Bharrat Jagdeo
President

(pronounced "bar-RAHT JAG-day-oh")

"I know that there are tens of thousands of patriotic Guyanese from all walks of life who are prepared to put their shoulders to the wheel to build a happy tomorrow."

The Republic of Guyana is situated on the northeastern shoulder of South America. The only English-speaking country on the continent, it is bound on the west by Venezuela, on the east by Suriname, and on the south and southwest by Brazil. Guyana occupies an area of approximately 214,970 sq km (83,000 sq mi). Its capital city and major port, Georgetown, is on the Atlantic coast.

The population of Guyana in 2002 was estimated at 698,209, a decline from over 700,000 in 2000 that takes into account a high death rate due to an AIDS epidemic in the country. Its racial composition includes East Indians (50%), blacks (36%), Amerindians (7%), Chinese and mixed races (7%). Both...