Guyana - Well Positioned for Future Growth and Success - 6

Georgetown
The heart and soul of Guyana is its capital, Georgetown.
Situated on the East Bank of the Demerara River
estuary on the Atlantic Ocean, and with a population of
approximately 750,000, Georgetown is the largest city
in the country. It acts as the financial and administrative
center of Guyana, and hosts the headquarters of the
Caribbean trade association, or CARICOM, which has 15
member countries.
Though originally founded by the French in 1782,
when it was called La Nouvelle Ville, Georgetown
was subsequently renamed Stabroek after the Dutch
recaptured it, with the British finally giving it its present
name on April 29, 1812, in honor of King George III. At
that time it was still a very small place: the British did not
consider Georgetown a proper city until it was deemed
so during the reign of Queen Victoria, in 1842.
Perhaps reflecting its Dutch history, Georgetown is built
on low-lying land, surrounded by marshes and savannahs.
The city is in fact one meter below sea level at high tide,
and is protected by a retaining wall and a sophisticated
system of canals. This system has proved effective for
centuries, in large part due to the predictable climate

and city's natural protection from tropical depressions.
Because Georgetown is both the largest city and the capital, the State
House, Parliament Building, Legislative Building, and all executive
departments are located here.
Georgetown also acts as a transportation hub for Guyana. It has a deep
water sea port, and two airports: Cheddi Jagan International Airport,
41 km (27 miles) south of Georgetown; and the smaller Ogle Airport,
situated about 10 km (6 miles) east of the city. The city is connected to
the rest of the country, as well as neighboring Suriname and Brazil, by a
road system that includes the four-lane East Coast Highway.
The capital city is also home to some first rate educational institutions,
including the University of Guyana, the School of Nations, the Royal
Academy, the Business School of Georgetown, and the Guyana Technical
Institute. Georgetown is also where Global Technology, Guyana's largest
private technology training center, is headquartered.

Guyana: Well Positioned for Future Growth and Success

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Guyana - Well Positioned for Future Growth and Success

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