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Guyana
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April 22, 2009
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Guyana is one of the poorest and least developed countries in South America. Located on the north coast of South America,
its tourist facilities are generally not developed, except for several 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 be reached only by plane or
boat, and the limited roads are often impassable during 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 thirty days. U.S. citizens traveling to Guyana should ensure that their passports have at least six months of remaining validity. 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 also 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 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. Crime also remains a significant concern. See the section below on “Crime” for additional information.
Demonstrations and protests are rare in Georgetown. 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 locales.
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 Travel Alerts, as well as 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 information on A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: Serious crime, including murder and armed robbery, continues to be a major problem; the murder rate in Guyana is three times higher than the murder rate in the United States relative to the population.
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. There were also several instances of random shootings at night at police headquarters or police stations in Georgetown. Guyana Security forces shot and killed the leader of the gang thought to be responsible for these incidents; however, there is still concern that remnants of these criminal gangs and others exist and continue to operate. U.S. citizens are encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, consider security issues when planning activities throughout Guyana, and avoid traveling at night, when possible.
Armed takeover robberies continue to occur intermittently, especially in major business and shopping districts. Hotel room strong-arm break-ins also occur, 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.
Due to security concerns, U.S. citizens should avoid stopping in or traveling to 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. Americans should also avoid frequenting the New Court Yard Restaurant and Night Club located on Main Street. The New
Court Yard has been the scene of more than one shooting and is off limits for official Americans.
Pick pocketing, purse snatching, assault, and robbery can occur in all areas of Georgetown. The sea wall from east of the
Pegasus Hotel extending to Sherriff Street and adjacent areas has been the site of several crimes and should be avoided after
dark. Cars parked in that area have been broken into so U.S. citizens are urged to avoid leaving any valuables in vehicles
left unattended and are encouraged to lock their vehicles at all times (when in or out of the vehicle). The National Park
in Georgetown and the seawall from Sherriff Road to UG Road, are frequented by joggers, dog walkers, and families and are
generally considered safe during daylight hours, but travelers should exercise extra care if visiting these areas after dusk.
Petty crimes also occur in the general area of Stabroek Market and to a lesser extent in the area behind Bourda market. Care should be taken to safeguard personal property when shopping in these markets. The area around St. George’s cathedral is known for having pickpockets and should be avoided after dark. Guyana’s commercial downtown between Main Street and Water Street from Lamaha Road to Stabroek Market, including “Tiger Bay,” is largely deserted outside of business hours and should be avoided after dark. 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 around Georgetown alone, even in the main areas and especially after dark. 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.
Local law-enforcement authorities are generally 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.
The local equivalent to the U.S. “911” emergency line is also “911.”
Please see our information on Victims of Crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.
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. Individuals convicted of possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Guyana can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Possession of unlicensed guns can also 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. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
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.
On a few occasions, 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. Every year several U.S. citizens are arrested at the airport trying to carry drugs to the U.S. Persons arrested usually end up serving lengthy prison sentences in Guyana, as drug laws are strict and pre-trial detention can last for years. In addition, due to the risks of checked baggage being lost, delayed, or rifled through, travelers should hand-carry valuables, perishable items, and medications, and make sure to carry prescriptions for any medications they are currently taking.
Travel in the interior: The interior of the country is largely un-policed and emergency services are generally not available. There is no cellular phone reception in much of the interior.
Flooding: There are two main rainy seasons in Guyana (December – January and May – July). However, even at other times of the year, heavy rains are possible and flash flooding can occur. The coastal plain floods occasionally and there was 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. There was also isolated flooding on the East Coast in early 2009. The incidence of waterborne diseases increases during periods of flooding.
Drinking Water: 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. Travelers
should consider the risk of using credit cards and ATM cards 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 at 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 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 U.S. Customs and Border Protection 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). 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.
Please see our Customs Information sheet.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical care in Guyana does not meet U.S. standards. Care is available for minor medical conditions, although quality is
very inconsistent. Emergency care and hospitalization for major medical illnesses or surgery are very limited, due to a lack
of appropriately trained specialists, below standard in-hospital care, and poor sanitation. There are very few ambulances
in Guyana. 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. Because of this limitation of emergency care, visitors are advised to take extreme care to avoid motor vehicular
trauma both in cars and as pedestrians.
In the event of an emergency the number for an ambulance is 913, but this number is not always operational and an ambulance
may not be available to respond to the call.
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. However, counterfeit pharmaceuticals can look similar to the real ones and purity and potency cannot be assured.
Special attention should be paid to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS in Guyana. Prevalence of HIV is especially elevated in high-risk
populations such as commercial sex workers and mobile populations such as miners and loggers. The World Health Organization
estimates that Guyana has among the highest HIV 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 websiteee. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web site. Further health information for travelers is available from the WHO.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Guyana.
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.
Driving in Guyana is significantly different from that in the U.S. and is potentially very hazardous. The rate of traffic accident fatalities in Guyana is higher than in the United States.
Cars, large commercial vehicles, horse drawn carts, bicyclists, motorcycles, free range livestock, stray dogs, pedestrians, aggressive “mini-buses” and sleeping animals all share narrow, poorly maintained roads. Very aggressive speeding drivers on the same roads with slow moving vehicles makes driving in Guyana especially dangerous. Driving at unsafe speeds, reckless driving, tail-gating, quick stops without signaling, passing at intersections, and passing on crowded streets is commonplace. Driving at night poses additional concerns as many roads are not lit, drivers do not lower high beam lights, livestock sleeps on the road and many pedestrians congregate by the roadside. Visitors should exercise caution at all times while driving and avoid driving outside of Georgetown at night, when possible.
The Traffic Division of Guyana's National Police Force is responsible for road safety but is ill-trained and ill-equipped. 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 these numbers are not always operational and 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 of and passengers on motorcycles must wear protective helmets that meet certain specifications. Talking on cellular telephones while driving is illegal, unless a hands-free set is used.
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. Travelers should use taxis for transportation.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the web site of Guyana’s Tourism Administration and contact the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force which is 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. Further information may be found on the FAA’s web site.
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 in Georgetown is located at 100 Young and Duke Streets, telephone 011-592-225-4900 through 225-4909, fax 011-592-225-8497. 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.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information dated June 9, 2008, to update the sections on Country Description, Entry/Exit Requirements, Safety & Security,Crime, Information for Victims of Crime, Criminal Penalties, Special Circumstances, Medical Facilities and Health Information, and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions, and Aviation Safety Oversight..
