When did British Guiana become independent?
British Guiana became independent on the 26th of May 1966, at 12 midnight, taking the name Guyana. The date was set at an independence conference held in London in November 1965.
Questions about British Guiana
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why did Britain occupy British Guiana in 1953?
Britain declared a state of emergency and militarily occupied British Guiana on the 9th of October 1953 after the People's Progressive Party won 18 of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly. The British Government considered the PPP too closely aligned with communist organisations and suspended the constitution, imposing direct rule until 1957.
Who were the first Europeans to settle in British Guiana?
The Dutch were the first Europeans to establish lasting settlements in the territory, founding the colonies of Essequibo and Berbice in the early 17th century and adding Demerara in the mid-18th century. The Dutch West India Company administered Essequibo and Demerara, while the Berbice Association ran Berbice.
What was the British Guiana 1c magenta stamp and how much did it sell for?
The British Guiana 1c magenta is a unique one-cent postage stamp issued in 1856, the only known example of its kind. It sold in 2014 for US$9.5 million, making it one of the most expensive stamps in the world.
What was the Booker Group's role in British Guiana?
The London-based Booker Group, formally Booker Brothers, McConnell and Co., Ltd, dominated the economy of British Guiana. The company had owned sugar plantations in the colony since the early 19th century, and by 1950 it owned all but three. It became the largest employer in the colony, prompting the nickname "Booker's Guiana".
What is the Venezuela-Guyana border dispute about?
The dispute centres on the boundary drawn in 1840 by Robert Hermann Schomburgk, which placed the entire Cuyuni River basin inside British Guiana. Venezuela has never accepted the line and claims all lands west of the Essequibo River. An arbitration tribunal awarded approximately 94% of the contested territory to British Guiana in 1899, but Venezuela renewed its claim in 1962 and the dispute remains unresolved.