The Culture and Business Practices of Guyana

The economy relies heavily on exports of sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber, and rice, which represent nearly 60 percent of GDP.

• African, Amerindian, and Indian traditional cultures have sustained folk practices that have penetrated Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. Obeah has its roots in African folk religion but influences Indians as well, and Indian spirit possession has affected rural African religious sensibility.
• Death and the Afterlife. Death requires the public articulation of grief; the "wake" or vigil, facilitates communal support for the bereaved, who reciprocate by providing a feast for the community. Hindus believe in reincarnation, and Africans believe that the spirit of the dead must be placated and assisted.

Protestant 30.5% (Pentecostal 16.9%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%), Hindu 28.4%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, Muslim 7.2%, other Christian 17.7%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census)

Population: 739,903

Life Expectancy: 67.68 yrs

Gender Split:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.75 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female

Ethnic groups:

East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5%

Education System:

total: 11 years

male: 10 years

female: 11 years

GDP (PPP):

$6.2 billion

3.3% growth

3.7% 5-year compound annual growth

$7,939 per capita

Ada Rampersaud & Sherlock Shepherd

History

• Guyana was discovered in 1498 by the Europeans, its history; therefore stretches back a bit more than 500 years. Guyana's past is punctuated by battles fought and won, possessions lost and regained as the Spanish, French, Dutch and British wrangled for centuries to own this land.
• After slavery black settlement was significant of urban areas and the imported servants from India to work the sugar plantations
• Guyana's population is made up of five main ethnic groups -- East Indian, African, Amerindian, Chinese, and Portuguese.
• East Indian - 43.5%
• Black (African) - 30.2%
• Mixed - 16.7%
• Amerindian - 9.1%

Business Etiquette

Politics

• Politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly of Guyana. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
• Current Leader: Ronald Ramotar

Guyanese is a majority monochromic type business functioning country. When having a meeting you are expected to be punctual as well as dressed appropriately for the occasion. If you have significant wealth you are literally able to get away with murder. Bribes and financial negotiations are very common amongst business transactions. As for body language is much like here in Canada, as in the middle finger has the same significance.

Geography

Language

Major Religions

Guyana is an English based country, the language is more or less the same as proper English with an accent and some words are broken down to a more lazy form. With the accent and the diluted dialect it is referred to as "Patios".

Example;

• hello how are you(accented)
• thank you(accented)

Demographics

Trading & Relationship

Relationship

The RCMP works closely with the authorities of Guyana through Interpol on investigations involving drug trafficking, murder, human smuggling, etc. Guyana is represented in Canada by the High Commission of Guyana in Ottawa and also has a Consulate in Toronto.

Guyana to Canada

Fun Facts

Imports totalled $225.1 million;

• precious stones and metals
• beverages
• mineral ores
• fish and seafood
• fruits and nuts

Canada to Guyana

Exports totaled $21.7 million;

• cereals
• machinery
• paper and paperboard
• vegetables
• tools
• vehicles
• pharmaceutical products

Currency

The currency of Guyana is called the Guyanese Dollar and the current value to the Canadian Dollar is;

1.00 CAD = 186.392 GYD

Canadian Dollar ↔ Guyanese Dollar

• the third-smallest country in South America
• Originally a Dutch colony, 1815 Guyana had become a British possession
• Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966
• Guyana is forested, roughly 60 percent of which is classified as primary forest. Historically, Guyana's extensive forests have been lightly touched, mainly due to lack of capital
• is one of the largest drug point in south america for drugs to be transported north

The Culture and Business Practices of: Guyana