Guyana has been widely overlooked on the global stage since officially gaining its independence from the UK in February 1970, but that is changing – and rapidly.
Although nestled at the top of South America, bordering Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela, Guyana is generally considered a Caribbean country. It has mineral resources, mainly bauxite, diamonds and gold, and, historically, has been a major sugar producer, but has been unable to secure consistent growth. It has the smallest economy in South America at $4bn, and the lowest gross domestic product (GDP) of the large Caribbean countries.
