Guyana Republic Day – February 23, 2025

History of Guyana Republic Day

Guyana celebrates its Republic Day on February 23 each year. It is a day to celebrate the nation becoming a republic. The modern history of Guyana started with the Spanish expeditions. The Dutch started settling in Guyana in the 16th century. Spain claimed Guyana as theirs, but the Treaty of Munster in 1648 shifted the power back to the Dutch. The Dutch exploited the country for their commercial ambitions and created plantations to produce tobacco and other agricultural products. The following period saw the arrival of a massive slave population from Africa and their revolts against the brutal treatment they had to face.

By 1746, British plantation owners in Guyana increased, which caused a shift in the colonial powers in the area. The Napoleonic Wars and the subsequent political turmoil in Europe led to a shift in the control of colonies. Control over Guyana shifted between the Netherlands, Britain, and France. Finally, in 1831, Guyana became a British colony and would remain so until 1966. Some of the important historical events that shaped Guyana during this period included border conflict with Venezuela, labor problems, Britain’s abolishment of slavery, Chinese labor migration, the East Indian labor introduction, etc.

On May 26, 1966, a group of political parties led by the P.N.C. formed a coalition government. Forbes Burnham led this new coalition and took the colony to independence. On February 23, 1970, Guyana declared itself a cooperative republic and removed the British monarchy completely from power. The government began to address concerns of the economy brought about by colonial rule. The main economic activities of the country are agriculture and mining, and the new government took over the independent companies that were in the industries. 

Even before Guyana’s independence, young adults of leadership and civic organizations celebrated Independence Carnivals in Linden, a city in Guyana. After independence, these young adults formed a committee to organize the celebrations and chose the name Mashramani.  The main celebrations were moved to the capital Georgetown, but the activities are still rotated between Linden, Berbice, and Georgetown every year. 

Guyana is ethnically diverse, with not only people of the indigenous tribes but also people from India, Africa, Europe, and China who either came or were brought over as slaves. The diversity of heritage results in intensely colorful and competitive celebrations on Mashramani/Republic Day, where people from all these different groups come together to celebrate the country.