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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Bayney Ram KARRAN
Embassy: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901
FAX: (202) 232-1297

Consulate(s) General are in:
New York
866 United Nations Pz., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10017.

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Vacant
Embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
Telephone: [529] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969
Fax: [529] (2) 58497, 57968


Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Guyana

Embassy of Guyana, Washington, DC
U.S Embassy Web Site in Guyana


FOREIGN RELATIONS

After independence in 1966, Guyana sought an influential role in international affairs, particularly among Third World and nonaligned nations. It served twice on the UN Security Council (1975-76 and 1982-83). Former Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Attorney General Mohamed Shahabuddeen served a 9-year term on the International Court of Justice (1987-96).

Guyana has diplomatic relations with a wide range of nations. The European Union (EU), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the UN Development Program (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Organization of American States (OAS) have offices in Georgetown. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has its Secretariat headquartered in Georgetown.

Guyana strongly supports the concept of regional integration. It played an important role in the founding of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), but its status as one of the organization's poorest members limits its ability to exert leadership in regional activities. Guyana has sought to keep foreign policy in close alignment with the consensus of CARICOM members, especially in voting in the UN, OAS, and other international organizations.

A longstanding maritime boundary dispute with Suriname was resolved largely in Guyana's favor in August 2007. The dispute had flared up in June 2000, when a Canadian company drilling for oil under a Guyanese concession was forced to cease operations by Surinamese military gunboats. After several failed attempts at negotiation, in 2004 Guyana took the dispute to the UN Law of the Sea tribunal, which unanimously determined that the vast majority of the area in contention belonged to Guyana. The resolution of this dispute will likely have significant ramifications for Guyana's economy in the long term, as the seabed is estimated to contain approximately 15 billion barrels of oil.

Another territorial disagreement remains unresolved, however. In 1962 Venezuela challenged a previously accepted 1899 international arbitration award, and claimed all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River--62% of Guyana's territory. At a meeting in Geneva in 1966, the two countries agreed to receive recommendations from a representative of the UN Secretary General on ways to settle the dispute peacefully. Diplomatic contacts between the two countries and the Secretary General's representative continue, with a quiet détente on the issue currently prevailing.

U.S.-GUYANESE RELATIONS
U.S. policy toward Guyana seeks to develop robust, sustainable democratic institutions, laws, and political practices; support economic growth and development; and promote stability and security. During the last years of his administration, President Hoyte sought to improve relations with the United States as part of a decision to move his country toward genuine political nonalignment. Relations also were improved by Hoyte's efforts to invite international observers for the 1992 elections and reform electoral laws, which resulted in the election of Cheddi Jagan of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as President. A few months after his death in 1997, Jagan’s wife Janet, a former U.S. citizen, was elected President. She served until 1999, when due to ill health, she delegated her responsibilities to Bharrat Jagdeo. Jagdeo was first formally elected as President in 2001 and re-elected in 2006. This succession of democratic elections, and the first largely peaceful elections in 2006, as well as Guyana’s close cooperation with the U.S. on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, have placed U.S.-Guyanese relations on an excellent footing.

In an effort to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in Guyana, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened an office at the U.S. Embassy in 2002. In January 2003, Guyana was named as one of only two countries in the Western Hemisphere to be included in PEPFAR. CDC, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is administering a multi-million dollar program of education, prevention, and treatment for those infected and affected by the disease. Guyana also benefited from a $6.7 million, two-year threshold country program under the U.S. Millennium Challenge Account developmental program, which successfully concluded in February 2010.

U.S. military medical and engineering teams continue to conduct training exercises in Guyana, digging wells, building schools and clinics, and providing medical treatment. In 2007, medical personnel aboard the U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort provided free health care services to more than 10,000 Guyanese at six sites along the coast. In 2008, more than 6,000 residents in the remote Region One received free medical services when the USS Kearsarge visited Guyana.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--vacant
Deputy Chief of Mission--Karen L. Williams
Political and Public Affairs Officer--Rolf Olson
Economic/Commercial Officer--James Plasman
Chief, Consular Affairs--Nyda Budig

The U.S. Embassy in Guyana is located at the corner of Duke and Young Streets, Georgetown (tel. 592-225-4900/9; fax: 592-225-8497).


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Guyana check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving TBA
Currency (GYD) Guyanese Dollar
Electrical 240 Volts
Telephones Country Code 529, City Code, Georgetown 218+4D, Mahaicony 221+4D



Time: GMT - 4.

Electricity: 110 and 220 volts AC, 60Hz.

Telephone: IDD is available to main towns and cities. Country code: 592. Outgoing international code: 001.

Climate: Guyana’s climate is warm and tropical throughout the year. The rainfall is generally high for most of the year, as is the humidity. December to January and May to June are the rainy seasons, while in coastal areas the climate is tempered by sea breezes.

Food & Drink: The food in hotels and restaurants reflects the range of influences on Guyanese society. From India came curries, especially mutton, prawn or chicken, and Africa contributed dishes such as foo-foo (plantains made into cakes) and metemgee (edows, yams, cassava and plantains cooked in coconut milk and grated coconut). Portuguese garlic pork and Amerindian pepperpot are specialities. On the menus of most restaurants one may find chicken, pork and steak and, most of the time, shrimp. The best Chinese food in the country can be found in Georgetown.
It is best to drink bottled water in Guyana. Local rum, known as Demerara rum, is well worth trying, while the local beer is Banks.

Shopping: Stabroek Market in Georgetown has local straw hats, baskets, clay goblets and jewellery. Other shops sell Amerindian bows and arrows, hammocks, pottery and salad bowls. Government-run shops sell magnificent jewellery, utilising local gold, silver, precious and semi-precious stones. Prices are very low for the quality of goods. It is absolutely essential to ensure that receipts and correct documentation are retained, otherwise visitors may experience difficulty when clearing customs. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1130 and 1300-1600, Sat 0800-1130.

Tipping: 10 percent at hotels and restaurants.

Currency: Guyanese Dollar (G$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of G$1000, 500, 100 and 20. Coins are in denominations of G$10, 5 and 1. US Dollars are widely accepted throughout Guyana.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club enjoy limited acceptance (eg at certain hotels and shops). Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Currency.......................Must be declared on arrival

Tobacco........................200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225 grams of tobacco

Liquor...........................Spirits not exceeding 570m

Perfume........................Reasonable for personal use

Cameras........................No restrictions

Film...............................Reasonable for personal use

Gifts...............................No duty free allowance

Agricultural items..........Refer to Consulate



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