Guyana

Jermyn, Leslie. Guyana. Part of the Cultures of the World series. 2000. 128p. ISBN 9780761409946. Available at 988.1 JER on the library shelves.

Nestled between Venezuela, Brasil and Surinane, and peculiar in many ways, Guyana is a small country in South America that is populated by a mix of different populations, from descendants of African slaves, British and Dutch plantation owners, Portuguese and Indian laborers. Brought together by colonial forces keen on exploiting sugar plantations, these different ethnic groups have mixed together to create a unique culture that remains separate from each other as they live and work in the same country.

Religious diversity and tolerance really sets Guyana apart. Poor in resources but rich in people, the country continues to struggle from the lasting effects of several dictatorships that have hampered economic development and affected social cohesion. Majestic tourist attractions have attracted a growing tourist trade, which carries environmental consequences. 

Suriname

Beatty, Noelle Blackmer. Suriname. Part of the Major World Nations series. 1997. 96p. ISBN 9780791047484. Available at 988.3 BEA on the library shelves.

Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover what would become Suriname during his third trip to the Americas. Soon colonized by the Dutch, the fertile coast became known as Dutch Guiana. Sandwiched by the French to the east and the British to the west, the small colony nevertheless prospered due to its profitable sugar plantations exploited through slave labor. Colonial powers traded the colony back and forth through wars in the 17th and 18th century, and the abolition of slavery in 1863 led to the importation of cheap labor from Java, another Dutch colony, as well as from China and India, leading to what is now a vibrant community of mixed racial and cultural heritage.

The discovery of bauxite, which is used to make aluminum, made Dutch Guiana an essential part of the war effort during the Second World War, and the colony was occupied by U.S. forces while the Netherlands were themselves occupied by Nazi Germany. Following the war, local residents gained the right to administer their own country, but the Dutch retained defense and international relations. It wasn't until 1975 that Dutch Guiana gained its independence. Renamed Suriname, the country experienced civil war and military governments, but has returned to a more democratic government. 

Still underdeveloped, the country struggles with a high foreign debt and a lack of transportation infrastructure. As 90% of the population lives on 3% of the land, most of the country remains forested, with over 2,000 species of trees making their home in Suriname. The culture, due to its ethnic mix, is vibrant but remains insular. Suriname has a lot going for it, and its future could be bright.