December 6, 2019
Guyana: An Overview
Located on the north coast of South America, English-
The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C),
speaking Guyana has characteristics common of a
led by former Prime Minister Bharrat Jagdeo (1999-2011),
Caribbean nation because of its British colonial heritage—
has 32 seats in the National Assembly. Traditionally
the country achieved independence from Britain in 1966.
supported by Indo-Guyanese, the PPP/C governed Guyana
Guyana participates in Caribbean regional organizations
from 1992 until its defeat in the 2015 elections.
and forums, and its capital of Georgetown serves as
headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a
Guyana at a Glance
regional integration organization. Current congressional
interest in Guyana is focused on the conduct of general
Population: 782,000 (2018, IMF est.)
elections planned for March 2020, at a time when the
Ethnic groups: Indo-Guyanese, or those of East Indian
country is poised to become a major oil producer.
heritage, almost 40%; Afro-Guyanese, almost 30%; mixed,
20%; Amerindian almost 11% (2012 est. CIA)
Figure 1. Map of Guyana
Area: 83,000 square miles, about the size of Idaho
GDP: $3.9 billion (current prices, 2018 est., IMF)
Real GDP Growth: 4.1% (2018 est.); 4.4% (2019 est.) (IMF)
Per Capita GDP: $4,984 (2018 est., IMF)
Life Expectancy: 69.6 years (2017, WB)
Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF); Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA), World Bank (WB).
March 2020 Elections
Originally due by September 2020, Guyana’s next national
elections are now scheduled for March 2, 2020, because the
ruling APNU/AFC coalition lost a no-confidence motion in
December 2018. The coalition lost the motion by a vote of
33-32 when an AFC member crossed the aisle to oppose the
government. A legal challenge to the no-confidence vote
ensued and ultimately made its way to the Caribbean Court
of Justice (CCJ). In June 2019, the CCJ ruled that the no-
confidence vote was valid. The opposition had wanted
elections to be held by September 2019, three months after
the CCJ’s ruling. President Granger delayed announcement
of the vote until the Guyana Elections Commission
Source: CRS.
indicated in September 2019 that it would be ready to hold
Current Political Environment
the elections by February 2020. The government has
approved several international organizations to serve as
Guyana has a hybrid republican/parliamentary form of
electoral observers, including the Organization of American
government. The presidential candidate of the party or
States.
coalition receiving the most votes becomes president; the
president in turn appoints the prime minister.
President Granger is running for reelection as the
presidential candidate of the APNU/AFC coalition, with
President David Granger leads a coalition that narrowly
AFC Member of Parliament and Minister of Security
won in 2015, with 33 of 65 seats in the unicameral National
Khemraj Ramjattan the candidate for prime minister.
Assembly. The coalition consists of Granger’s A
Granger was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in
Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for
November 2018 and received treatment in Cuba; in October
Change (AFC), led by Prime Minister Moses Magamootoo.
2019, Guyanese officials announced that Granger was in
The largest party in the APNU is the People’s National
remission. The PPP/C has selected Irfan Ali as its
Congress Reform (PNCR), which dominated the political
presidential candidate. Ali currently serves as shadow
system from independence until the early 1990s; the party
finance minister and previously served as housing minister.
traditionally has had an Afro-Guyanese base of support. In
Past general elections in Guyana suggest the 2020 race will
contrast, the AFC identifies as a multiracial party.
be close, but some analysts contend the APNU/AFC’s
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Guyana: An Overview
multiparty and cross-ethnic coalition is likely to sustain the
and U.S. imports valued at almost $253 million (led by
Granger government in power.
gold, seafood, and aluminum ores). In 1988, Guyana
became a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Economic
Oil Changes Guyana’s Economic Outlook
Recovery Act (CBERA), a preferential trade program for
Guyana’s economy traditionally has been based on
Caribbean imports. In 2000, it became a beneficiary of the
agriculture (rice and sugar) and mining (gold and bauxite),
Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA), a
but it is being bolstered by the discovery of significant
program that provides enhanced tariff treatment for certain
amounts of offshore oil. ExxonMobil leads a consortium
imports from the region, including goods made with U.S.
that includes Hess and China National Offshore Oil
yarns, fabrics, and threads. CBERA has no set expiration
Corporation and has been involved in oil and gas
date; CBTPA expires in September 2020.
exploration in Guyana since 2008. Since 2015, the
consortium has identified 14 commercially viable
U.S. Foreign Aid. U.S. foreign assistance to Guyana
discoveries in the Stabroek Block, about 120 miles
includes a small bilateral aid program to improve the
offshore. Production is expected to begin in December
capacity of Guyana’s security forces to police its border and
2019, reaching 120,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d) within
provide security, as well as larger spigots of assistance
several months and more than 750,000 b/d by 2025.
through global and regional programs. According to the
Recoverable oil is estimated at more than 6 billion barrels.
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S
aid to Guyana amounted to $5.4 million in FY2017 (latest
The discovery of offshore oil vastly changes the economic
full year available), with almost half of that for programs to
development prospects of Guyana, which used to be one of
combat HIV/AIDS. Guyana has received assistance to
the hemisphere’s poorest countries. Economic growth
combat HIV/AIDS over the past 16 years under the
averaged almost 3.2% from 2015 to 2018 and is forecast to
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
be 4.4% this year, according to the International Monetary
Fund (IMF). With the beginning of oil production,
Guyana also receives U.S. assistance through the CBSI, a
however, the IMF is forecasting almost 86% growth in
program begun in 2009 to help combat the drug trade and
2020, with GDP almost doubling to $8.1 billion and per
other transnational crime and improve citizen security.
capita income growing to over $10,000.
Support for Guyana under the CBSI has included
Guyana’s development of its oil resources has raised
the provision of patrol boats to increase the defense
concerns about corruption and the tendency of some oil-rich
force’s maritime operations capability;
countries to favor oil sector development over other
economic sectors. In early 2019, Guyana’s National
a community-based program to reduce crime and
Assembly approved legislation providing a framework for
violence and increase opportunities for youth;
the establishment of a Natural Resource Fund for managing
Guyana’s oil wealth. The IMF welcomed the action but
support for effective criminal investigations; and
called for Guyana to take additional actions, including
establishing a fiscal responsibility framework to avoid
workforce development and educational support for at-
fiscal deficits; promoting effective, transparent management
risk youth.
of the oil wealth; and strengthening anti-corruption efforts.
The Peace Corps has a program in Guyana currently staffed
U.S.-Guyana Relations
with over 60 volunteers working on education, health, and
U.S. relations with Guyana have improved since the early
environmental projects.
1990s, when the government moved away from its socialist
orientation and one-party domination of the political system
According to USAID, the United States also provided
and embraced a market economy and free and fair
almost $3.6 million in humanitarian assistance from
democratic elections. According to the State Department,
FY2017 to FY2019 through international organizations for
U.S. policy toward Guyana centers on democracy
Venezuelan migrants in Guyana. As of early 2019, there
promotion and civil society development, economic growth,
were over 36,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants in
and the promotion of security and stability.
Guyana, according to the United Nations.
Bilateral relations are characterized by close security
Congressional Interest. As Guyana approaches its March
cooperation through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
2020 elections, some Members of Congress have stressed
(CBSI) and expanding trade and investment in the energy
the need for the plebiscite to be free, fair, and fully
sector. As noted above, ExxonMobil and Hess are currently
transparent, particularly as the next government is poised to
involved in the development of Guyana’s offshore oil
gain considerable proceeds from oil. In addition, legislation
reserves. Reflecting growing U.S. commercial interest in
has been introduced in both houses to extend the CBTPA
Guyana, an American Chamber of Commerce in Guyana
until September 2030 (H.R. 991 and S. 2473).
was launched in August 2018.
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
Trade. The United States ran a trade surplus of $287
Angel Carrasquillo Benoit, Research Associate
million with Guyana in 2018, with U.S. exports valued at
$540 million, up 43% from 2017 (led by machinery,
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iron/steel pipes for oil drilling, and electrical machinery)
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Guyana: An Overview
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