Updated August 12, 2020
Guyana: An Overview
Located on the north coast of South America, English-
Current President Ali defeated incumbent President David
speaking Guyana has characteristics of a Caribbean nation
Granger (elected in 2015) who led a coalition consisting of
because of its British colonial heritage (the country became
Granger’s A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and
independent in 1966). Guyana participates in Caribbean
the Alliance for Change (AFC). In the newly elected
regional organizations, and its capital Georgetown serves as
National Assembly, Ali’s PPP/C took a majority of 33
headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a
seats, the APNU/AFC coalition won 31 seats, and a smaller
regional integration organization.
party won the remaining seat. Ali appointed retired military
leader Mark Phillips as prime minister and former President
Figure 1. Map of Guyana
Bharrat Jagdeo (1999-2011) as vice president. Some
observers contend that Jagdeo, who was constitutionally
prohibited from seeking a third term, could play a key role
in policy decisions.
Traditionally supported by Indo-Guyanese, the PPP/C
governed Guyana from 1992 until its defeat in the 2015
elections. The largest party in the opposition APNU is the
People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), which
dominated the political system from independence until
1992; the party traditionally has had an Afro-Guyanese base
of support. The AFC identifies as a multiracial party.
Guyana at a Glance
Population: 785,000 (2019, IMF est.)
Ethnic Groups: Indo-Guyanese, or those of East Indian
heritage, almost 40%; Afro-Guyanese, almost 30%; mixed,
20%; Amerindian, almost 11% (2012, CIA est.)
Area: 83,000 square miles, about the size of Idaho
GDP: $4.1 bil ion (2019, current prices, IMF est.)
Real GDP Growth: 4.7% (2019 est.); 53% (2020 est.); 6.3%
(2021est.) (constant prices, IMF)
Source: Congressional Research Service.
Per Capita GDP: $5,252 (2019, current prices, IMF est.)
In 2020, Guyana has faced two major challenges—a
Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Economic
political crisis concerning the conduct of the March 2,
Outlook Database, Oct. 2019 and April 2020; and Central
2020, elections, and a public health threat due to the
Intel igence Agency (CIA), World Factbook.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
After five months of discord between Guyana’s two
March 2020 Elections and Aftermath. Originally due by
major political parties, the country’s political crisis was
September 2020, Guyana held national elections on March
resolved on August 2, and opposition candidate
2, 2020, because President Granger’s APNU/AFC coalition
Mohamed Irfaan Ali of the People’s Progressive
lost a no-confidence motion in December 2018. A legal
Party/Civic (PPP/C) was sworn in as president.
challenge to the motion delayed elections until after the
Caribbean Court of Justice (Guyana’s highest court of
With regard to COVID-19, as of August 12, Guyana
appeals) ruled in June 2019 that it was valid.
reported 22 deaths and 602 confirmed cases. The
economic impact of COVID-19 on Guyana will not be
Final election results were not issued until August 2, 2020,
as severe as in other Caribbean countries because of
because of fraud allegations and numerous legal challenges.
Guyana’s recently begun offshore oil production.
On March 6, several international election observer
missions—from the Organization of American States, the
Political Environment
Carter Center, the European Union (EU), and the
Guyana has a hybrid republican/parliamentary form of
Commonwealth—maintained that the tabulation of results
government. The presidential candidate of the party or
was interrupted and incomplete. Legal challenges delayed a
coalition receiving the most votes becomes president, and
recount, but one was finally held between May 6 and June
the president appoints the prime minister.
8, overseen by a three-member CARICOM team.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Guyana: An Overview
Preliminary recount results showed the opposition PPP/C
The ambassadors subsequently expressed support for the
secured enough votes to win. The CARICOM team
recount and criticized the delay in issuing election results.
concluded that the recount, despite some irregularities,
Some Members of Congress also expressed strong support
reflected the “will of the voters,” whereas Guyana’s chief
for the recount process (e.g., see H.Con.Res. 101).
election officer (CEO) maintained the vote was not free or
As regional and international pressure was growing on
fair because of numerous irregularities.
Guyana to resolve its election crisis, Secretary of State
Multiple legal challenges by supporters of the Granger
Mike Pompeo, on July 15, 2020, announced visa
government further delayed the release of final election
restrictions on individuals involved in undermining
results. Ultimately, on July 20, 2020, Guyana’s acting chief
democracy in Guyana. Visa restrictions against additional
justice ruled that the declaration of final results must be
Guyanese officials were announced in late July.
based on the recount process, and on July 30, Guyana’s
On August 2, the U.S., UK, Canadian, and EU ambassadors
Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed an appeal against
issued a joint statement that congratulated President Ali,
that ruling. This led Guyana’s CEO to submit a report to the
thanked President Granger for accepting the results, and
Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) based on the
looked forward to seeing the “government reach across
recount, followed by GECOM’s Chairwoman Claudette
political divisions to unite Guyanese of all ethnicities, races,
Singh declaring Ali the winner.
and regions, around meaningful progress on constitutional
Oil Changes Guyana’s Economic Outlook reform and reconciliation.”
Guyana’s economy traditionally has been based on
Trade. The United States ran a trade surplus of $540
agriculture (rice and sugar) and mining (gold and bauxite),
million with Guyana in 2019, with U.S. exports valued at
but the discovery of significant amounts of offshore oil is
$672 million, up 24% from 2018 (led by machinery and
bolstering the economy. ExxonMobil leads a consortium
iron/steel pipes for oil drilling) and U.S. imports valued at
that includes Hess and China National Offshore Oil
$132 million (led by seafood, aluminum ores, and gold). In
Corporation and has been involved in oil and gas
1988, Guyana became a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin
exploration in Guyana since 2008. Since 2015, the
Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), a preferential trade
consortium has identified 16 commercially viable
program for Caribbean imports. In 2000, it became a
discoveries in the Stabroek Block, about 120 miles
beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
offshore. Production began in December 2019 and is soon
(CBTPA), a program that provides enhanced tariff
expected to reach 120,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d) and
treatment for certain imports from the region, including
more than 750,000 b/d by 2026. Recoverable oil is
goods made with U.S. yarns, fabrics, and threads. CBERA
estimated at more than 8 billion barrels.
has no set expiration date; CBTPA expires in September
2020. Legislation has been introduced in both houses (H.R.
The discovery of offshore oil vastly changes the economic
991 and S. 2473) to extend the CBTPA to September 2030.
development prospects of Guyana, which used to be one of
the hemisphere’s poorest countries. The International
U.S. Foreign Aid. U.S. assistance includes a small bilateral
Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that economic growth in
aid program to improve the capacity of Guyana’s security
2019 reached 4.7% and for 2020, despite the recent decline
forces to police its border and provide security and larger
in world oil prices and the economic consequences of the
spigots of assistance through global and regional programs.
COVID-19 pandemic, is forecasting 53% growth. Guyana’s
According to the U.S. Agency for International
development of its oil resources has raised concerns about
Development, U.S. aid to Guyana amounted to $4.7 million
corruption. In 2019, Guyana’s National Assembly approved
in FY2018 (latest full year available), with top sectors
legislation providing a framework for the establishment of a
including HIV/AIDS and basic education and health.
Natural Resource Fund for managing the country’s oil
Guyana has received assistance since 2004 to combat
wealth. The IMF welcomed the action but called for
HIV/AIDS and since 2009 to help combat the drug trade
Guyana to take additional steps, including establishing a
and improve citizen security through the Caribbean Basin
fiscal responsibility framework to avoid fiscal deficits;
Security Initiative. Before the suspension of a Peace Corps
promoting effective, transparent management of the oil
program due to COVID-19, Guyana had over 60 volunteers
wealth; and strengthening anti-corruption efforts.
working on education, health, and environmental projects.
U.S.-Guyana Relations
Among other U.S. aid spigots, the United States also has
U.S. relations with Guyana improved in the early 1990s
provided almost $4.8 million in humanitarian assistance
when the government moved away from one-party
from FY2017 to FY2020 through international
domination of the political system and embraced a market
organizations for some 22,000 Venezuelan refugees and
economy and free and fair elections.
migrants in Guyana. Most recently, the United States is
providing assistance to help respond to the COVID-19
After the March 2020 elections, U.S. Ambassador Sarah-
pandemic through a portion of $2.2 million in health
Ann Lynch joined the heads of mission from Canada, the
funding for the Caribbean and $350,000 in humanitarian
United Kingdom, and the EU to issue a March 6 joint
statement expressing “deep concern over credible
assistance for Venezuelan refugees and host communities.
allegations of electoral fraud.” The ambassadors called on
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
President Granger to avoid a transition of government,
IF11381
maintaining it would be “unconstitutional” because the
tabulation process “lacked credibility and transparency.”
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Guyana: An Overview
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11381 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED