Georgetown Guyana

Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, is almost fairy tale in appearance, thanks to the tree-lined streets and avenues and the quaint Dutch colonial and Victorian architecture stemming from its days as Dutch and English colonies. Georgetown lies below the high-tide level, protected by a seawall with a series of canals crisscrossing the city.

Located on the mouth of the Demerara River fronting the Atlantic Ocean, Georgetown, originally called Stabroek, was an ideal location for European presence in the Caribbean. Rich in timber, bauxite, gold and diamonds, the land supported sugar cane plantations and enriched the colonial governments.

The Spanish, Dutch, French and English all had their eyes on this region and for years each struggled to possess it. The Dutch initially gained the upper hand and established Stabroek. The British occupied the Dutch colony during the Napoleonic Wars and renamed the capital, and largest city, in 1812 as Georgetown in honor of George Ill.

Two blue sakies

Blue Sakies

Shopping in Guyana is an adventure worth embarking upon as you discover unique treasures that are Guyana’s claim to fame.  A vast number of boutiques, jewellery and craft shops are available to be explored.

Part of the intrigue of shopping in Guyana comes from the vendors themselves.  Masters of customer care, vendors entice passing customers with the most endearing or flattering greetings.  You are made to feel as if you are indeed a very special person to the vendor who then goes out of his or her way to make sure that you are perfectly satisfied with the your purchase before wishing you a nice day and bidding you goodbye. Read the rest of this entry »

A section of Camp Street

Once caled Longchamps by the French and Stabroek by the Dutch, Georgetown is the name settled upon by the British for the capital of its South American territory of Guyana in 1812.

Set on the east bank of the Demerara estuary, this charming colonial settlement has a population of about 200,000 and is Guyana’s most important city.  Here you’lll find the seat of government, the chief port and the main commerical centers and markets. Read the rest of this entry »

Umana Yana

Umana Yana is Wai Wai “for meeting place of the people”.  It is 55 feet tall and was built by Wai Wai Indians in 1972.  This type of Amerindian thatched hut is called benab. Read the rest of this entry »

Bandstand, Promenade Gardens (Georgetown)

The main entrance to these beautiful gardens is on Middle Street.  Its peaceful appearance belies a torrid past as slaves involved in the 1823 East Coast Rebellion were publicly hanged there. Read the rest of this entry »

Banking Hours

Banking Hours at most banks are relatively short:

Mondays to Thursdays: 08:00 — 14:00
Fridays: 08:00-14:30

Main commercial banks

Bank of Baroda: Georgetown
Bank of Nova Scotia: Georgetown (3 branches) Bartica, New Amsterdani, Parika
Citizen’s Bank: Georgetown, Parika
Demerara Bank: Georgetown
Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry: Georgetown(3 branches), Corriverton, Anna Regina, Parika,Weed-en-Hoop
Guyana National Cooperative Bank: Georgetown, Anna Regina, Corriverton Kwakwani, Linden, New Amsterdam, Rose Hall, Vreed- en-Hoop
Republic Bank Guyana Limited: Georgetown (2 branches), Anna Regina, Corriverton, Linden,
Rosehail,Rosignol

Currency

The unit of currency is the Guyana dollar, which floats against the US dollar. Exchange rate is approximately US$1 = G$200. US dollars are widely accepted. British, Canadian and some other bank notes may be accepted as well. Foreign currency can be changed at banks, finance houses, and cambios. Many hotels will also change money but generally give less attractive rates.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards and traveller’s cheques are accepted by most hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and tour operators. Scotia Cards and Master Cards can be used to obtain cash from the Bank of Nova Scotia during banking hours. American Express cards can be used at Demerara Bank. Foreign credit cards cannot be used at ATM machines in Guyana

Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development

Chapel Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice
Telephone: 333-3324

Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry

57 Waterloo Street Georgetown
fel: 226-4603

Forest Products Association of Guyana

157 Waterloo Street, Georgetown
Tel: 226-9848

Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry

156 Waterloo Street, Georgetown
Tel: 225-5846

Go-INVEST — Guyana Office for Investment

190 Camp b Church Streets, Georgetown
TeI:225-0658/227-0653
Fax: 225-0655
Website: www.sdnp.org.gy/goinvest
E-mail: goinvest@sdnp.org.gy

Guyana Association of Travel Agents

R8 Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown
Tel:223-7221

Guyana Manufacturers’ Association

Exhibition Site, Sophia, Georgetown
Tel: 227-4295

Guyana Rice Millers’ and Exporters Development Association

216 Lamaha Street, Georgetown
Tel: 225-5353

Guyana Rice Producers’ Association

104 Regent Street, Georgetown
Tel: 223-7248

Institute of Private Enterprise Development

253 South Road, Bourda, G/town Georgetown
Tel: 225-8949

Linden Chamber of Industry and Commerce

84 Riverside Drive, Watooka, linden
Tel: 444-2901

The Private Sector Commission

The PSC is the umbrella organisation for eleven private sector business and employers’ organisations.
Seven major companies are also members
157 Waterloo Street, Georgetown
Tel: 225-0977, Fax: 225-0978
E-mail:pscentre@guyana.net.gy

The Toursim and Hospitality Association of Guyana

(THAG)
157 Waterloo Street, Georgetown
Tel: 225-0807, Fax: 225-0817
E-mail: thag©networksgy.com

Finding lodgings in this ‘land of many waters’ is incredibly easy. Whatever you desire there is sure to be an accommodation for you.

Prefer to reside in high budget style and comfort? The most classy hotels include

• Le Meriden Pegasus
• Hotel Tower
• Herdmanston Lodge
• Cara Lodge
• Cara Suites
• Grand Coastal Inn
• Buddy’s International Hotel

They provide the best in Guyanese hospitality along with Western class.
The Grand Coastal Inn is situated away from the hustle and bustle of the city at Le Resouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara, just a ten minutes drive out of Georgetown. It is less than five minutes from the Caricom Secretariat and Ogle Airport the gateway to the interior by air, and our new Convention Centre at Liliendaal. Grand Coastal’s state-of-the-art conference facility is considered one of the finest and has now been host to major local and international Conferences.
Other establishmenis such as Bransville Apartments,  Sleepin International Hotel,  Regency Suites,  Blue Wave Apartments, Brittany’s and Glow International and many more offer you rooms and apartments at affordable rates and they are just as classy and comfortable as the larger hotels.
If you are travelling to other parts of the country be sure to find out before hand, the accommodations that are available and the rates these establishments charge it you are booking before you arrive.  Berbice,  Lethem,  Linden and Bartica all offer comfortable accommodations that will surely help to make your stay a memorable one.

Hotels in Georgetown, Guyana

ARIANTZE HOTEL, SIDEWALK CAFÉ & JAZZ CLUB
176 Middle Street,
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 226-5363 (592) 225-4634
E-mail: ariantzenetworksgy. com
ATLANTIC INN
56 Church Road & First Avenue,
Subryanville, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-5826/7
2258858/36
Fax: (592) 225-5815
Email: info@atlanticinngy.com
Website: www.atlanticinngy.com

ANNIE SEZZ’ EFFICIENCY SUITES
23 Lamaha Street,
Queenstown, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 227-4454 Email bernapes2000@yahoo.com

ARLINGTON APARTMENTS
93 Smyth & Hadfie!d Streets
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-8981 (592) 227-0830
ARABIAN ATLANTIC HOTEL
44 Henrietta Village
Essequibo Coast
Tel: (592) 771-4365 (592) 7714748
E-mail: arlantel2002©yahoo.com
BRANDSVILLE
89-90 Pike Street,
Campbellville, Georgetown
Tel: (592) 226-1133 (592) 227-0989

BLUE WAVE APARTMENTS
8 North Road, Bourda
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 226-1418 (592) 226-1417

BRITTANY’S HOTEL
38 William Street
Campbellville, Georgetown
Tel: 592-227-0751, 227-0766
Fax: 592-227-0779

Buddy's Intenational Hotel

BUDDY’S INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
Providence,
East Bank Demerara
Tel: (592) 265 7001

CARA LODGE

294 Quamina Street, South
Cumrningsburg
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-5301 E-mail: caraloclge@ carahotels.com
CARA SUITES
176 Middle Street, South
Cu mmingsburg
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 226-1612—5
E-mail — carasuites©carahotels.com
DEMICO HOTEL
Brickdam, Stabroek
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-7400

FLORENTENE’S HOTEL RESTAURANT & BAR

North Road, Bourda
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 226-2283
FRIENDS HOTEL
82 Robb Street, Lacytown
Georgetown
Tel: (592) 225-8564 (592) 227-2383

CACIQUE GUEST HOUSE
Lethem
Tel:  (592) 772 2083

CASTELLO HOTEL
7 First Avenue, Bartica
Tel: 592-455-3041
Fax: 592-455-2359
Essequibo Coast
Tel: (592) 771-5291

ELDORADO INN
295 Thomas & Quamina
Streets, Georgetown
Tel: – (592)225-3966

GLOW INTERNATIONAL HOTEL

23 Queen Street
Kitty, Georgetown
Tel (592) 227 0863

Grand Coastal Hotels

GRAND COASTAL HOTELS

2 Area M, Plantation
Le Ressouvenir
Tel 592 220 1091

GRAND COASTAL LODGE

144 Regent Road, Bourda
Georgetown
Tel. 231-7674

HERMANSTON LODGE

65 Peter Rose and Anira Sts
Queenstown
Georgetown
Tel. 225-0808
Email: stay@herdmanstonlodge.com
Web: www.herdmanstonlodge.com

HILO GUEST HOUSE

68-70 First Avenue
Bartica
Tel 592 455 2348

HOTEL TOWER LIMITED

74-75 Main Street,
Georgetown
Tel 592 227 2011
Email hotel.tower@networksgy.com
Web. www.hoteltowerguyana.com

KANUKU SUITES

123 Section M Campbellville
Georgetown
Tel. 592 226 4001
Web. www.kanukusuites.com

Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel

LE MERIDIEN PEGASUS

Seawall Road,
Kingston, Georgetown
Tel. 592-225-2853
Web. www.lemeridien-pegasus.com

MELBOURNE INN

29 Sheriff Street,
Campbellville, Georgetown
Tel. 592 226 7050

RADDISON SUITES

83 Laluni Street,
Queenstown, Georgetown
Tel.  226-2145

REGENCY SUITES

98 Hadfield Street,
Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown
Tel. 592.225-4785

RORAIMA RESIDENCE INN

R8 Eping Avenue
Bel Air Park
Georgetown
Tel.  592.225.9648

Guyana’s musical roots are a mixture of the popular musical genres of the Caribbean, the oldest of which is calypso.

Reggae group, First Born

Local recording artists such as Tamika Marshall, First Born, Natural Black, Times 2,  Fojo and Gilliani are just some of the artists that are beginning to sticker Guyana on the music scene. Local recording studios such as Brutal Tracks Recording and Platinum Recordings are ever forging new potential stars by recording their music, which is then played on the local radio and television stations.

Yearly competitions such as the Soca Monarch ensure that fresh talent is discovered and given their time in the spotlight. The music landscape is continually growing and soon, like Jamaica and Trinidad, Guyana too will leave an impressive mark on the music industry both regionally and internationally.