Guyana

One of the few non-insular Caribbean countries, Guyana is located on the northern coast of South America, bordering Suriname, Venezuela and Brazil. Since the first free and fair elections in 1992, the authoritarian legacy of the previous decades has largely receded, though the ethnic polarisation of Guyanese politics and political tensions has led to some violence and instability, particularly during transitions of power. Police abuses, indigenous rights, widespread discrimination and detention of children all remain key issues.