Guyana and Belize

by Merrill, Tim; Library of Congress Federal Research Division

• ISBN13: 9780844407784
• ISBN10: 084440778X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1993-08-01
• Publisher: Library of Congress

Table of Contents

Foreword	iii
Acknowledgments	v
Preface	xv
Introduction	xvii
Guyana: Country Profile	xxix
Guyana: Historical Setting	1	(28)
Scott B. MacDonald
The Early Years	4	(2)
The Coming of the Europeans	6	(1)
Transition to British Rule	7	(2)
The Early British Colony and the Labor Problem	9	(1)
Origins of the Border Dispute with Venezuela	10	(1)
Political and Social Awakenings	11	(7)
Nineteenth-Century British Guiana	11	(2)
Political and Social Changes in the 1900s	13	(2)
The Development of Political Parties	15	(3)
Preindependence Government, 1953-66	18	(4)
The PPP's First Government, 1953	18	(1)
The Interim Government, 1953-57	19	(1)
The Second PPP Government, 1957-61, and Racial Politics	19	(2)
PPP Reelection and Debacle	21	(1)
Independence and the Burnham Era	22	(7)
Burnham in Power	23	(1)
The Cooperative Republic	24	(3)
From Burnham to Hoyte	27	(2)
Guyana: The Society and Its Environment	29	(36)
Frederick J. Conway
Geography	31	(4)
Terrain	31	(3)
Hydrology	34	(1)
Climate	34	(1)
Population	35	(5)
Demographic Profile	35	(2)
Ethnic Composition	37	(1)
Population Distribution and Settlement Patterns	37	(1)
Urban Population	38	(1)
Emigration	38	(2)
Ethnic Groups	40	(4)
Afro-Guyanese	40	(1)
Indo-Guyanese	41	(1)
Portuguese and Chinese	41	(1)
Amerindians	42	(1)
Development of Ethnic Identity	43	(1)
Ideologies of Race and Class	44	(1)
Family and Kinship Structure	44	(3)
Afro-Guyanese Patterns	44	(2)
Indo-Guyanese Patterns	46	(1)
Religion	47	(5)
Christianity	48	(1)
Hinduism	48	(1)
Islam	49	(1)
Obeah and Amerindian Practices	50	(1)
Cults	50	(1)
Religion and Politics	51	(1)
Education	52	(8)
Education Policy and the Teaching Profession	54	(1)
Primary Schools	55	(1)
Secondary Schools	55	(1)
Institutions of Higher Education	56	(2)
Attitudes Toward Education	58	(2)
Health and Welfare	60	(5)
Food and Diet	60	(1)
Health	60	(1)
Health and Welfare Services	61	(4)
Guyana: The Economy	65	(42)
Brian D. McFeeters
Growth and Structure of the Economy	68	(10)
History	68	(6)
Structure	74	(1)
Parallel Economy	75	(2)
Infrastructure	77	(1)
Government Policy	78	(4)
The Economic Recovery Program	78	(3)
Results of the Economic Recovery Program	81	(1)
Labor	82	(2)
Agriculture	84	(5)
Sugar	84	(2)
Rice	86	(1)
Forestry	86	(2)
Fisheries	88	(1)
Livestock	88	(1)
Mining	89	(3)
Aluminum	89	(2)
Gold and Diamonds	91	(1)
Industry	92	(2)
Energy Supply	92	(1)
Manufacturing	93	(1)
Services	94	(3)
Banking	94	(2)
Transportation	96	(1)
Communications	97	(1)
External Economic Relations	97	(10)
Foreign Trade	97	(2)
Foreign Debt	99	(2)
Balance of Payments	101	(1)
Foreign Investment	102	(2)
Foreign Aid	104	(1)
Regional Integration	104	(3)
Guyana: Government and Politics	107	(24)
Georges A. Fauriol
Constitutional Background	109	(4)
Preindependence Constitutions	109	(2)
Independence Constitution	111	(1)
Constitution of 1980	112	(1)
Government Institutions	113	(5)
Executive	113	(2)
Legislature	115	(1)
Judiciary	115	(1)
Other National Institutions	116	(1)
Local Government	117	(1)
Civil Service	118	(1)
Political Dynamics	118	(5)
Electoral Process	118	(1)
Political Parties	119	(1)
Interest Groups	120	(3)
Foreign Relations	123	(8)
Relations with the United States	123	(2)
Relations with Venezuela	125	(2)
Relations with Brazil	127	(1)
Relations with Suriname	127	(1)
Relations with Britain	128	(1)
Relations with the Commonwealth Caribbean	128	(1)
Relations with Communist Countries	129	(2)
Guyana: National Security	131	(24)
Christopher S. Simmons
The Armed Forces	133	(7)
Mission, Organization, and Capabilities	136	(1)
Involvement in Political Affairs	137	(3)
The Security Forces	140	(4)
Mission and Organization	140	(3)
Human Rights Violations	143	(1)
The Courts and the Penal System	144	(1)
Border Disputes	145	(6)
Guyana-Venezuela Dispute	145	(2)
Guyana-Suriname Dispute	147	(4)
Belize: Country Profile	151	(4)
Belize: Historical Setting	155	(32)
O. Nigel Bolland
Ancient Mayan Civilization	157	(4)
Pre-Columbian Mayan Societies and the Conquest	161	(2)
The Emergence of the British Settlement	163	(6)
Colonial Rivalry Between Spain and Britain	163	(1)
Beginnings of Self-Government and the Plantocracy	164	(2)
Slavery in the Settlement, 1794-1838	166	(3)
Emigration of the Garifuna	169	(1)
The Early Colony	169	(3)
Constitutional Developments, 1850-62	169	(1)
Mayan Emigration and Conflict	170	(2)
Formal Establishment of the Colony, 1862-71	172	(1)
Colonial Stagnation and Crisis	172	(9)
The Colonial Order, 1871-1931	172	(2)
The Genesis of Modern Politics, 1931-54	174	(7)
Decolonization and The Border Dispute With Guatemala	181	(6)
Belize: The Society and Its Environment	187	(34)
Charles C. Rutheiser
Geography	189	(4)
Boundaries, Area, and Relative Size	189	(2)
Geology	191	(1)
Physical Features	191	(1)
Natural Resources	192	(1)
Climate	192	(1)
Population and Settlement Patterns	193	(3)
Size, Growth, and Distribution	193	(2)
Migration	195	(1)
The Cultural Diversity of Belizean Society	196	(8)
Ethnicity	196	(4)
Language	200	(1)
Religion	201	(1)
Cultural Pluralism and Ethnic Diversity	202	(2)
Structure of Belizean Society	204	(7)
The Upper Sector	204	(2)
The Middle Sector	206	(2)
The Lower Sector	208	(2)
Social Dynamics	210	(1)
Education	211	(6)
School System	213	(2)
Patterns of Access and Performance	215	(2)
Standard of Living	217	(4)
Food and Diet	217	(1)
Health and Welfare	218	(3)
Belize: The Economy	221	(26)
Uwe Bott
Growth and Structure of the Economy	223	(7)
The Colonial Economy	223	(2)
The Small Economy	225	(1)
Economic History	226	(1)
Growth During 1980-85	227	(2)
Growth after 1985	229	(1)
Peripheral Factors	229	(1)
Government Policy	230	(4)
Economic Diversification	230	(1)
Balance of Payments	231	(1)
Investments	231	(2)
Fiscal Performance	233	(1)
External Debt	233	(1)
Labor	234	(1)
Foreign Economic Relations	235	(1)
Agriculture	236	(4)
Sugar	236	(1)
Citrus	237	(1)
Bananas	238	(1)
Other Crops	239	(1)
Fishing and Forestry	240	(1)
Industry	240	(2)
Mining and Energy	240	(1)
Manufacturing	241	(1)
Construction	241	(1)
Tourism	242	(1)
Other Services	243	(2)
Transportation and Telecommunications	243	(1)
Banking and Finance	244	(1)
Economic Prospects	245	(2)
Belize: Government and Politics	247	(42)
Steven R. Harper
Constitutional Background	249	(6)
Constitutional and Political Structures prior to Independence	249	(4)
Constitution of 1981	253	(2)
Government Institutions	255	(9)
Executive	255	(3)
Legislature	258	(3)
Judiciary	261	(1)
Public Service	262	(1)
Local Government	263	(1)
Political Dynamics	264	(16)
Electoral Procedures	264	(2)
Electoral Process since Independence	266	(3)
Political Parties	269	(5)
Interest Groups	274	(5)
Mass Communications	279	(1)
Foreign Relations	280	(9)
Relations with the United States	280	(2)
Relations with Guatemala	282	(2)
Relations with Other Latin American and Caribbean Countries	284	(1)
Relations with Britain	285	(1)
Relations with Other Countries	286	(3)
Belize: National Security	289	(20)
Melinda W. Cooke
Belize's Military History and Strategic Setting	292	(4)
The Belize Defence Force	296	(5)
Personnel and Training	296	(2)
Organization and Equipment	298	(1)
Defense Spending	299	(1)
Foreign Military Relations	300	(1)
Public Order and Internal Security	301	(8)
Crime	302	(1)
The Belize National Police	303	(2)
The Criminal Justice System	305	(4)
Appendix A. Tables	309	(10)
Appendix B. The Commonwealth of Nations	319	(8)
Deborah Cinchon
Appendix C. The Caribbean Community and Common Market	327	(10)
Jeffrey Taylor
Appendix D. Caribbean Basin Initiative	337	(8)
Daniel Seyler
Bibliography	345	(26)
Glossary	371	(6)
Index	377