Guyana
 

1616 - 27 Feb 1781;                  1784 - 22 Apr 1796;             27 Mar 1802 - 20 Sep 1803                         27 Feb 1781 - Feb 1782;                       22 Apr 1796 - 27 Mar 1802;                         20 Sep 1803 - 1875                                1875 - 1906                                 1906 - 8 Dec 1954                        8 Dec 1954 - 26 May 1966                      Adopted 26 May 1966     Map of Guyana  Hear National Anthem "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"  Text of National Anthem Adopted 1966 Constitution (6 Oct 1980)  Capital: Georgetown (Stabroek 1784 - 5 May 1812) Currency: Guyanese Dollar (GYD)  National Holiday: 23 Feb (1970) Republic Day Population: 770,794 (2008) GDP: $3.01 billion (2008) Exports: $736 million (2008) Imports: $1.62 billion (2008) Ethnic groups: East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (2002) Total Active Armed Forces: 1,100 (2006) Merchant marine: 8 ships (2008) Religions: Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ACS, ACTO, APM, BTWC (signatory), C, Caricom, CDB, CTBT, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISA, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, KP, LAES, MIGA, NAM, NPT, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO Guyana Index Chronology     1499                       Discovered by Alonzo de Ojeda and Amerigo                              Vespucci. 1595                       Explored by English under Sir Walter Raleigh. 1598                       First known Dutch expedition to coast of Guyana                              by Capt. A. Cabeliau. 1620 - 1620                English settlement at Oyapock. 1616                       Dutch settlement of Essequibo. 1657                       Dutch settlement at Pomeroon. 1666                       Dutch settlement at Berbice. 1750                       Dutch settlement of Demerara (subordinate                              to Essequibo). 27 Feb 1781 - Feb 1782     British occupation of Demerara, Essequibo, and                               Berbice (subordinated to Barbados). Feb 1782 - 1784            French occupation. 1784                       Restored to Netherlands. 22 Apr 1796 - 27 Mar 1802  British occupation 27 Mar 1802                Restored to Batavian Republic (Netherlands). 20 Sep 1803 - 13 Aug 1814  British occupation. 13 Aug 1814                British colonies of Berbice and                               Demerara-Essequibo. 20 Nov 1815                Officially ceded to Britain by the Netherlands. 21 Jul 1831                Demerara-Essequibo, and Berbice united as                               British Guiana. 26 Aug 1961                Self-rule achieved. 26 May 1966                Independence from Britain (Guyana). 23 Feb 1970                Co-operative Republic of Guyana (effective                               17 Mar 1970). Guyana (from 1831) Oyapock (1620) Berbice (1666-1831) Demerara- Essequibo (1624-1831) Pomeroon (1657-1689)

Oyapock

1620 - 1620                English settlement at Oyapock (on Wiapica River in Guyana).

Governor
1620                       Roger North

1666                       Dutch settlement of Berbice.
Nov 1712                   Briefly occupied by French under Baron de Mouans.
27 Feb 1781 - Feb 1782     British occupation of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice
                             (subordinated to Barbados).
Feb 1782 - 1784            French occupation of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo.
1784                       Restored to Netherlands.
22 Apr 1796                British occupation.
27 Mar 1802                Restored to Battalion Republic (Netherlands).
20 Sep 1803                British occupation.
13 Aug 1814                Berbice a British colony.
20 Nov 1815                Formally ceded to Britain by the Netherlands.
21 Jul 1831                United with Demerara-Essequibo as British Guiana.

Commanders
1666 - 1671                Matthijs Bergenaar
1671 - 1683                Cornelis Marinus
1683 - 1684                Gideon Bourse
1684 - 1687                Lucas Coudrie
1687 - 1712                Matthijs de Feer
1712 - 1714                Steven de Waterman
1714 - 1733                Anthony Tierens
Governors
1733 - 1740                Bernhardt Waterman
1740 - 1749                Jan Andries Lossner
1749 - 1755                Jan Frederik Colier
1755 - 1759                Hendrik Jan van Rijswijck
1760 - 1764                Wolfert Simon van Hoogenheim
1764 - 1767                Johan Heijlinger
1768 - 1773                Stephen Hendrik de la Sabloniere     (b. 1714 - d. 1773)
1773 - 1774                Johan Christoffel de Winter
1774 -  1 Dec 1777         Isaac Kaecks                         (d. 1777)
1778 - 27 Feb 1781         Peter Hendrik Koppiers (1st time)
27 Feb 1781 - 1782         Robert Kingston 
1782                       Louis Antoine Dazemard de Lusignan   (b. 1726 - d. 1782)
1782                       Armand Guy Simon de Coëtnempren,     (b. 1742 - d. 1793)
                             comte de Kersaint
1783 - 1784                Georges Manganon de la Perrière      (d. 1789)
1784 - 1789                Peter Hendrik Koppiers (2nd time)
1789 - 27 Mar 1802         Abraham Jacob van Imbijze van        (b. 1753 - d. 1806) 
                             Batenburg (1st time)
                           (acting to 1794)
27 Mar 1802 - 20 Sep 1803  J.C.W. Herlin 
                           + G. Kobus 
                           (acting)
Sep 1803 - Jun 1804        Robert Nicholson 
Jun 1804 - 1806            Abraham Jacob van Imbijze van        (s.a.)
                             Batenburg (2nd time)
Lieutenant governors
1806 - 1807                Robert Nicholson
1807 - 1809                James Montgomery
1809 - 1810                William Woodly
1810                       Samuel Dalrymple
1810 - 1812                Robert Gordon (1st time)
1812 - 1813                John Murry
1813                       Robert Gordon (2nd time)
1813 - 1814                Grant (acting)
1814 - 1820                Henry William Bentinck               (b. 1765 - d. 1820)
1820 - 1821                Thistlewayte (acting)
1821                       J. Cameron (acting)
1821 - 21 Jul 1831         Henry Beard

1616                       Dutch settlement of Essequibo.
1665 - 1666                Brief English occupation.
1752                       Dutch settlement of Demerara (subordinate to Essequibo).
27 Feb 1781 - Feb 1782     British occupation of Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice 
                             (subordinated to Barbados).
Feb 1782 - 1784            French occupation (subordinate Berbice).
1784                       Restored to Netherlands (Essequibo subordinated to Demerara).
22 Apr 1796 - 27 Mar 1802  British occupation of Demerara.
27 Mar 1802                Restored to Batavian Republic (Netherlands).
20 Sep 1803                British occupy Demerara.
13 Aug 1814                Demerara-Essequibo a British colony.
20 Nov 1815                Formally ceded to Britain by the Netherlands.
21 Jul 1831                United with Berbice as British Guiana.

Governors of Essequibo
1616 - 1624                Adriaen Groenewegen
1624 - 1627                Jacob Conijn
1627 - 1638                Jan van der Goes
1638 - 1641                Cornelis Pieterszoon Hose
1641 - 1644                Adriaen van der Woestijne 
1644 - 16..                Andriaen Janszoon
1657 - 19 Aug 1664         Aert "Amos" Adriaenssen            (b. 1581 - d. 1664)
                             Groenewegen
1665 - 1666                John Scott
1666                       Crynssen
1666                       Adriaen Groenewegen
1667 - 1670                Baerland
1670 - 1676                Hendrik Bol
1676 - 1678                Jacob Hars
1678 - 1690                Abraham Beekman
 2 Nov 1690 - 10 Dec 1707  Samuel Beekman                      (d. 1707)
10 Dec 1707 - 24 Jul 1719  Peter van der Heyden Resen
24 Jul 1719 - 12 Oct 1729  Laurens de Heere
12 Oct 1729 - Apr 1742     Hermanus Gelskerke                  (d. 1742)
Apr 1742 - 1752            Laurens Storm van 's Gravesande     (d. 1775)
                             (acting to 1743)
Directors-general
1752 -  2 Nov 1772         Laurens Storm van 's Gravesande     (s.a.)
 2 Nov 1772 - 1781         George Hendrik Trotz
Commanders of Demerara
1752 - 1761                Jonathan Samuel Storm van 's        (d. 1761)
                             Gravesende
1761 - 1765                Laurens Lodewijk van Bercheijk      (d. 1765)
1765 - 1770                Jan Cornelis van den Heuvel
1772 - 1781                Paulus van Schuylenburgh
Governor of Essequibo
27 Feb 1781 - 1782         Robert Nicholson
Governor of Demerara 
27 Feb 1781 - 1782         Robert Kingston
Governors
1782 -  9 Jul 1482         Louis Antoine Dazemard de Lusignan  (b. 1726 - d. 1782)
1782                       Armand Guy Simon de Coëtnempren,    (b. 1742 - d. 1793)
                             comte de Kersaint
1783 - 1784                Georges Manganon de la Perrière     (d. 1789)
Directors-general
 6 Mar 1784 - Feb 1785     Joseph Bourda (acting)              (d. 1798)
Feb 1785 - 18 Aug 1789     Jan L'Éspinasse
18 Aug 1789 - 31 Mar 1793  Albertus Backer                     (d. 1816)
31 Mar 1793 - May 1795     Willem August van Sirtema,
                             baron van Grovestins
1795 - 22 Apr 1796         Antony Beaujon                      (b. c.1763 - d. 1805)
Commanders of Essequibo
1784                       Albert Siraut des Touches
1784 - 1787                Johannes Cornelis Bert
1787 - 1789                Albertus Backer (1st time)          (s.a.)
1789 - 1791                Gustaaf Eduard Meijerhelm
1791 - 1793                Matthijs Thierens
1793 - 22 Apr 1796         Albertus Backer (2nd time)          (s.a.)
Governor of Essequibo
22 Apr 1796 - 27 Mar 1802  Abraham Jacob van Imbijze van       (b. 1753 - d. 1806) 
                             Batenburg
Commander of Demerara
22 Apr 1796 - 27 Mar 1802  Antony Beaujon                      (s.a.)
Director-general
27 Mar 1802 - 20 Sep 1803  Antony Meertens                     (b. 1753 - d. 1815)
Commander of Essequibo
27 Mar 1802 - 20 Sep 1803  George Hendrik Trotz                (d. 1804)
Lieutenant governors
Sep 1803 - 18 Aug 1804     Robert Nicholson 
18 Aug 1804 - 19 Oct 1805  Antony Beaujon                      (s.a.)
19 Oct 1805 -  8 May 1806  James Montgomery (acting)
 8 May 1806 - Feb 1812     Henry William Bentinck              (b. 1765 - d. 1820)
Feb 1812 - 11 May 1813     Hugh Lyle Carmichael                (b. 1764 - d. 1813)
11 May 1813 - 23 May 1813  E. Codd (acting)
23 May 1813 - 26 Apr 1824  John Murray
26 Apr 1824 - 21 Jul 1831  Sir Benjamin D'Urban                (b. 1777 - d. 1849)

Aug 1658                   Pomeroon settlement; subordinated to Essequibo.
1666 - 1667                English occupation
1689                       Incorporated into Essequibo.

Commanders
1658 - 1661                Cornelis Goliat
1661 - 1666                François de Fijne
1666 - 1667                ....
1667 - 1670                Sael
1670 - 1676                Hendrik Rol
1676 - 1678                Jacob Hars
1678 - 1686                Abraham Beekman
1686 - 1689                Jacob Pieterszoon de Jonge

21 Jul 1831                Colonies of Demerara-Essequibo and Berbice 
                             united as British Guiana.
26 Aug 1961                Self-rule.
26 May 1966                Independence from Britain (Guyana).
23 Feb 1970                Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Governors
21 Jul 1831 - 26 Jun 1833  Sir Benjamin D'Urban                (b. 1777 - d. 1849)
26 Jun 1833 - 27 Jun 1838  Sir James Carmichael Smyth          (b. 1779 - d. 1838)
27 Jun 1838 - 19 May 1848  Henry Light
19 May 1848 - 12 Feb 1849  William Walker (1st time) (acting)
12 Feb 1849 - 11 May 1853  Henry Barkly                        (b. 1815 - d. 1898)
11 May 1853 - 23 May 1854  William Walker (2nd time) (acting)
23 May 1854 -  7 Jan 1862  Philip Edmond Wodehouse             (b. 1811 - d. 1887)
 7 Jan 1862 - 25 Jan 1869  Francis Hincks                      (b. 1807 - d. 1885)
25 Jan 1869 - 26 Dec 1873  Sir John Scott                      (b. 1814 - d. 1898)
27 Dec 1873 - 10 Mar 1874  E.E. Rushworth (acting)
10 Mar 1874 -  8 Mar 1877  James Robert Longden                (b. 1827 - d. 1891)
                             (from 18 Mar 1876, Sir James Robert Longden) 
 8 Mar 1877 -  3 Aug 1877  William A.G. Young (1st time)
                             (acting)
 3 Aug 1877 - 13 Dec 1881  Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright     (b. 1817 - d. 1899)
13 Dec 1881 -  4 May 1882  William A.G. Young (2nd time)
                             (acting)
 4 May 1882 - 1887         Sir Henry Turner Irving             (b. 1833 - d. 1923)
26 Apr 1884 - 1884         W.F. Haynes-Smith (acting for Irving)
1887 - 1888                Charles Bruce (1st time) (acting)   (b. 1836 - d. 1920)
1888 - 23 Mar 1893         Jenico William Joseph Preston, 
                             Viscount Gormanston               (b. 1837 - d. 1907)
Apr 1891 - 15 Oct 1891     Sir Charles Bruce (2nd time)        (s.a.)
                             (acting for Gormanston)
23 Mar 1893 -  5 Jul 1893  Sir Charles Bruce (3rd time)        (s.a.)
                             (acting) 
 5 Jul 1893 - Sep 1895     Sir Charles Cameron Lees            (b. 1831 - d. 1898) 
15 Dec 1894 - 29 Jan 1895  Cavendish Boyle (1st time)          (b. 1849 - d. 1916)
                             (acting for Lees)
Sep 1895 - Mar 1896        Cavendish Boyle (acting)(2nd time)  (s.a.)
Mar 1896 - 27 Mar 1898     Sir Augustus William Lawson Hemming (b. 1842 - d. 1907)
 1 Oct 1896 - 18 Nov 1896  Cavendish Boyle (3rd time)          (s.a.)
                             (acting for Hemming)
27 May 1897 - 28 Jul 1897  Cavendish Boyle (4th time)          (s.a.)
                             (acting for Hemming)
27 Mar 1898 - 25 Dec 1901  Sir Walter Joseph Sendall           (b. 1832 - d. 1904)
25 Dec 1901 - 26 Sep 1904  Sir James Alexander Swettenham      (b. 1846 - d. 1933)
26 Sep 1904 -  5 Jul 1912  Sir Frederick Mitchell Hodgson      (b. 1851 - d. 1925)
 5 Jul 1912 - 15 Apr 1917  Sir Walter Egerton                  (b. 1858 - d. 1947)
15 Apr 1917 -  4 Apr 1923  Sir Wilfred Collet                  (b. 1856 - d. 1929)
 4 Apr 1923 - 31 Aug 1925  Sir Graeme Thomson                  (b. 1875 - d. 1933)
31 Aug 1925 -  7 Nov 1928  Sir Cecil Hunter-Rodwell            (b. 1874 - d. 1953)
 7 Nov 1928 -  9 Jun 1930  Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg     (b. 1869 - d. 1930)
 9 Jun 1930 - 26 Mar 1935  Sir Edward Brandis Denham           (b. 1876 - d. 1938)
26 Mar 1935 - 1936         Sir Geoffrey Alexander Stafford     (b. 1881 - d. 1948)
                             Northcote 
1936 - 19 Nov 1937         .... (acting)
19 Nov 1937 -  7 Nov 1941  Sir Wilfrid Edward Francis Jackson  (b. 1883 - d. 1971)
 7 Nov 1941 - 1946         Sir Gordon James Lethem             (b. 1886 - d. 1962)
1946 - 12 Apr 1947         William Leslie Heape (acting)       (b. 1896 - d. 1972) 
12 Apr 1947 - 14 Apr 1953  Sir Charles Campbell Woolley        (b. 1893 - d. 1981)
14 Apr 1953 - 25 Oct 1955  Sir Alfred William Lungley Savage   (b. 1903 - d. 1980)
25 Oct 1955 - 22 Dec 1958  Sir Patrick Muir Renison            (b. 1911 - d. 1965)
22 Dec 1958 -  7 Mar 1964  Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey      (b. 1910 - d. 1999)
 7 Mar 1964 - 26 May 1966  Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt            (b. 1915 - d. 1994)
Queen¹
26 May 1966 - 23 Feb 1970  the Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
26 May 1966 - 16 Dec 1966  Sir Richard Edmonds Luyt            (s.a.)
16 Dec 1966 - 10 Nov 1969  Sir David James Gardiner Rose       (b. 1923 - d. 1969)
10 Nov 1969 - 22 Feb 1970  Edward Victor Luckhoo (acting)      (b. 1912 - d. 1998)
                             (from 1 Jan 1970, Sir Edward Victor Luckhoo) 
Presidents
23 Feb 1970 - 17 Mar 1970  Sir Edward Victor Luckhoo (acting)  (s.a.)               Non-party 
17 Mar 1970 -  6 Oct 1980  Raymond Arthur Chung                (b. 1918 - d. 2008)  Non-party
 6 Oct 1980 -  6 Aug 1985  Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham       (b. 1923 - d. 1985)  PNC/R 
 6 Aug 1985 -  9 Oct 1992  Hugh Desmond Hoyte                  (b. 1929 - d. 2002)  PNC/R 
 9 Oct 1992 -  6 Mar 1997  Cheddi Berret Jagan                 (b. 1918 - d. 1997)  PPP/C
 6 Mar 1997 - 19 Dec 1997  Samuel "Sam" Archibald              (b. 1943)            PPP/C 
                             Anthony Hinds 
19 Dec 1997 - 11 Aug 1999  Janet Rosenberg Jagan (f)           (b. 1920 - d. 2009)  PPP/C 
11 Aug 1999 -              Bharrat Jagdeo                      (b. 1964)            PPP/C 

Chief minister
30 May 1953 -  9 Oct 1953  Cheddi Berret Jagan                 (s.a.)               PPP/C
 9 Oct 1953 -  5 Sep 1961  Vacant
Premiers
 5 Sep 1961 - 12 Dec 1964  Cheddi Berret Jagan                 (s.a.)               PPP/C
12 Dec 1964 - 26 May 1966  Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham       (s.a.)               PNC/R
Prime ministers
26 May 1966 -  6 Oct 1980  Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham       (s.a.)               PNC/R 
 6 Oct 1980 - 16 Aug 1984  Ptolemy Alexander Reid              (b. 1918 - d. 2003)  PNC/R 
16 Aug 1984 -  6 Aug 1985  Hugh Desmond Hoyte                  (s.a.)               PNC/R
 6 Aug 1985 -  9 Oct 1992  Hamilton Green                      (b. 1934)            PNC/R
 9 Oct 1992 - 17 Mar 1997  Samuel "Sam" Archibald              (s.a.)               PPP/C 
                             Anthony Hinds (1st time)
17 Mar 1997 - 22 Dec 1997  Janet Rosenberg Jagan (f)           (s.a.)               PPP/C 
22 Dec 1997 -  9 Aug 1999  Samuel "Sam" Archibald              (s.a.)               PPP/C 
                             Anthony Hinds (2nd time)
 9 Aug 1999 - 11 Aug 1999  Bharrat Jagdeo                      (s.a.)               PPP/C 
11 Aug 1999 -              Samuel "Sam" Archibald              (s.a.)               PPP/C 
                             Anthony Hinds (3rd time) 

 ¹Full style 1966 - 23 Feb 1970: "By the Grace of God, Queen of Guyana and of Her other Realms
and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Disputes: Aall of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitration under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters.

Party abbreviations: PNC/R = People's National Congress/Reform (socialist, populist, African-Guynanese); PPP/C = People's Progressive Party/Civic (socialist, Indian-Guyanese)