Guyana - 62.03
65
Filling the petroleum-shaped hole Venezuela left behind
The discovery of massive oil reserves off the coast of Guyana turned around the future of a once-stagnating, sparsely populated South American country. With Venezuela’s oil reserves locked up behind administrative ineptitude and international embargos, Guyana is poised to capitalize significantly off of this discovery. While Guyana’s future is bright, it still has to deal with the problems of the present. The country is sparsely populated, and thus its rural residents often lack access to critical services. The discovery of oil will only lead to worsening corruption, especially since Exxon Mobil executives have maintained close ties with all recent administrations in Guyana. Additionally, Guyana is one of the most economically disparate countries in the entire world, calling into question how much the discovery of oil will legitimately benefit the people. Despite this, however, the discovery of some of the world’s largest oil reserves can only mean positive growth for this once-obscure South American country.
Human Rights - 66
Guyana has functionally abolished the death penalty, carrying out its last execution in 1993. The National Appeals Court is currently involved in a case over the constitutionality of capital punishment. Allegations of abuse by Guyanese prison guards are common. Allegations follow a consistent pattern of alleging demeaning and excessive punishment by guards. These allegations are often investigated by the ombudsman’s office. Conditions in Guyanese prisons are poor. Many prisons are severely overcrowded and prisoners lacked adequate access to sanitation, medical, and exercise facilities. Many of the country’s prisons were in states of disrepair. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government used quarantine measures to justify blanket bans on all protests. Homosexuality is illegal but this statute is not enforced. Cross-dressing was illegal until 2019 in Guyana. Abortion is legal to eight weeks.
Democracy - 62
The president is the leader of the majority coalition. The unicameral parliament is directly elected. European Union observers accused the Guyanese government of tampering with election results in the country’s largest district. The opposition demanded a recount, and this process dragged on for months as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) attempted to invalidate tens of thousands of votes. However, the recount eventually concluded and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) observers noted that it was conducted freely and fairly. Elections are subject to some degree of tampering by a highly politicized GECOM. Several members of the GECOM under the country’s previous administration are under investigation for charges of election fraud. Guyana’s two-party system is waning. The Indo-Guyanese People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) and Afro-Guyanese A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have historically dominated politics along the lines of the country’s two biggest ethnic groups. However, the multi-ethnic Alliance for Change (AFC) has emerged to challenge two-party authority. Party formation is not restricted and smaller parties hold some seats in parliament. Oligarchs hold significant sway over politics and parties are heavily based on ethnic loyalty.
Freedom - 73
Defamation is punishable by no more than three years in prison. No defamation suits have been actually filed in recent years but the government has nonetheless threatened defamation suits against dissenting journalists. The government has denied broadcasting licenses to some opposition news networks, thus forcing them underground. Trade unionists sometimes face harassment, often from third-party actors tolerated by the government. All drugs are illegal in Guyana, but these laws go seldom enforced as Guyana is a major part of the American Cocaine Run. Guyana may issue gun ownership licenses for semi-automatic rifles and handguns.
Economy - 78
Health - 54
Guyana has a life expectancy of 70 years and an infant mortality rate of 2.4%. 20.2% of Guyanese are obese and 7% are malnourished. Guyana’s universal healthcare scheme is mediocre; it is concentrated heavily in wealthier coastal areas leaving sparsely-populated and poor rural areas out to dry. Healthcare is of decent quality where available but most wealthy Guyanese choose to pay for private health insurance. 94% of Guyanese have access to clean, running water. Guyana has major issues with HIV/AIDS.
Corruption - 29
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold at low levels, but all levels of Hungary’s judicial system are subject to political pressure. One-third of Hungarian citizens interviewed by GAN Integrity perceived the police to be corrupt but almost none reported ever paying bribes. Public services often must be bribed into action, and they are often denied to Roma. Large amounts of red tape exists in Hungary’s land administration. Tax fraud and embezzlement of tax funds are both rampant in Hungary. Public contracts are impossible to obtain without bribery. State funds are rampantly misused by the Fidesz party.
Competency - 16
The government has recently been cracking down on corruption, namely through a major piece of corruption legislation passed by an APNU-AFC coalition. Foreign oil companies are very close with the government, as all recent administrations have had ties to Exxon-Mobil executives. Petty corruption is highly prevalent in Guyana and police extortion is common.
Future - 90
Guyana’s future looks very bright, as massive oil reserves were discovered off of the country’s coast. While the country’s economy is growing rapidly it should still be cautious of an over-reliance on oil as countries are switching to renewables. Development is likely to continue in Guyana.
Actions Abroad - 58
Guyana is a major part of the American Cocaine Run and the government is failing to stop drug trafficking. Guyana is a full member of the Commonwealth of Nations, but does not recognize the Queen as its head of state and does not host a governor-general. Guyana has close relations with Barbados as both countries have rejected the Queen as their heads of state. Guyana is largely isolationist and maintains good relations with most countries.
The international poverty rate in Guyana is estimated at 5% but no official data has been collected since 1998. 41.2% of Guyanese live under the national poverty line. 12% of Guyanese are unemployed. Guyana sees some of the highest economic disparity in the world. Guyana has a minimum wage of $212 per month. Guyana’s universal healthcare system is mediocre at best, with the majority of facilities concentrated in wealthier coastal areas. Rural communities in the Amazon lack access to any kind of healthcare whatsoever. Guyanese healthcare is of decent quality where it is available at all, and most wealthy Guyanese choose to pay for private health insurance. Some of the largest provable oil reserves in the world were recently discovered off the coast of Guyana in 2020. The Guyanese economy and oil industry are likely to boom, especially without competition from neighboring Venezuela. The effects of this are already being felt, as the Guyanese economy grew 43.5% in 2020, compared to just 5.4% in 2019.