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Guyana
Country Specific Information
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June 09, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Guyana is a developing nation on the north coast of South America. Tourist facilities are not developed, except for hotels
in the capital city of Georgetown and a limited number of eco-resorts. The vast majority of Guyanese nationals live along
the coast, leaving the interior largely unpopulated and undeveloped. Travel in the interior of Guyana can be difficult; many
interior regions can only be reached by plane or boat and the limited roads are often impassable in the rainy seasons. Read
the Department of State Background Notes on Guyana for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid U.S. passport is required for U.S. citizens to enter and depart Guyana. On arrival, Guyanese Immigration normally
grants U.S. visitors a stay of up to 3 months. U.S.-Guyanese dual nationals may be granted an indefinite stay. Extensions
of stay may be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs at 60 Brickdam Street, Georgetown. The Central Office of Immigration
located on Camp Street, Georgetown, must note the extension in the visitor's passport. Travelers for purposes other than tourism
should check with the Ministry of Home Affairs for information about requirements for work permits and extended stays. U.S.-Guyanese
dual nationals departing Guyana for the United States using a Guyanese passport must present to Guyanese authorities a U.S.
Certificate of Naturalization or other document establishing that they may legally enter the United States. For further information
about entry, exit and customs requirements, travelers may consult the Embassy of Guyana at 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington,
DC 20008, telephone (202) 265-6900, the Consulate General in New York, or honorary consuls in California, Florida, Ohio, and
Texas. Visit the Embassy of Guyana web site at www.guyana.org for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Driving in Guyana can be particularly dangerous, with a significant number of accidents and road fatalities occurring. See
the section below on “Traffic Safety and Road Conditions” for additional information.
In the past, demonstrations and protests occasionally occurred in Georgetown; however, these are increasingly rare. Past demonstrations
have not been directed at U.S. citizens and violence against Americans in general is not common. Visitors should nevertheless
remain alert and take prudent personal security measures to deal with the unexpected while in Guyana. It is advisable to avoid
areas where crowds have congregated and to maintain a low profile when moving about Georgetown and other Guyanese cities.
Most major eco-tourist resorts and hotels in Guyana do not have written emergency plans in place, and many of them have safety
deficiencies, including a lack of easily identifiable lifeguards or no lifeguards at all. Many of these resorts also do not
have adequately stocked first aid supplies.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of
Consular Affairs web site, where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States
and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.
For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see
the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Serious crime, including murder and home invasion, continues to be a major problem; the murder rate in Guyana is three times higher than the murder rate in the United States. In early 2008, an attack in the Georgetown suburb of Lusignan and in the Essequibo River town of Bartica by heavily armed gangs resulted in the deaths of more than 20 persons, mostly innocent Guyanese civilians. An investigation into these attacks is continuing, but most of the perpetrators are still at large. In addition, there have been several instances of random shootings at night at police headquarters or police stations in Georgetown. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, consider security issues when planning activities throughout Guyana, minimize movement when possible, and avoid traveling at night, when possible.
Armed robberies continue to rise, especially in major business and shopping districts. Hotel room strong-arm break-ins are
also increasing, so travelers should use caution when opening their hotel room doors and should safeguard valuables left in
hotel rooms. Criminals may act brazenly, and police officers themselves have been the victims of assaults and shootings. Vehicle
occupants should keep their doors locked and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Robbery and theft occur with some
frequency in Georgetown and New Amsterdam. U.S. citizens should avoid stopping in or traveling through the village of Buxton,
which lies along the road between Georgetown and New Amsterdam, and Agricola, which is located on the East Bank highway. The
Department of State recommends that Embassy staff using the public golf course at Lusignan, next to Buxton, do so in groups
and only during daylight hours.
Pickpocketing, purse snatching by thieves on bicycles, assault, and theft can occur in all areas of Georgetown. The areas
adjacent to the sea wall and the National Park in Georgetown, although frequented by joggers, dogwalkers, and families are
generally considered safe during daylight hours, have been the scenes of crimes in the past. Travelers should exercise extra
care when visiting these areas after dusk. Pickpockets and thieves also frequent Stabroek and Bourda, the two major markets,
and great care should be taken to safeguard personal property when shopping in these markets. U.S. passports and permanent
residency cards are prized by thieves as they may be used for smuggling and identity theft.
There have been numerous incidents of piracy in recent months in and around the waters of Guyana. Mariners are advised to
be vigilant and take appropriate precautions.
Travelers should avoid walking alone around Georgetown, even in the main areas and especially at night. Although bandits have
been known to attack taxis, they are generally safe and remain the safest means of getting about town and to and from the
airport for visitors. Only taxis from reputable companies should be used. Exercise constant vigilance. Do not dress ostentatiously,
as there have also been reports of gold chains or other jewelry being snatched off of pedestrians.
The response of local law-enforcement authorities to the increase in violent crime has been largely ineffectual; the police
are cooperative but lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. Nevertheless, Americans who are
victims of crime are encouraged to contact the police as well as the American Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy's
Consular Section.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy
or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the
nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you in finding appropriate
medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds may be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution
of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal
justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care is available for minor medical conditions. Emergency care and hospitalization for major medical illnesses or
surgery are limited, due to a lack of appropriately trained specialists, below standard in-hospital care, and poor sanitation.
Ambulance service is limited to transportation without any medical care and is frequently not available for emergencies. An
MRI (linked to the United States for interpretation) has been installed and is operational, but results may take up to 4 days.
Visitors are advised to bring prescription medicine sufficient for their length of stay and should be aware that Guyana's
humid climate may affect some medicines. Some prescription medicines (mainly generic rather than name-brand) are available.
Special attention should be paid to HIV/AIDS in Guyana. In addition to infection rates as high as 45% in high-risk populations
such as commercial sex workers and mobile populations such as miners or loggers, data from the World Health Organization estimate
that 1.6% of the general population is infected with HIV; this is among the highest prevalence rates in Latin America and
the Caribbean.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection,
may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP
(1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at
http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning Guyana is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in
a particular location or circumstance.
In 2007, road fatalities increased more than 40% from the previous year. The rate of traffic accident fatalities in Guyana
is 70% higher than in the United States. The Traffic Division of Guyana's National Police Force is responsible for road safety
but is ill-trained and ill-equipped. Driving in Guyana is hazardous because of very poor road surfaces; farm animals sleeping
or wandering on the roads; pedestrians walking on the road; and poor driving habits, including speeding, reckless driving,
tailgating, cell phone use, quick stops without signaling, failure to dim headlights, and weaving in and out of traffic. Traffic
lights installed in Georgetown are often ignored or simply flash, posing a risk to drivers and pedestrians. Visitors should
exercise caution at all times while driving and avoid driving at night, when possible. The Department of State recommends
that Embassy staff travel in groups of two or more vehicles when traveling outside Georgetown at night.
Travelers are advised to use caution traveling to and from Cheddi Jagan International Airport, especially at night. The Embassy
requires its staff to use official vehicles when traveling this route between dusk and dawn due to a combination of most of
the aforementioned characteristics of driving in Guyana.
Penalties for drivers involved in an accident resulting in injury or death are severe, including life imprisonment. If involved
in an accident, call 911 for police and 913 for an ambulance. Please note that police may be slow to respond and an ambulance
may not be available.
Drivers use the left side of the road in Guyana. Seatbelt use is required by law and is enforced; failure to use a seatbelt
can result in a fine. There presently are no laws in Guyana concerning use of child car seats, but the use of age-appropriate
seats is strongly recommended for child passengers. Both drivers and passengers on motorcycles must wear protective helmets
that meet certain specifications.
Mini-buses (small 12- to 15-passenger vans) ply various routes both within and between cities. Mini-bus drivers have come
under severe criticism from the government, press, and private citizens for speeding, aggressive and reckless driving, overloading
of vehicles, poor vehicle maintenance and repair, and offensive remarks directed at passengers, but little change in their
driving behavior has been noted. Mini-buses have been involved in the majority of fatal vehicular accidents in recent years.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the web site of the country’s national tourist office and national authority responsible
for road safety.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Guyana’s Civil Aviation Authority as not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for the oversight of Guyana’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
Air Travel: Flights on all airlines can be delayed, rerouted, or canceled without notice. Air travel within Guyana generally
depends on demand. Flights that are not full may be canceled or passengers may be expected to pay for the empty seats. Travelers
to the United States from Guyana have found narcotics planted in their luggage, both in bags registered under their names
and in items they were carrying for others. Travelers should not carry any items they did not purchase and pack themselves
and should take care that no additional bags are registered in their names. Travelers should hand carry medications, valuables,
and perishable items.
Flooding: The coastal plain, which occupies about 5% of the country's area, is home to more than 90% of its inhabitants. The
plain extends from the Corentyne River in the east to the Venezuelan border in the northwest. This coastal plain was created
through the polder system, a technique that dams and then drains a water-covered area. The polder system consists of a front
dam (the sea wall along the east coast) and a back dam (the freshwater conservancy) that is approximately 5 to 6 kilometers
inland from the sea wall. The system is in a fragile state due to a chronic lack of maintenance. In addition, a dozen major
drainage canals run from the base of the dam to the Atlantic Ocean across the polder itself. These main canals are, in turn,
fed by literally thousands of lateral canals that run along both sides of almost every street and road. Seasonal rains (December-January
and May-July), combined with the lack of maintenance and improper new construction, led to significant flooding in Greater
Georgetown and along the East Coast in January 2005 and in the Mahaica-Mahaicony Abrary area, Canals 1 and 2, on the West
Coast Demerara and the Pomeroon River catchment area in January 2006.
Drinking Water: An inadequate garbage removal system has resulted in illegal residential and commercial dumping on the roadside
and into the drainage system. Decaying animal carcasses are periodically discovered in the intake canals for the Georgetown
water supply. The water supply system throughout the country should be considered contaminated and travelers should treat
or boil water before consumption, or purchase bottled water.
Changing Currency and Credit Card Use: Travelers should have enough cash or travelers checks to meet their expenses. With
few exceptions, credit cards and ATM cards should not be used to withdraw cash from an overseas account, due to a high risk
of stolen PIN data. Although credit cards are accepted at certain institutions in Georgetown, travelers should be careful
when using them and check their receipts and statements to ensure that additional unauthorized purchases have not been made
to their card. American citizens are advised to exchange currency only with banks, hotels, and licensed money exchange houses
(“cambios”). Many foreigners who opt to exchange money on the streets, lured by promises of higher exchange rates, become
victims of fraud or receive counterfeit currency. Foreigners have been mugged after completing bank transactions. There is
no legal recourse unless the police are successful in apprehending the perpetrator; even then there is no guarantee that the
money will be recovered.
Firearms: Guyanese customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from
Guyana of items such as firearms. If you plan to take your firearms or ammunition to or through Guyana, you should contact
officials at the Embassy of Guyana to learn about its regulations and fully comply with those regulations before traveling.
You may consult http://www.customs.gov for information on importing firearms into the United States.
Wildlife: Many plants and animals common in Guyana are globally threatened or endangered species protected by the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES at www.cites.org). The Guyanese Ministry of Agriculture will grant an export permit for taking an exotic bird out of the country only to those
persons who have been legally residing in Guyana for more than one year. There have been several U.S. citizens arrested for
attempting to leave Guyana carrying birds without having obtained an export permit. Americans who have legally resided in
Guyana for more than a year and who would like to take back to the United States any birds or animals, including pets, that
are listed in CITES Appendices I, II, and III, must also have an appropriate U.S. import permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS). This is a U.S. regulation that applies regardless of distinctions among the three CITES Appendices. Individuals
can obtain fact sheets and permit applications from the USFWS Office of Management Authority, Branch of Permits, 4401 N. Fairfax
Drive, Arlington, VA 22203, telephone (703) 358-2104, fax (703) 358-2281, http://www.fws.gov/permits/.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Guyanese laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Guyana are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Possession of unlicensed guns can result in fines and imprisonment. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime in Guyana and also prosecutable in the United States.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Guyana are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Guyana. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at 100 Young and Duke Streets, telephone 011-592-225-4900 through 225-4909, fax 011-592-225-8497, web site http://georgetown.usembassy.gov/. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, except local and U.S. holidays. For emergencies after hours, on weekends and on holidays, U.S. citizens are requested to call the U.S. Embassy duty officer at 011-592-623-1992.
* * *This replaces the Country Specific Information dated November 21, 2007, to reflect changes to Safety and Security, Crime, and Wildlife.
