The Government of Guyana - CountriesPedia

Guyana - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Guyana, it was the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; ultimately the word is derived from an indigenous Amerindian language and means "Land of Many Waters" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams). The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

National symbols

Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white.

The flag

The National flag of Guyana has green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green; green represents forest and foliage; yellow stands for mineral resources and a bright future; white symbolizes Guyana's rivers; red signifies zeal and the sacrifice of the people; black indicates perseverance; also referred to by its nickname The Golden Arrowhead.

The National Anthem

Title	"Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
Lyric/music	Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER

note: adopted 1966

More about the government of Guyana

Constitution
Date of Independence	26 May 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday	Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Legal system	common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980
Amendments	Proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, such as national sovereignty, government structure and powers, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum, and assent of the president; other amendments only require Assembly approval; amended many times, last in 2016
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	yes
Citizenship by descent only	yes
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	na
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Head of government	President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Cabinet	Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
Elections/appointments	the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results	2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly 2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly
Legislative branch
Description	Unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 40 members directly elected in single-seat, nationwide constituencies, 25 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies -- all by closed-list proportional representation vote, 2 non-elected ministers, 2 non-elected parliamentary secretaries, and the speaker; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	Last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
Election results	Percent of vote by party - PPP/C 50.69%, APNU-AFC 47.34%, LJP 0.58%, ANUG 0.5%, TNM 0.05%, other 0.84%; seats by party - PPP/C 33, APNU-AFC 31, LJP-ANUG-TNM 1; composition - men 43, women 28, percentage women 39.4%; note - the initial results were declared invalid and a partial recount was conducted from 6 May to 8 June 2020, in which PPP/C was declared the winner
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with a chief justice and 3 justices, and the High Court with a chief justice and 10 justices organized into 3- or 5-judge panels); note - in 2009, Guyana acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office	Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president; other judges of both courts appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a body appointed by the president; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 65
Subordinate courts	Land Court; magistrates' courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)
Chancery	2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 265-6900
FAX	[1] (202) 232-1297
Email address and website	[email protected] http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/
Consulate(s) general	New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)
Embassy	100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
Mailing address	3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
Telephone	[592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX	[592] 225-8497
Email address and website	[email protected] https://gy.usembassy.gov/