SOCIETY

Polpulation: 750,000 (2004). Most of the population live along the coast. There are pockets of communities in the inland areas. Guyana is a multiracial, multicultural and multireligious society. The country is composed of six major race groups - 50% East Indians; 36% Africans; 7% Amerindians; most of the remainder are Chinese, Portuguese and 'mixed'.

English is the official language. An English-based Creole is widely used. Amerindian languages are also spoken.

The state-owned Guyana Chronicle and privately owned Stabroek News and Kaieteur are dailies. Mirror is published twice a week, and the Catholic Standard weekly. There are a number of Television (T.V.) stations and two Radio Stations.

Public spending on education was 9.4% or G$14.5 billion of GDP in 2004. There are six years of primary education and five years of secondary. The primary net enrolment ratio is 97.5%. The pupil - teacher ratio for primary is 25.1% and for secondary 17.1%. The school year commences in September.

Vocational schools include Georgetown Technical Institute, New Amsterdam Technical Institute, Carnegie School of Home Economics, and the Guyana Industrial Training Centre. Tertiary establishments include the Cyril Potter College of Education (for teacher training), Guyana School of Agriculture, Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre (which trains youth workers), and the University of Guyana in Georgetown has law and medical schools with a Campus in Corentyne. There is also The International University (Guyana).

Public spending on health was G$6.5bn in 2004/5. The Public Hospital at Georgetown is the national referral hospital; there are 30 hospitals and 170 health centres, with both public and private care available, the former free. 94% of the population has access to improved drinking water source and 95% to adequate sanitation facilities

New Year's Day - 1st January, Republic Day/Mashramani - 23rd February, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day - 1st May, Indian Arrival Day - 5th May, Independence Day - 26th May, Caricom Day (first Monday in July), Freedom Day - 1st August, Christmas Day - 25th December, Boxing Day - 26th December. The following are also public holidays but follow lunar calendar and thus the actual day varies annually: Hindu Holidays - Phagwah - Spring Festival (usually March) and Deepavali - the Festival of Lights (in November). Muslim Holidays - Eid ul Fitr (end of Ramadan), Eid ul Azah - Feast of the Sacrifice, and Youman Nabi.