with a new terminal facility geared to handle regional international and inter-Caricom flights. Georgetown also is home to a seaport.  
+
The [[Cheddi Jagan International Airport]] is located on the right bank of the [[Demerara River]], 41 kilometers south of Georgetown. Closer to the city is the newly-expanded [[Ogle Airport]], with a new terminal to handle regional international and inter-Caricom flights. Georgetown hosts Guyana's only seaport.
  
 
==Demographics==
 
==Demographics==
Georgetown had an estimated population of 310,320, according to the 2002 Guyana census. The population of Guyana (769,000) is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, composed chiefly of the descendants of immigrants who came to the country either as slaves or as indentured laborers. East Indians made up 43.5 percent of Guyana's population, black (Africans) 30.2 percent, mixed 16.7 percent, Amerindians 9.1 percent, and others 0.5 percent in 2002.  
+
Georgetown had an estimated [[population]] of 310,320 in 2002. The population of [[Guyana]] (769,000) is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, composed chiefly of the descendants of immigrants who came to the country either as slaves or as indentured laborers. East Indians made up 43.5 percent of Guyana's population, black (Africans) 30.2 percent, mixed 16.7 percent, Amerindians 9.1 percent, and others 0.5 percent in 2002.  
  
Guyana's culture is very similar to that of the English-speaking Caribbean, to the extent that Guyana is included and accepted as a Caribbean nation. Languages spoken are English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), and Urdu.
+
Guyana's [[culture]] is very similar to that of the [[English language|English]]-speaking [[Caribbean]], to the extent that Guyana is included and accepted as a Caribbean nation. [[Language]]s spoken are English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), and [[Urdu]].
  
Religions, according to the 2002 census, include Hindu 28.4 percent, Pentecostal 16.9 percent, Roman Catholic 8.1 percent, Anglican 6.9 percent, Seventh Day Adventist 5 percent, Methodist 1.7 percent, Jehovah Witness 1.1 percent, other Christian 17.7 percent, Muslim 7.2 percent, other 4.3 percent, none 4.3 percent.  
+
[[Religion]]s, according to the 2002 census, include [[Hinduism|Hindu]] 28.4 percent, [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] 16.9 percent, [[Roman Catholic]] 8.1 percent, [[Anglican]] 6.9 percent, [[Seventh Day Adventist]] 5 percent, [[Methodism|Methodist]] 1.7 percent, [[Jehovah Witness]] 1.1 percent, other [[Christian]] 17.7 percent, [[Muslim]] 7.2 percent, other 4.3 percent, none 4.3 percent.  
  
Georgetown is the seat of the [[University of Guyana]], and the Cyril Potter College.  
+
Georgetown is the seat of the [[University of Guyana]], and the Cyril Potter College.
  
==Of interest==
+
Georgetown's population is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, and its culture is more closely associated with the [[Caribbean]] than with [[Latin America]].
[[Image:Umana Yana by Khirsah1.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|Umana Yana.]]
 
[[Image:Smaller Providence Stadium inside.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Providence Stadium]] hosted several [[2007 Cricket World Cup]], replacing [[Bourda]] as the national stadium and [[cricket test|test]] venue]]
 
  
Most of the main buildings are centred around the western part of the city, including Independence Square and Promenade Gardens, the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the National Library of Guyana (built by [[Andrew Carnegie]]), the Bank of Guyana, the National Museum of Guyana, and State House (built 1852) where the president resides, and St George's Anglican Cathedral]]. There are numerous churches, mosques and Hindu [[mandir]]s.
+
==Places of interest==
 +
[[Image:Umana Yana by Khirsah1.jpg|thumb|right|250 px|Umana Yana, built by Wai-Wai [[Amerindian]]s using traditional techniques.]]
 +
[[Image:Smaller Providence Stadium inside.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Providence Stadium]] hosted several [[2007 Cricket World Cup]], replacing [[Bourda]] as the national stadium and [[cricket test]] venue.]]
  
To the south is where the neo-[[Gothic]] Georgetown City Hall (1889) is to be found, as well as the Victoria Law Courts (1887), the Parliament Building (1829-1834), the [[Roman Catholic]] Brickdam Cathedral, City Engineer House, the Magistrate's Court, St Andrew's Kirk (1818), and Independence Arch.
+
Most of the city's main buildings are centered around the western part of Georgetown, which is the location of Independence Square and Promenade Gardens, the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the National Library of Guyana (built by [[Andrew Carnegie]]), the Bank of Guyana, the National Museum of Guyana, and State House (built 1852) where the president resides, and [[St. George's Anglican Cathedral]]. There are numerous [[church]]es, [[mosque]]s and Hindu [[mandir]]s.
  
The northern area of the city near the Atlantic coast contains Fort William Frederick, a park, and the [[Umana Yana]], a conical thatched building built by Wai-Wai [[Amerindians]] using traditional techniques for the 1972 [[Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference]]. The [[Georgetown Light House]] is a landmark.
+
To the south is where the neo-[[Gothic]] Georgetown City Hall (1889) is to be found, as well as the Victoria Law Courts (1887), the Roman Catholic Brickdam Cathedral, City Engineer House, the Magistrate's Court, St. Andrew's Kirk (1818), and Independence Arch.
  
The city also has an extensive botanical garden, a zoo, and a seaside promenade. Places of interest include:
+
The northern area of the city near the Atlantic coast contains Fort William Frederick, a park, and the [[Umana Yana]], a conical thatched building built by Wai-Wai [[Amerindian]]s using traditional techniques for the 1972 [[Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference]]. The [[Georgetown Light House]] is a landmark.
  
* [[Guyana]]'s Parliament Building, designed by [[Joseph Hadfield]], was built on a foundation of [[Chlorocardium|greenheart]] logs. The foundation stone was laid in 1829 and, in April 1834, the structure, [[stucco]]ed to resemble stone blocks, was completed. The Parliament Building is an example of 19th century [[Renaissance architecture]] and is one of two domed buildings in [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]]. Within its compound  are two cannon that were used in the [[Crimean War]] and a statue of [[Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow]], OBE (1884-1958) who is regarded as the father of [[Trade Union]]ism in Guyana.
+
The city also has an extensive [[botanical garden]], a [[zoo]], and a seaside promenade. Places of interest include:
  
* The National Art Gallery, Castellani House, which is a large wooden building was designed by Cesar Castellani, that was the residence of the Director of Agriculture, then the Prime Minister. In 1993, it was inaugurated as the Art Gallery.  
+
* [[Guyana]]'s Parliament Building, designed by [[Joseph Hadfield]], was built on a foundation of [[Chlorocardium|greenheart]] logs. The foundation stone was laid in 1829 and, in April 1834, the structure, [[stucco]]ed to resemble stone blocks, was completed. The Parliament Building is an example of 19th century [[Renaissance architecture]] and is one of two domed buildings in the city. Within its compound are two [[cannon]]s that were used in the [[Crimean War]] and a statue of [[Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow]], OBE (1884-1958) who is regarded as the father of [[Trade Union]]ism in Guyana.
  
* The Stabroek Market, which tries to sell everything – fruits, vegetables, livestock, meat, fish, furniture, manufactured household goods, tools, jewelry and more, is one of the most distinctive buildings in [[Georgetown, Guyana]]. It's prominent cast-iron clock tower dominates the city sky line. The market extends from Water St to the bank of the [[Demerara River]], adjacent to the Demerara Stelling.
+
* The National Art Gallery, Castellani House, is a large wooden building that was designed by Cesar Castellani. It served as the residence of the Director of Agriculture, then the Prime  Minister. In 1993, it was inaugurated as the Art Gallery.  
  
Like most Caribbean nations, Guyana hosted matches of the [[2007 Cricket World Cup|ICC Cricket World Cup 2007]].
+
* The Stabroek Market, which sells [[fruit]]s, [[vegetable]]s, [[livestock]], [[meat]], [[fish]], [[furniture]], manufactured household goods, tools, [[jewelry]], and more, has a prominent cast-iron clock tower that dominates the city sky line. The market extends from Water Street to the bank of the [[Demerara River]].
  
 
==Looking to the future==
 
==Looking to the future==
Does the city face no challenges or offer up anything else as a legacy?"
+
Georgetown, the [[capital]] and largest [[city]] of [[Guyana]], serves as a retail and administrative center, a financial services center, and is the country’s chief port. The nationalization of foreign companies operating in Guyana in the late 1970s caused an exodus of skilled people and capital, from which the nation has yet to recover. Run-down buildings, a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure were evident in the capital city in 2008, as the government juggled a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment.
 
 
Does the city need reconstruction?
 
 
 
Is it a model city?
 
 
 
Will it run out of water?
 
  
Does it have a crucial role to play in the nation?
+
[[Hamilton Green]], Georgetown's mayor and the former prime minister of Guyana, has called for governmental accountability. Green describes true democracy thus: "The test of a modern Democracy is a form of governance in which political and economic power is shared, and where these truly reside in the people and exercised by them through time honoured institutions, their representatives and protocol."<ref>Hamilton Green, [http://propagandapress.org/2008/10/11/guyana-has-a-facade-of-democracy-hamilton-green/ Guyana has a facade of democracy,] ''Propaganda Press! Freedom in Guyana''. Retrieved December 13, 2008.</ref> He has gone on to declare that the city can prosper only when those in charge are held accountable. When financial corruption ceases, funds can be used more equitably and wisely in solving many of Georgetown's problems.
  
 +
==Notes==
 +
<references/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
+
* De Barros, Juanita. ''Order and Place in a Colonial City: Patterns of Struggle and Resistance in Georgetown, British Guiana, 1889-1924.'' Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2003. ISBN 978-0773524552.
* De Barros, Juanita. 2003. Order and place in a colonial city: patterns of struggle and resistance in Georgetown, British Guiana, 1889-1924. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 9780773524552
+
* Edwards, R., S. C. Wu, and J. Mensah. "Georgetown, Guyana." ''Cities.'' 22 (6) (2005): 446-454. ISSN 0264-2751.
* Edwards, R., S. C. Wu, and J. Mensah. 2005. "Georgetown, Guyana". Cities. 22 (6): 446-454. ISSN 0264-2751
+
* Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. 2006. ''The City of Georgetown.'' Georgetown: Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. {{OCLC|162107765}}.
* Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. 2006. The city of Georgetown. Georgetown: Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. OCLC 162107765
+
* ''Historical Georgetown Guyana''. Georgetown, Guyana: Sheik M. Hassan, 1997. {{OCLC|45069045}}.
* ''Historical Georgetown Guyana''. 1997. Georgetown, Guyana: Sheik M. Hassan. OCLC 45069045
+
* Temple, Bob. ''Guyana. Discovering South America''. Philadelphia, PA: Mason Crest Publishers, 2004. ISBN 1590843002.
* Temple, Bob. 2004. ''Guyana. Discovering South America''. Philadelphia, Pa: Mason Crest Publishers. ISBN 1590843002.
+
* ''World Fact Book,'' 2008.
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
* Encyclopaedia Britannica [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/230169/Georgetown.htm Georgetown] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
+
All links retrieved June 19, 2017.
* World Fact Book 2008 [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gy.html Guyana] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
+
 
* [http://www.guyana-tourism.com/images/Map-Georgetown.pdf Map of Georgetown] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
+
* Guyana On-line Tourist Guide [http://www.turq.com/guyana/georgetown.html Georgetown tour]  
* Guyana On-line Tourist Guide [http://www.turq.com/guyana/georgetown.html Georgetown tour] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
+
* [http://www.galenfrysinger.com/guyana.htm Georgetown photo gallery]  
* [http://www.americatravelling.net/guyana/georgetown/georgetown.htm Georgetown] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
+
* [http://www.tramz.com/gy/g.html The Tramways of Georgetown]  
* [http://www.galenfrysinger.com/guyana.htm Georgetown photo gallery] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
+
* [http://www.guyana.org/special/great_fire.html The Great Fire of 1945]
* [http://www.tramz.com/gy/g.html The Tramways of Georgetown] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
+
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9901E7D8163FF935A35751C0A9669C8B63 Article: Guyana's Capital, Tropical Victorian]  
* [http://www.guyana.org/special/great_fire.html The Great Fire of 1945] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
 
* [http://www.natlib.gov.gy/ National Library of Guyana] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
 
* [http://www.mittelholzer.org/forum/index.php The Mittelholzer Foundation] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
 
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9901E7D8163FF935A35751C0A9669C8B63 Article: Guyana's Capital, Tropical Victorian] Retrieved November 22, 2008.
 
  
 +
{{South American capitals}}
 
[[Category:Geography]]
 
[[Category:Geography]]
 
[[Category:Cities]]
 
[[Category:Cities]]
 
+
[[Category:South America]]
 
{{credit|Georgetown,_Guyana|252471957|History_of_Guyana|252133798|}}
 
{{credit|Georgetown,_Guyana|252471957|History_of_Guyana|252133798|}}

Revision as of 01:24, 29 November 2022

City of Georgetown
Parliament Building, Georgetown
Parliament Building, Georgetown
Nickname: GT, The Garden City
City of Georgetown (Guyana)
City of Georgetown
City of Georgetown
Location in Guyana
Coordinates: 6°48′N 58°10′W
Country Flag of Guyana.svg Guyana
Admin. division Demerara-Mahaica
Established 1781
Named 29 April 1812
Government
 - Type Mayor-Council
 - Mayor Hamilton Greene
Area
 - Water 10 sq mi (25.9 km²)
 - Urban 20 sq mi (51.8 km²)
 - Metro 57 sq mi (147.6 km²)
Elevation -6 ft (0 m)
Population (2009)
 - City 239,227
 - Metro 354,964
Time zone UTC-4 (UTC)
Area code(s) 231, 233, 225, 226, 227

Georgetown is the capital and largest city of Guyana on the mainland of South America. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Demerara River, in the region known as Demerara-Mahaica. A retail and administrative center, and a financial services center, Georgetown is Guyana's chief seaport. The city's existence and survival from the elements depends on a sea wall, drainage canals, and sluice gates as it is situated three feet, about one meter, below the high tide level.

Founded by the British in 1781 and named for King George III of the United Kingdom, Georgetown long served as the capital of British Guiana. The city also came under both French and Dutch rule. It was largely rebuilt by the French by 1784. A devastating fire, in 1945, ruined the commercial heart of the capital, and destroyed historical and architectural gems which lent greatly to the city's character.

Guyana is the third smallest country on the mainland of South America and is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Following its independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, the country was subject to socialist policies that resulted in a deteriorating economy. A reform program began in 1989 and reduced the government's role in the country's economics and encouraged foreign investment. However, city leadership lacked accountability, exacerbating many of the city's problems. This issue was being addressed in 2008 by Georgetown's mayor, Hamilton Green—a possible important first step in instituting good governance and ensuring equitable prosperity.

Geography

A colonial era building.
Laluni St, Queenstown, Georgetown, 2006.

Georgetown was named after King George III when the city was recaptured by the British in 1812. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and was nicknamed "Garden City of the Caribbean."

The local climate is tropical, hot and humid, and moderated by northeast trade winds. The average maximum daytime temperature year-round is 86°F (30°C). Mean annual precipitation is 40 inches (1004 mm).

Georgetown, which is laid out in a north-south, east-west grid, is interlaced with canals protected by kokers, or sluices. The city was built by the Dutch and later the British provided drainage to the city that lies three feet (one meter) below high-tide level. A long sea wall helps prevent flooding. The city covers an area of 15 square miles (38.8 square kilometers).

Georgetown has expanded dramatically through the years and may be divided into three regions: Central Georgetown that includes the business district as well as the seat of the federal Government; Greater Georgetown, that contains some of the most expensive and luxurious metropolitan neighborhoods; and South Georgetown, a poor area along the eastern bank of the Demerara River.

The city has an abundance of tree-lined streets and avenues and contains many wooden colonial buildings and markets. Regent Street is Georgetown's premier shopping district, while Sheriff Street is Guyana's popular entertainment center.

History

File:Kingston Georgetown 19 Century.jpg
Kingston, Georgetown in the nineteenth century
Boundary lines of British Guiana in 1896.
The State House, Guyana's presidential residence.

The history of Guyana began before the arrival of Europeans, when the region of present-day Guyana was inhabited by Carib, Arawak, and Warao peoples. Guyana's first sighting by Europeans was by Alonzo de Ojeda and Amerigo Vespucci in 1499. In 1595, Sir Walter Raleigh explored the area for England. The Dutch began exploring and settling in Guyana in the late sixteenth century, followed by the British. Both began trading with the Amerindian peoples upriver.

The first Dutch settlement was established on the Pomeroon River in 1581. The settlers were evicted by Spaniards and Indians, probably in 1596. Until 1804, there were estates, now forgotten, at Sandy Point and Kierfield, on the seaward side of the present seawall of Georgetown.

Georgetown began as a small town in the eighteenth century. Originally, the capital of the Demerara-Essequibo colony was located on Borselen Island in the Demerara River under the administration of the Dutch. When the British captured the colony in 1781, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Kingston chose the mouth of the Demerara River for the establishment of a town which was situated between Plantations Werk-en-rust and Vlissengen.

The French captured the colony in 1782 and developed this town, making it their capital city, La Nouvelle Ville. To guard against the dangers of flood and fire, buildings were required to have brick foundations, tiled, separate kitchens, and no thatch was to be used.

At that time, the small town was bordered by two canals, the Croal Street Canal and the Hadfield Street Canal. There was one main dam known as Brickdam.

When the town was taken by the Dutch in 1784, it was renamed Stabroek after Nicolaas Geelvinck (1732—1787), Lord of Stabroek, and President of the Dutch West India Company. The Dutch settlers soon built walls similar to those used in their homeland to keep the Atlantic Ocean out from the north, and divert water coming from the higher ground to the south. Eventually the town expanded and covered the estates of Vlissengen, La Bourgade, and Eve Leary to the North, and La Repentir to the South.

When the British regained control in 1812, it was renamed Georgetown, in honor of King George III. The town began to expand and develop, and Robbstown, Cummingsburg, Kingston, and Werk-en-Rust were added.

The abolition of slavery in 1834 led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations.

Under the English administration, the town was controlled by a Board of Police. However with the abolition of slavery, the powers of the Board of Police proved ineffective and on March 1, 1837, an ordinance established a mayor and town council.

Georgetown gained official city status on August 24, 1842, during the reign of Queen Victoria. In 1848, the British built a railroad, five miles (eight kilometers) long, from Georgetown to Plaisance, which was the first railroad on the South American continent.

In 1928, British Guiana was made a crown colony, a move that reasserted British control at a time when political and labor unrest was rising.

On February 23, 1945, the Great Fire, as it came to be known, devastated the commercial heart of the capital, and consumed a host of historical and architectural gems which had given the city its character. Most buildings in the business district were rebuilt in reinforced concrete.

Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, and became a republic on February 23, 1970, though remaining a member of the Commonwealth. Forbes Burnham (1923-1985) became the first prime minister and nationalized foreign companies that dominated the bauxite and sugar industries. Greater Georgetown came into being on April 29, 1970.

In 1992, Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997) was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet Jagan (b. 1920), became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health.

Government

Victoria Law Courts.

Guyana is a republic in which the chief of state is the president, who is elected as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, every five years. The head of government is the prime minister, who is appointed by the president. The unicameral National Assembly comprises 65 members elected every five years. A cabinet of ministers is appointed by the president.

Guyana is divided into 10 regions, each headed by a chairman who presides over a regional democratic council. The regions are divided into 27 neighborhood councils. Local communities are administered by village or city councils.

As the capital of Guyana, Georgetown is the location of Parliament Building, the Court of Appeals, the official residence of the Head of State as well as the Head of Government. Georgetown is the seat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, which is the the administrative Arm of the Caribbean Regional Integration Organisation.

Georgetown is governed by a mayor, whose office includes the deputy mayor, city clerk, and city engineer, and supervises the city constables. The city council is the legislative branch of the city government. The Georgetown Magistrate Court has judicial responsibility for the Georgetown Magisterial District.

Guyana is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor. The nation is also a trans shipment point for narcotics from South America—primarily Venezuela—to Europe and the United States.

Economy

Stabroek Market Clock
A section of Bourda Market, Georgetown.

The Guyanese economy showed moderate economic growth in the first decade of the twenty-first century, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government, in 2008, was juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining sector was expected to benefit from restructuring and partial privatization, and the state-owned sugar industry was to conduct efficiency increasing modernizations.

Georgetown is Guyana's largest city and is the country's chief commercial and manufacturing center. Large sugar refineries are located in the city. Businesses include: Demerara sugar, timber, bauxite, gold, and diamonds, which are exported through Georgetown's harbor.

This city accounts for a large portion of Guyana's GDP, estimated at $2.819-billion in 2007. Guyana's per capital GDP was estimated at $3700 in that year.

Georgetown is serviced by a ferry, the Demerara Harbour Bridge and the four-lane East Coast Highway that was completed in 2005. Numerous buses and taxis serve Georgetown.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport is located on the right bank of the Demerara River, 41 kilometers south of Georgetown. Closer to the city is the newly-expanded Ogle Airport, with a new terminal to handle regional international and inter-Caricom flights. Georgetown hosts Guyana's only seaport.

Demographics

Georgetown had an estimated population of 310,320 in 2002. The population of Guyana (769,000) is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, composed chiefly of the descendants of immigrants who came to the country either as slaves or as indentured laborers. East Indians made up 43.5 percent of Guyana's population, black (Africans) 30.2 percent, mixed 16.7 percent, Amerindians 9.1 percent, and others 0.5 percent in 2002.

Guyana's culture is very similar to that of the English-speaking Caribbean, to the extent that Guyana is included and accepted as a Caribbean nation. Languages spoken are English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), and Urdu.

Religions, according to the 2002 census, include Hindu 28.4 percent, Pentecostal 16.9 percent, Roman Catholic 8.1 percent, Anglican 6.9 percent, Seventh Day Adventist 5 percent, Methodist 1.7 percent, Jehovah Witness 1.1 percent, other Christian 17.7 percent, Muslim 7.2 percent, other 4.3 percent, none 4.3 percent.

Georgetown is the seat of the University of Guyana, and the Cyril Potter College.

Georgetown's population is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, and its culture is more closely associated with the Caribbean than with Latin America.

Places of interest

Umana Yana, built by Wai-Wai Amerindians using traditional techniques.
Providence Stadium hosted several 2007 Cricket World Cup, replacing Bourda as the national stadium and cricket test venue.

Most of the city's main buildings are centered around the western part of Georgetown, which is the location of Independence Square and Promenade Gardens, the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the National Library of Guyana (built by Andrew Carnegie), the Bank of Guyana, the National Museum of Guyana, and State House (built 1852) where the president resides, and St. George's Anglican Cathedral. There are numerous churches, mosques and Hindu mandirs.

To the south is where the neo-Gothic Georgetown City Hall (1889) is to be found, as well as the Victoria Law Courts (1887), the Roman Catholic Brickdam Cathedral, City Engineer House, the Magistrate's Court, St. Andrew's Kirk (1818), and Independence Arch.

The northern area of the city near the Atlantic coast contains Fort William Frederick, a park, and the Umana Yana, a conical thatched building built by Wai-Wai Amerindians using traditional techniques for the 1972 Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference. The Georgetown Light House is a landmark.

The city also has an extensive botanical garden, a zoo, and a seaside promenade. Places of interest include:

  • Guyana's Parliament Building, designed by Joseph Hadfield, was built on a foundation of greenheart logs. The foundation stone was laid in 1829 and, in April 1834, the structure, stuccoed to resemble stone blocks, was completed. The Parliament Building is an example of 19th century Renaissance architecture and is one of two domed buildings in the city. Within its compound are two cannons that were used in the Crimean War and a statue of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, OBE (1884-1958) who is regarded as the father of Trade Unionism in Guyana.
  • The National Art Gallery, Castellani House, is a large wooden building that was designed by Cesar Castellani. It served as the residence of the Director of Agriculture, then the Prime Minister. In 1993, it was inaugurated as the Art Gallery.
  • The Stabroek Market, which sells fruits, vegetables, livestock, meat, fish, furniture, manufactured household goods, tools, jewelry, and more, has a prominent cast-iron clock tower that dominates the city sky line. The market extends from Water Street to the bank of the Demerara River.

Looking to the future

Georgetown, the capital and largest city of Guyana, serves as a retail and administrative center, a financial services center, and is the country’s chief port. The nationalization of foreign companies operating in Guyana in the late 1970s caused an exodus of skilled people and capital, from which the nation has yet to recover. Run-down buildings, a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure were evident in the capital city in 2008, as the government juggled a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment.

Hamilton Green, Georgetown's mayor and the former prime minister of Guyana, has called for governmental accountability. Green describes true democracy thus: "The test of a modern Democracy is a form of governance in which political and economic power is shared, and where these truly reside in the people and exercised by them through time honoured institutions, their representatives and protocol."[1] He has gone on to declare that the city can prosper only when those in charge are held accountable. When financial corruption ceases, funds can be used more equitably and wisely in solving many of Georgetown's problems.

Notes

  1. Hamilton Green, Guyana has a facade of democracy, Propaganda Press! Freedom in Guyana. Retrieved December 13, 2008.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • De Barros, Juanita. Order and Place in a Colonial City: Patterns of Struggle and Resistance in Georgetown, British Guiana, 1889-1924. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2003. ISBN 978-0773524552.
  • Edwards, R., S. C. Wu, and J. Mensah. "Georgetown, Guyana." Cities. 22 (6) (2005): 446-454. ISSN 0264-2751.
  • Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. 2006. The City of Georgetown. Georgetown: Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. OCLC 162107765.
  • Historical Georgetown Guyana. Georgetown, Guyana: Sheik M. Hassan, 1997. OCLC 45069045.
  • Temple, Bob. Guyana. Discovering South America. Philadelphia, PA: Mason Crest Publishers, 2004. ISBN 1590843002.
  • World Fact Book, 2008.

External links

All links retrieved June 19, 2017.


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