[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 12079] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]GUYANA'S 42ND BIRTHDAY: MUCH TO CELEBRATE, QUITE A LOT TO HOPE FOR ______ HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL of new york in the house of representatives Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Guyana's 42nd anniversary of independence. Guyana achieved independence on May 26, 1966, and became the Co- operative Republic of Guyana on February 23, 1970, with a new constitution. Guyana is a located on the northern coast of South America between Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname. It is the lone English-speaking nation on the South American mainland, a country of 83,000 square miles, dense tropical forests, and 800,000 people. This former British colony is rich in human resources, bauxite, gold and arable land. The young country had promising expectations but success was not immediately attained. In fact, Guyana, at times, is described as one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere and qualifies for debt concessions through the global initiative to reduce burden on the world's highly indebted poor countries. After years of economic decline, failure to maintain its infrastructure, political conflict between Afro and Indo Guyanese, Guyana's largest ethnic groups, and factors that fueled an exodus of its brightest, the country needed reform. Today, it is rebuilding both its economy and infrastructure and with prospects of finding large deposits of oil, Guyana now has the potential for growth and prosperity expected of it since the 1960s. Guyana still faces many obstacles today. Earlier this year, two massacres took the lives of more than 20 men, women and children but a period of relative calm has followed. Yes, crime and violence remain a serious problem as they do elsewhere in the Caribbean. The latter is the dichotomous image that Guyana presents to the world as it celebrates its 42nd anniversary of independence. As a member of the international community, Guyana has made important contributions to the resolutions of major conflicts around the world through its participation in the United Nations Security Council, in the Organization of American States, on the World Court and in other global bodies. This anniversary offers us an occasion to thank the people of Guyana for their strength, their courage, and their contributions to our global community. So, on this anniversary of independence, I stand in camaraderie with the Guyanese people to celebrate and appreciate the growth and change of Guyana. ____________________