Guyanese people
Encyclopedia
Guyanese people are people originating in the South American nation of Guyana
. Geographically Guyana is not an island in the Caribbean but a nearby mainland land mass associated with the English Caribbean through history and culture first as a Dutch, then British colony, and as a founding member of CARICOM. The culture of Guyana is described as Caribbean or "West Indian", as it is much more similar to the culture of the "West Indian" Caribbean islands such as Trinidad, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, rather than the other South American countries. Like other Caribbean countries Guyanese culture shares some customs and traits with other Latin American countries.
origin (Biharis, Tamils, Telugus) 31.2% Black African (see Afro-Guyanese
), 16.7% multiracial
, 9.2% Amerindian and 0.46% other, mostly Chinese and whites (most notably Portuguese and English
). Some Guyanese claim to have heritage from Syria, Iran and Spain. English
(in the form of Guyanese Creole) is the most common language amongst Guyanese people in Guyana and its diaspora. The religious breakdown of Guyanese people is: Hindu
28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Muslim
7.2%, Anglican 6.9%,
Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Christian
denominations 20.5%, no religion 4.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, Bahá'í 0.1%, other faiths 2.2%.
(86,120 Guyanese born), United Kingdom
(20,872 Guyanese born), Canada
(14,560 Guyanese born), and the Netherlands
(328 Guyanese born), although the total populations (i.e. including people of Guyanese descent born in that country) are much higher.
The reason for this mass exodus were the highly oppressive policies of Forbes Burnham
, former president and dictator* (unreliable source/opinion) who was widely regarded as a rigger of elections.
The migration of Guyanese to other countries began in the late 1950's when some Guyanese (mainly young men, and some women) took up offers from the British Government to migrate to England to supplement the British labour force, like other Caribbean countries. This was a short lived policy as the British government quickly, closed the doors on open immigration from it's Caribbean Territories. The migration of many Guyanese Portuguese to the U.K and Canada happened in the late 1960's and early 1970's due to political struggles or "perceptions" of political problems at the time.
The Migration of Guyanese to other Western countries mostly Canada and the United States continued throughout the 1970's and 1980's, much of it due to political and economic problems. The Forbes Burnham government continuously doctored elections through the 1970's in his favour, and was feared by many for his Stalinist behavior. The 1980's saw mass migration due to continuing misguided economic policies and problems, continuous shortages of basic items on a daily basis, and a country run much the way Cuba is perceived today. While many left due to political, economic, and social problems, those who could afford left looking for better opportunities and some for educational purposes. The 1990's saw migration to other Caribbean countries. Migration continued by the need to reconnect split families. The migration of Guyanese to other lands continues even today.
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
. Geographically Guyana is not an island in the Caribbean but a nearby mainland land mass associated with the English Caribbean through history and culture first as a Dutch, then British colony, and as a founding member of CARICOM. The culture of Guyana is described as Caribbean or "West Indian", as it is much more similar to the culture of the "West Indian" Caribbean islands such as Trinidad, Barbados, St. Vincent, Grenada, rather than the other South American countries. Like other Caribbean countries Guyanese culture shares some customs and traits with other Latin American countries.
Demographics
Guyana is a diverse nation, 43.5% of the population is of East IndianIndian people
Indian people or Indisians constitute the Asian nation and pan-ethnic group native to India, which forms the south of Asia, containing 17.31% of the world's population. The Indian nationality is in essence made up of regional nationalities, reflecting the rich and complex history of India...
origin (Biharis, Tamils, Telugus) 31.2% Black African (see Afro-Guyanese
Afro-Guyanese
Afro-Guyanese people are the inhabitants of Guyana of Black African origin...
), 16.7% multiracial
Multiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
, 9.2% Amerindian and 0.46% other, mostly Chinese and whites (most notably Portuguese and English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
). Some Guyanese claim to have heritage from Syria, Iran and Spain. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(in the form of Guyanese Creole) is the most common language amongst Guyanese people in Guyana and its diaspora. The religious breakdown of Guyanese people is: Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
7.2%, Anglican 6.9%,
Seventh Day Adventist 5%, other Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
denominations 20.5%, no religion 4.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, Bahá'í 0.1%, other faiths 2.2%.
Diaspora
Overseas Guyanese communities mainly exist in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(86,120 Guyanese born), United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(20,872 Guyanese born), Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
(14,560 Guyanese born), and the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(328 Guyanese born), although the total populations (i.e. including people of Guyanese descent born in that country) are much higher.
The reason for this mass exodus were the highly oppressive policies of Forbes Burnham
Forbes Burnham
Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was the leader of Guyana from 1964 until his death, first as Premier from 1964 to 1966, then as the Prime Minister from 1966 to 1980 and finally as President from 1980 to 1985....
, former president and dictator* (unreliable source/opinion) who was widely regarded as a rigger of elections.
The migration of Guyanese to other countries began in the late 1950's when some Guyanese (mainly young men, and some women) took up offers from the British Government to migrate to England to supplement the British labour force, like other Caribbean countries. This was a short lived policy as the British government quickly, closed the doors on open immigration from it's Caribbean Territories. The migration of many Guyanese Portuguese to the U.K and Canada happened in the late 1960's and early 1970's due to political struggles or "perceptions" of political problems at the time.
The Migration of Guyanese to other Western countries mostly Canada and the United States continued throughout the 1970's and 1980's, much of it due to political and economic problems. The Forbes Burnham government continuously doctored elections through the 1970's in his favour, and was feared by many for his Stalinist behavior. The 1980's saw mass migration due to continuing misguided economic policies and problems, continuous shortages of basic items on a daily basis, and a country run much the way Cuba is perceived today. While many left due to political, economic, and social problems, those who could afford left looking for better opportunities and some for educational purposes. The 1990's saw migration to other Caribbean countries. Migration continued by the need to reconnect split families. The migration of Guyanese to other lands continues even today.
See also
- Demographics of GuyanaDemographics of GuyanaThis article is about the demographic features of the population of Guyana, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population....
- Indo-GuyaneseIndo-GuyaneseIndo-Guyanese are mostly descendants of indentured labourers from India who are citizens or nationals of Guyana. They are often referred to as Indians or East Indians...
- Afro-GuyaneseAfro-GuyaneseAfro-Guyanese people are the inhabitants of Guyana of Black African origin...
- Guyanese BritishGuyanese BritishGuyanese in the United Kingdom are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom whose origins lie in the South American nation of Guyana.-Population:At the time of the 2001 UK Census there were 20,872 Guyanese-born people in the UK...
- Guyanese CanadiansGuyanese CanadiansThe following are notable Canadians of Guyanese descent:-Entertainers:*Dave Baksh - Lead Guitarist for the band Sum 41 *Deborah Cox - Singer*Simone Denny - Singer*Melanie Fiona - Singer*JDiggz - rapper...