The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and The Republic of Yemen Cosponsored by The United Nations Development Programme and The Government of Japan In Partnership with the Governments of: The Netherlands The United Kingdom The United States And the: Canadian International Development Agency Friedrich Ebert Stiftung International Labour Organization Irish Aid National Endowment for Democracy United States Agency for International Development Westminster Foundation for Democracy World Bank		Guyana Country Summary english - french - spanish Political and racial divisions have challenged democratic progress in Guyana since before independence from Britain in 1966. Between 1968 and 1992, results of Presidential and legislative elections were regularly disputed by the opposition parties. In the late 1980s, pressure from political opposition groups, civic unrest due to the introduction of economic austerity measures and divisions within the trade union movement culminated in the drive for legal and constitutional reform. The resulting 1992 presidential and parliamentary elections were generally considered open and democratic by local and international observers. Economic and Social Indicators Population: GNP: Per Capita GNP: Growth Rate: Illiteracy Rate: : Life Expectancy: 0.83 million $.49 billion $590 7.9% 1.4%-males 2.5%-females 62-males 68-females Europa World Yearbook 1998, Europa Publications Limited, 1998 Progress in electoral reform has been made in recent years. However, controversy over the December 1997 national elections left Guyana at a political impasse and led again to civil unrest. To overcome the stalemate, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) brokered an agreement between the two leading political parties. Both parties agreed to an audit of the 1997 elections and additional political reforms. Differing interpretations of the released audit report slowed efforts to review the constitution. As part of the CARICOM agreement, a constitutional commission has solicited proposals for reform from political parties, civic groups and the public on topics such as systems of government, the electoral system and fundamental rights. The Commission is currently engaged in substantive discussions of these issues and is writing a report to Parliament scheduled to be submited by July 17, 1999. In 1988, in response to serious economic decline, the government introduced a structural adjustment program supported by the IMF and the World Bank. Economic reforms resulted in high average growth rates in the early to mid-nineties and a drop in inflation. The current constitutional reform process and efforts to liberalize the economy as well as Guyana's natural resources bring hope for the future development of the country. [ Introduction ] [ Declaration ] [ Conference Transcripts ] [ Discussion Board ] [ Forum Home ] [ NDI Home ]