GOVERNMENT

Country name: Conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana Conventional short form: Guyana Former: British Guiana Data code: GY Government type: Republic National capital: Georgetown 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 Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK) National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970) Constitution: 6 October 1980 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 Executive branch: Chief of state: Executive President Janet JAGAN (since December 1997); replaced Samuel HINDS Head of Government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since December 1997) Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature Elections: President elected by the majority party in the National Assembly after legislative elections which must be held within five years; legislative elections last held 15 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) Elections: last held on 15 December 1997 (next to be held by March 2003) Election results: Percent of vote by party—PPP 54%, PNC 41%, AFG 1%, TUF 1%; seats by party—PPP 36, PNC 25, AFG 2, TUF 2 Judicial Branch: Supreme Court of Judicature Political Parties And Leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; For a Good and Green Guyana (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; Alliance for Guyana (AFG), Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party (GLP); Guyana Democratic Party (GDP), Asgar ALLY; Guyanese Organization for Liberty and Democracy Party (GOLD), Anthony MEKDECI Political Pressure Groups And Leaders: Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC) note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized International Organization Participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic Representation In The US: Chief Of Mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL Chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 Telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901 Consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic Representation From The US: Chief Of Mission: Ambassador James F. MACK Embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown Mailing Address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown Telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969 FAX: [592] (2) 58497 Flag Description: 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