Government and Politics of Guyana

Government Type

republic within the Commonwealth

Administrative Divisions

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

Legal System

based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020); note - ALI won the March 2020 general elections after a prolonged electoral dispute; the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) returned to power following a recount process overseen by international observers head of government: President Irfaan ALI serves as both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020), appointed by the president, assists in executive functions cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held by 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Irfaan ALI elected president; the PPP/C received approximately 50.7% of the vote, defeating the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms; the president may also appoint up to four non-elected, non-voting ministers and two non-elected, non-voting parliamentary secretaries) 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%, other 1.97%; seats by party — PPP/C 33, APNU+AFC 31, other 1

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and the Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice

Political Parties

Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj RAMJATTAN]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]

Head of State

President Irfaan ALI

Head of Government

President Irfaan ALI serves as both chief of state and head of government

Cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature

Elections

last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

Election Results

Percent of vote by party — PPP/C 52.71%, APNU+AFC 41.18%, other 6.11%; seats by party — PPP/C 33, APNU+AFC 31, Alliance For Change 1, other 1; results reflect the November 2020 general election, in which the People's Progressive Party/Civic secured a majority and Irfaan Ali was inaugurated as president.

Constitution

6-Oct-80

Independence

26 May 1966 (from UK)

National Holiday

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

International Organization Participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297 consulate(s) general: New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Roland W. BULLEN embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909 FAX: [592] 225-8497

Capital City

Georgetown

Location

6 48 N, 58 09 W

Time Difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

When the British took possession of the town from the Dutch in 1812, they renamed it Georgetown in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

The U.S. Embassy in Georgetown 100 Young & Duke Streets Georgetown, Guyana Telephone: 011-592-225-4900 Emergency after-hours telephone: 011-592-623-1992 Facsimile: 011-592- 227-0221

Military Branches

Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Air Corps, Coast Guard)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription