British Guiana year 1954 stamp ☀ Fish / 72c / MNH **
British Guiana was the name of a British colony on the northeastern coast of South America. It is now known as Guyana, an independent country. The name “Guiana” comes from an Amerindian word meaning “land of many waters,” which aptly describes the region’s rivers and rainforests.
During the colonial era, European powers, including the British, Dutch, and French, vied for control over various parts of the Guianas. British Guiana specifically referred to the area colonized by the British, which roughly corresponds to present-day Guyana.
British Guiana was established as a colony in 1831 after previously being part of other colonial territories, including Dutch Guiana (now Suriname). The colony remained under British rule until it gained independence on May 26, 1966, becoming the independent nation of Guyana.
Guyana is culturally diverse, with influences from its Indigenous peoples, descendants of African slaves brought during the colonial period, indentured laborers from India, as well as Chinese and European settlers. The country’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, mining (particularly bauxite and gold), and more recently, oil production.
