Demerara Distillers Ltd. is a Guyanese distillery [1] known for the El Dorado Rum brand. It was at one time the world's second largest producer of rum. [2]
Demerara Distillers Ltd. is a Guyanese distillery [1] known for the El Dorado Rum brand. It was at one time the world's second largest producer of rum. [2]
Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) is a publicly owned company headquartered in Georgetown. [3] DLL owns Demerara Fire and General Insurance Company Inc., Solutions 2000, Demerara Contractors Limited, Topco, and other subsidiary companies include Distribution Services Limited and European Breitenstein Holdings BV. [4] They were one of the first five companies to become certified by ISO 9001 international Standard System, enabling export quality goods. [5]
Under government management, DDL became the world's second largest producer of rum. DDL was one of the first state-owned manufacturers to be semi-privatized under the Economic Recovery Program in 1988. 12 million new shares were issued, reducing government ownership to roughly 47%, although another attempt to issue shares in 1990 was blocked by the government. [2]
In 2006, DDL obtained one-third of the shares of National Rums of Jamaica, which is a subsidiary of Jamaica's National Sugar Company Limited. [6]
Yesu Persaud was chairman of DDL until 2013. Through his contributions to Guyanese industry, 1983 he was awarded the Cacique Crown of Honour.
Komal Samaroo became the new CEO in 2014. [7] In 2021, Samaroo addressed the threat that the Venezuelan border issue has on "Guyana's supply chain for agriculture and other food products to the region, and even further afield". [1]
In 2016, Bharrat Jagdeo claimed that billions of dollars were lost tax settlement between DDL and the Guyana Revenue Authority. In 2002, a dispute arose regarding a consumption tax of about GY$5.3 billion. [8]
DDL credits the flavours of their rums to the oak barrels used in the distilling process and Guyana's tropical climate. The aging process in Guyana is supplemented by the high humidity and steady temperature. Rums are blended from different vintages produced in different stills, then aged in oak barrels. [9]
Despite international familiarity, El Dorado and other rums have fallen behind other liquors, such as vodka, in successful marketing or an effective classification system. [10]
DDL sponsors countless local events, such as chess tournaments, [11] Guyana Fashion Week, [12] Soca Monarch competitions, [13] and Mashramani events. [14] They were an official partner of the inaugural tournament of the 2013 Caribbean Premier League, sponsoring the tournament's Catch of the Match award, which went to one player in each of the 24 matches who makes a catch. [15]
A 'rum route' was launched by the Guyana Tourism Authority in collaboration with the Caribbean Tourism Organization. The tour includes visits to Uitvlugt Estate and Blairmont Estate and commercial ventures like rum shops, distilleries, and production, as well as the historical connection to slavery and indentured servants. [16]
The politics of Guyana takes place in a framework of a representative democratic assembly-independent republic, whereby the President of Guyana is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the President, advised by a cabinet. Legislative power is vested in both the President and the National Assembly of Guyana. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
Bharrat Jagdeo is a Guyanese politician who has been serving as Vice President of Guyana since 2020, in the administration of President Irfaan Ali. He had previously also held the office from 1997 until 1999, during the presidency of Janet Jagan. Jagdeo subsequently served as the President of Guyana from 11 August 1999 to 3 December 2011. He also holds a number of global leadership positions in the areas of sustainable development, green growth and climate change.
Donald Rabindranauth Ramotar is a Guyanese politician who was President of Guyana from 2011 to 2015. He was also the General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party (PPP) from 1997 to 2013.
Guyanese literature covers works including novels, poetry, plays and others written by people born or strongly-affiliated with Guyana. Formerly British Guiana, British language and style has an enduring impact on the writings from Guyana, which are done in English language and utilizing Guyanese Creole. Emigration has contributed to a large body of work relating the Guyanese diaspora experience.
The Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) is a higher education institution in Georgetown, Guyana.
Afro-Guyanese are generally descended from the enslaved people brought to Guyana from the coast of West Africa to work on sugar plantations during the era of the Atlantic slave trade. Coming from a wide array of backgrounds and enduring conditions that severely constrained their ability to preserve their respective cultural traditions contributed to the adoption of Christianity and the values of British colonists.
Arthur James Seymour, or A. J. Seymour, was a Guyanese poet, essayist, memoirist, and founding editor of the literary journal Kyk-Over-Al.
The Guyana Stock Exchange (GSE) is a stock exchange located in Georgetown, Guyana. It lists 15 registered companies, and trading takes place each Monday via word of mouth on the trading floor supported by an electronic limit order book. The Guyana Stock Exchange is operated by the Guyana Association of Securities Companies and Intermediaries Inc. (GASCI) and is regulated by the Guyana Securities Council. Market capitalisation of local stocks in November 2021 stood at 568,639,217,573 GYD (US$2.72 billion).
Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Brazil to the south and southwest, Venezuela to the west, and Suriname to the east. With a land area of 215,000 km2 (83,000 sq mi), Guyana is the third-smallest sovereign state by area in mainland South America after Uruguay and Suriname, and is the second-least populous sovereign state in South America after Suriname; it is also one of the least densely populated countries on Earth. It has a wide variety of natural habitats and very high biodiversity.
Barbados–Guyana relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Barbados and Guyana. The former maintains non-resident diplomatic representation from Bridgetown, while Guyana which prior had a High Commissioner to Barbados appointed its first resident Consul-General, Michael Brotherson to Bridgetown in January 2012.
Rockstone is a village on the right bank of the Essequibo River in the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region of Guyana, altitude 6 metres. Rockstone is approximately 26 km west of Linden and is linked by road.
Uitvlugt is a village in the Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region of Guyana. On the coastal public road on the west bank of the Demerara River, it lies immediately to the west of Stewartville and to the south of Zeeburg, about 20 minutes by road from Vreed-en-Hoop.
Stewartville is a village district in Guyana on the Atlantic coast of West Demerara, just east of the mouth of the Essequibo River. There are four sections in the village: Stewartville Housing Scheme, Sarah Lodge, Stewartville Old Road and Stewartville Sea View.
Banks DIH Ltd. is a publicly traded food and beverage manufacturer in Guyana that can trace its origins back to 1840. It is one of the leading local manufacturers.
Mining in Guyana is a significant contributor to the economy owing to sizable reserves of bauxite, gold, and diamonds. Much of these resources are found in Guyana's Hilly Sand and Clay belt, a region that makes up 20% of the country.
Snap general elections were held in Guyana on 2 March 2020. They were called early after the government of President David A. Granger lost a vote of no confidence by a margin of 33–32 on 21 December 2018, the government having held a one-seat majority since the 2015 elections. However, one of its own MPs, Charrandas Persaud of the Alliance for Change (AFC), voted with the opposition. Granger announced on 25 September 2019 that the elections would be held on 2 March 2020.
Bishwaishwar 'Cammie' Ramsaroop was a Guyanese politician from People's National Congress. Prior to his political career, he was a teacher and minister in the Forbes Burnham administration. From October 1980 to September 1984 he was one of the Vice Presidents. Ramsaroop played a pivotal role in the establishment of Trinidad and Tobago's first diplomatic mission with the creation of the Guyana High Commission on Alexandra Street, Port-of-Spain in February 2020.
Isahak Basir CCH was a Guyanese historian who was a member of the National Assembly of Guyana from 1977 to 1991. Basir was nicknamed "Uncle Tabrak" and was of Indian descent.
Banking in Guyana follows the country's tumultuous economics history, from formal introduction under British rule, the socialist-oriented nationalization of banks at independence, to IMF sponsored open-market initiatives. The banking industry faces increased pressure to meet global standards domestically, as well as attract international investors, and serve the large number of diaspora that remain economically tied to the country.
Asgar Ally is a former Guyanese politician. He served as Minister of Finance from 1992 to 1995.