Published: March 24, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Guyana Travel Advisory and Guyana Country Information Page.
Embassy Contact Information
U.S. Embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown.
Tel: +592-225-4900/9. Emergency Tel.: +592-623-1992.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
The Georgetown Country Chapter currently meets twice during the year and has approximately thirty members.
Contact OSAC’s Americas team with any questions.
Guyana Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication indicates that travelers should reconsider travel to Guyana due to crime.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Georgetown as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guyana, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
The general crime rate in Guyana is above the U.S. national average. Criminal activity continues to be a major issue. Serious crimes (e.g., murder, armed robbery) are common. The most recent information from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) indicates an 14% decrease in violent crime in 2024. Previous years saw a marginal increase, and the rate remains relatively high, especially in Georgetown. Guyana’s 2024 murder rate was 14.3 per 100,000 people, a 17% decrease from 2023, with an over 70% conviction rate. Most murders were related to domestic disputes (more often female victims) and substance abuse.
Street robberies and home invasions are rampant. Most robberies are crimes of opportunity and occur often due to inadequate police presence and poor police response. Criminals regularly use weapons, such as handguns, knives, machetes, or cutlasses. Despite a rigorous licensing requirement for the average person to own firearms, illegal firearms are easily sourced from Venezuela and Brazil and smuggled across the porous land borders. Armed robberies including carjackings occur regularly, especially in businesses and shopping districts. Armed robberies of business/patron establishments occur frequently in Georgetown. Criminals may act brazenly, and police officers have been both victims and perpetrators of assaults and shootings. Criminals are increasingly willing to resort to violence while committing all types of crimes. If an armed criminal confronts you, do not argue or attempt to resist. Quickly relinquish your valuables and contact the GPF.
Petty crimes such as theft, car break-ins, pick pocketing, purse snatching, assault, and robbery can occur in all areas of Georgetown, particularly in the area of the National Park, Seawall, and Bourda Market. Stabroek market are off-limits for government personnel and Bourda Market is off-limits during the evening hours. The neighborhoods of Agricola, Tiger Bay, Sofia, Albouystown, as well as Stabroek Market should be avoided at all times. Avoid the seawall east of Vlissengen Road, Bourda Market, and the National Park altogether at night. Safeguard your personal property when shopping in these markets. Avoid walking in Georgetown after dark and always stay vigilant within Guyana.
Criminals are often organized, travel in groups of two or more, and conduct surveillance on their targets. Robberies and muggings committed by motorbikes and bicycles are also common as the victims often are blindsided and the criminals can escape easily. Criminals generally will not hesitate to show multiple weapons as an intimidation tactic during a robbery. Periodically, there are reports of robberies/attacks on U.S. citizens and in areas expatriates frequent. Criminals generally view foreigners as targets of opportunity, but U.S. nationals are not specific targets. Additionally, there is no specific targeting of U.S. diplomats or foreigners per se, but often foreigners are associated with having more wealth and/or carrying larger sums of money than the average Guyanese citizen. It is not uncommon for members of the public, including police, to solicit cash from foreigners, especially near high-end hotels. Foreigners are easily identifiable in public and should take precautions when visiting downtown areas. Most violent crimes against foreigners have occurred in the capital. However, there have been incidents of violent crimes committed in other parts of the country as well.
Press reports indicate that the Guyana-Venezuela border area has seen an increase in violent attacks allegedly perpetrated by Venezuelan criminal gangs against Guyanese indigenous communities, fishers, miners, and the general citizenry. Assaults, robberies, extortion, and murders have reportedly occurred in towns on both sides of the border, with fishing villages and mining camps being the most victimized. The Guyanese military and law enforcement lack the capacity to adequately face the challenges in this region.
U.S. citizens have reported hotel room break-ins to the U.S. Embassy. Use caution when opening hotel room doors, and safeguard valuables left in hotel rooms. There have been reports of criminal incidents in the vicinities of the major hotels tourists and U.S. government employees use. Avoid walking alone outside after dark, even in the immediate vicinity of these hotels. Residential burglaries are less common when homes have guards who pose a deterrent. Exchange currency only at legitimate exchanges at hotels or airports. Exchanging currency on the street is a dangerous practice. There has been known instances of some ATM skimming occurring when bank cards are utilized.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guyana.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Georgetown as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guyana.
There are no known indigenous terrorist organizations, and Guyana is not a known base of support/sympathy for terrorists. There is no specific threat information concerning the presence of local, regional, and/or international terrorist groups in the country. Likewise, there is no specific threat information concerning U.S. private-sector organizations in Guyana.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Georgetown as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guyana. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
National and regional elections took place in March 2020, and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won both the presidency and majority of representational seats. International and local observers considered the elections free and fair. However, the incumbent APNU+AFC coalition’s refusal to accept the elections result that showed their loss created a five-month postelections impasse, which included a national recount, refusal to accept the results of the recount, and litigation in the Caribbean Court of Justice, the country’s court of final instance. The new president and government finally assumed office in August 2020. Elections prior to this one, over the past 25 years, have been generally free and fair.
Guyana will hold elections for National Assembly and the Presidency in December 2025.
Protests & Demonstrations
The 2020 elections polarized all sides of the country and prompted numerous protests and street demonstrations across Guyana, some of which became violent and disruptive. Historically, politics has divided Guyana on ethnic lines between those of Indian descent and those of African descent.
U.S. organizations and individuals have not been targets of politically motivated violence. Note, all political demonstrations have to be registered with the Government of Guyana and receive prior approval to organize. Police often maintain security and monitor demonstrations, maintaining clear lines of communication with the U.S. Mission and RSO.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There are no serious concerns about anti-U.S. sentiment in Guyana.
Law Enforcement
The police commissioner heads the GPF, which reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs and is responsible for maintaining internal security. The Guyana Defense Force is responsible for external security but also has some domestic security responsibilities. The defense force, headed by a chief of staff, falls under the purview of the Defense Board, which the president of the country chairs. Civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces. There are reliable reports that members of the security forces commit abuses.
Police Response
The GPF has resource and manpower limitations that inhibit its ability to deter or respond to criminal activity. Even on the occasions when the GPF responds to a crime scene, victims must go to the nearest police station to file a report and complete other investigative formalities.
Confidence in the GPF is low due to the public’s perception of heavy handedness, ineffectiveness, and corruption. The public widely perceives corruption to be commonplace within many government agencies. Criminal elements reportedly bribe police officers to assist or protect them. Limited resources strain the judicial system, which is influenced by threats/bribes. Defendants linked to drug organizations often use attorneys who are effective in getting cases dismissed or postponed; as a result, criminals go free on a regular basis.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Guyana, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Guyana.
There have been reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killing. The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. The government generally observes these requirements.
Impunity is not a significant problem in the security forces. The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility investigates whether security force killings were justifiable and recommends prosecutions. The government conducts human rights training for the security forces.
There were reports of arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention. In 2021 the Police Complaints Authority issued its report covering 2019, which found most police officers interviewed were ignorant of constitutional provisions regarding arrests and searches. The report noted that a substantial number of members of the police force under investigation for abuses openly violated the constitution in the performance of their duties.
The law provides for criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implements the law effectively. There have been isolated reports of government corruption, which administration officials investigated. There remains a widespread public perception of corruption involving officials at all levels, including the police and judiciary. Corruption by police officers is frequent. There have been reports the government prosecuted members of the police force during the year.
Cybersecurity
There are no cybersecurity concerns specific to private-sector operations in Guyana.
Import/Export Restrictions
Guyana’s rivers and rainforest provide homes to abundant wildlife and exotic plants, including jaguars, monkeys, sloths, arapaima, capybaras, giant anteaters, more than 900 species of birds, and over 6,000 species of trees and plants. Many plants and animals in Guyana are globally threatened or are endangered species protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The Ministry of Agriculture requires an export permit to take an exotic animal or plant out of Guyana, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requires an import permit to bring an exotic animal or plant into the United States.
There have been no reported issues regarding the import of personal satellite phones. Personal medication should be carried in its original packaging and should be accompanied by the original prescription.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
