Guyana Dollar
Guyana uses the Guyanese dollar as its currency. The dollar uses the $ sign and is identified by the letter G and the $ to symbolise the fact that it is the Guyanese dollar as opposed to other dollar systems. It is in theory divided into 100 cents, but the reality is that these are not used: inflation has long since put paid to the cent being a valid coin.
Coins are issued as dollars, in the form of $1, 5, 10 and notes come in the form of $20, 100, 500 and $1,000. Interestingly there are no $50 notes in circulation.
The currency is denoted on the international scene, by the letters GYD.
History of the Guyanese dollar
The use of the dollar in Guyana is interesting, because the country used to be known as British Guiana and so it would have made sense for the currency to be the Guyanese pound, but the dollar was actually introduced as early as 1839, when it was brought in as a replacement for the dollar. Then it started to use the British West Indies dollar in 1951, this was then replaced by use of the east Caribbean dollar, then in 1966, when
Guyana became independent it produced its own currency the Guyanese dollar and so this came into circulation around 1966.
Getting Hold of Guyanese Dollars
Guyanese dollars are not all that easy to get hold of, since you can only use the Scotiabank to be able to make withdrawals from an ATM and basically, you will be able to use your credit card to make withdrawals from Scotiabank in Georgetown, which is the capital, but not really anywhere else, since there are very few ATMs outside of Georgetown.
You will find that many hotels and even some restaurants, particularly those in Georgetown will accept US dollars, although you may not get a very good exchange rate. Outside of Georgetown it is very much a cash Society, so you will find that credit or debit cards are not widely accepted, nor is it possible to use US dollars.
If you take in some US dollars in cash, just to keep you going when you initially arrive, then this should be fine. If you want to take in traveller's cheques, then it is possibly best to take these in the form of dollars.
Banks will accept traveller's cheques without too many problems, but the banks tend to shut early, usually at around 2 pm, so make sure that you go early. If you do miss the bank, then you can use a cambio, or Bureau de Change, but these too tend to close early, usually at around 3.30 p.m. so do not leave money changing until it is too late.
Safety Issues
Safety is an issue in Guyana. It has three times the murder rate of the United States and so it is a country where there are real problems in terms of violent crime. Mostly tourists are not specifically targeted, so you should be relatively safe, if you just stay alert and do not place yourself in a dangerous position.
Armed robberies, kidnapping and carjackings are all a serious problem in
Guyana and the risk of these happening seems to increase at night, so whenever possible, try to ensure that you do not go out at night.
Try to use official taxis, since there is a risk of being robbed if you use any other type of taxi.
Travellers to Guyana should also be aware that it is against the law to be homosexual and you could face a life sentence in prison if you are 'caught'. The reality is that people who are gay tend to simply go about their lives without any major problems, but there is always that threat that someone will take offence and try to get them into trouble, so if you are gay or a lesbian, then make sure that you are not only discreet, but be wary of making advances to anyone: only do so if you are absolutely sure that your feelings will be reciprocated.
In 2008, the east coast of Guyana, namely the Bartica area has seen some quite violent activities of a criminal nature. In February, a police station was attacked and 12 people, not just police officers were killed, so this is one area that should be avoided.
But although there is a risk of crime and it is not the safest country on the planet, it is by no means the most dangerous and people should be aware of the risks of crime, stay alert, not travel after dark and thus safety should be ensured.
Another safety issue that travellers should be aware of is the issue of the roads: boy, are they dangerous. The roads are generally in a terrible state and full of potholes and the drivers seem to be on some kind of collective suicide mission when they get behind the wheel, so it really is a case of having to be level headed and aware when driving and unless you are very, very good at driving, or you have nerves of steel, (preferably both), then it is better to stick to being driven!
Using Guyanese Dollars
Anyone who likes a bargain will probably love Guyana! At first it can seem frighteningly expensive, since a bottle of coke can be $100, but the reality is that this is simply inflation. This is a developing country and the costs of living are actually very low. Prices may be slightly hiked in the tourist areas, but even then they still present very good value for money.
It takes just under G$ 200 to buy one US dollar, so that gives an indication of the true cost of things here, but even still, you can find that menu dishes do tend to cost $1,000's. But overall the costs are still much lower than in developed Western countries. For the people who live here, however, the cost of living is quite high and this seems to result in even greater poverty and of course, the poorer people get, the more tempting crime becomes.
One thing that many travellers buy when they come to Guyana is gold jewellery. The jewellery is very well made, of exceptional quality and often very intricate and with some exquisite detailing and yet is remarkably cheap, since this is such a poor country in comparison with western countries.
There are also some fine leather items to be had, from wallets and purses, right through to satchels, all at incredibly low prices. So if you are into shopping and like a bargain, then it may be worth packing only essential items for the trip out and then picking up some items when you are there. You can pick some designer type labels for a fraction of what you would expect to pay at home.
Shopping as a whole is quite good fun in Guyana and there is plenty to tempt your eye. The biggest market, Stabroek is actually a market that is based on both the water and land and for that alone, it is well worth a visit. It sells all kinds of items, almost everything under the sun: but before you get too carried away, remember that it all has to be got back home!
Out and About in Guyana
There are lots of things to see and do in Guyana. It has an interesting history, having been part of the British Empire, even though it is a real southern American country. A lot of the architecture is Dutch, with
Georgetown in particular being very Dutch influenced in terms of its design.
One of the most spectacular sights in Georgetown is St. George's Cathedral which dates back to around 1889 and is an extremely impressive piece of architecture, both internally and externally, so it is well worth a trip to see it. It is constructed of wood and yet it is quite an imposing building despite the humble materials.
There is also a lot of heartland in the interior of Guyana, which is simply stunning to view and the Blackwaters, which are black waterfalls are also a sight to behold. Or you can take a trip to one of the nature reserves, where you can get back in touch with Mother Nature.
Guyana can even boast its very own 'ecotourism' resort which is quite popular and yet dedicated to promoting eco-friendly tourism.
There are plenty of beaches in Guyana as well, but as whole, they are not as developed as most beaches where tourists may go. If you simply fancy a bit of peace and quiet, then this will be the place for you, but if you are looking for fully fledged tourist resorts with all mod cons, then many of the beaches may not be suitable for you.
Overview
Guyana is certainly a poor country and one that really is struggling to develop. You will undoubtedly see some sights that you may find quite unpleasant and there is a problem that is ongoing, with people simply tipping rubbish out onto the street, mainly because of the lack of adequate refuse systems in the country.
You may also see people who are quite poor and the country as a whole, does welcome tourists, but it is not 'tourist driven'. This means that tourists are usually welcomed, but you may find that service levels are not what they can be in countries that are more dependent on tourism.
But if you want to experience a country that is still very much not a country that is similar to every other and one where you can experience nature in the 'raw' so to speak, then you will find that Guyana has a lot to offer. Countries that have a unique identity and do not seem to be part of the 'global village' are getting harder and harder to find, but indeed
Guyana seems to be one such country and as such it is still a very interesting place to visit. But one where you do have to exercise care when you are out and about.
For more details of what Guyana can offer travellers, check out the official website at http://www.turq.com/guyana.html.