Guyana

Greetings

Man greeting Man - Men shake hands when greeting one another and maintain direct eye contact. At a first meeting a warm handshake will suffice and is sometimes combined with slight touches on the arms and/or elbows. Handshakes may linger a bit. Good friends and family may engage in a light hug. A fist to fist style of handshake is common for younger men.

Woman greeting Woman- At a first meeting, women generally shake hands. Friends and close acquaintances may share a light hug with a kiss on the cheek.

Man greeting Woman- At a first meeting a regular handshake will do.

NOTE: A kissing/sucking sound is often made when someone is trying to get your attention. It is most commonly heard from men directed toward women.

Communication Style

• The Guyanese are known to be very direct and to the point. Honesty is appreciated and expected. Example: Being called “fat” is more a compliment. If your hair is shaggy, it’s “ugly;” time for a haircut.
• Humor plays a big role in communication.
• Public displays of anger and affection are common among the Guyanese.

• In business settings, communication tends to be more indirect and round-about, especially when it comes to getting directions from above.

Personal Space & Touch

• The Guyanese tend to be most comfortable at arms lengths from one another. Two and half to three feet is normal.
• While conversing, there is a fair amount of touching between men and men, and women and women, but not so much between men and women.

• A gentle hand grab on the arm or hand may be used to get attention/when being spoken to. A good slap on the leg happens as well. Innocent touching is pretty common.

• People tend to get very close, depending on the situation. Families do hug, but on rare occasion it seems. This may be different depending on ethnic background: African, Amerindian, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese or European.

Eye Contact

• The Guyanese tend to favor direct eye contact over indirect. Avoiding eye contact can be viewed as suspicious behavior.

Gestures

• Sucking air through the teeth to make a sucking sound is used to express anger or annoyance.
• Kissing and sucking sounds are often used to get someone's attention. “Please come” with a hand gesture signaling someone to come is also common.
• Haling a mini bus, a hand wave or pointed finger is expected.
• Waving is more to get attention, not greet. A slight shake or nod of the head is also used.
• “How’s it selling” is commonly used to ask for a price at the market. As a shopper you will be asked if “you shopping?

Views of Time

• The Guyanese place more emphasis on people and relationships than to the strict adherence of set schedules in social situations.
• The bus, train, and plane schedules will not always be adhered to for the most part. "Tomorrow after tomorrow" is a favorite saying. Keep in mind it could mean tomorrow or next week.
• Be patient and flexible when it comes to dealing with deadlines.

• Being on time is often subject to transportation, weather, etc.. The term “just now,” is often used to refer to something happening anywhere from the next five minutes to five years.

• People tend to be more punctual in Georgetown, ’s capital. But this seems to change the farther one ventures from the coast. Time becomes more relaxed and slow. Things are done, “just now.”

• There are time schedules for transportation, but they are flexible. Word of mouth is a good resource. Hop in the back of someone’s passing truck or flag down a mini bus.

• When taking the ferry, the tide affects when it leaves and returns. Bridges may be out. Road systems and infrastructure is lacking once outside of Georgetown, so everything really does depend. It is a rough terrain.

Gender Roles

• The Guyanese value equality and work opportunities for women are varied and available yet earnings may still be lower.
• It’s best for women to avoid dining, going to local bars and clubs unaccompanied.

• Women are not often seen drinking in local rum shops or bars. Again, this differs in Georgetown. If a woman is drinking in public and out of a bottle, it will be accompanied with a straw and that definitely applies to foreign women as well.

• It is not really acceptable for women to smoke.

• Women are mostly seen and expected to do “wash the wares,” laundry, clean and cook.

Taboos

• It may be considered rude if you do not honk when passing a vehicle, driving through an intersection or near pedestrians.
• Making sure to say “please” is a good idea. Example: “Please excuse me;” instead of just “excuse me.”
• Displaying affection in public is rare, but this does differ in the capital, Georgetown.

Law & Order

• The legal drinking age is 18 and not heavily enforced.
• The legal smoking age is 18 and is not heavily enforced.
• Persons violating Guyanese laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Guyana are severe, and convicted offenders should expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Dress

• The Guyanese tend to dress more on the casual side in the workplace.
• For men: Collared shirts and with or without ties are usually expected. Business casual clothing is usually appropriate.
• For women: nice dresses, blouses, and pants will suffice.
• Jeans, shorts and sandals are usually not appropriate for the workplace.

Titles & Business Cards

• Titles are important and it is best to address people directly by using their professional title or Mr., Mrs., or Miss, followed by the surname.
• Even though many people refer to each other by their first name, it is best wait until you are invited to do this.
• There is no specific ritual surrounding the giving of business cards although it is advisable to treat the card with respect.

Meetings

• Arrive on time for a meeting even though you may have to wait 30 minutes or more.
• It is best to allow your host to begin the business discussion.

• As a guest, you should expect to speak for a moment. It is important to always address the panel or leaders of the business or a group first, starting with the highest position or honor. You must address everyone.

Negotiations

• The Guyanese tend to be direct and say what they mean. They value relationship building and harmony so it is important to avoid hard selling, pressure tactics and any sort of conflict or confrontation.
• Decisions are usually made from the top down, so its best to have the final decision maker in the room if possible.

• Many market vendors and taxi drivers will attempt to charge foreigners more. Be knowledgeable and stand your ground. If you know the taxi is supposed to be $300 Guyanese dollars around Georgetown, have $300 ready and hand it to the driver, or ask for the exact amount of change.

• Prices vary more from market to market. Shop around. It is possible to bargain, but not necessarily expected. Often vendors throw in an extra something if treated well.

In the Classroom

• At most schools, there are three terms, beginning in September—Christmas, Easter and August break. August break is longer depending on what type of institution. Christmas term is longer than the other two. They refer to each term by the break at the end. Example: Fall term is Christmas term.

• “Talk and chalk” is common in Primary and Secondary schools. “Talk and chalk” refers to the lecturing and copying of notes.

Other Observations

• You will feel like a foreigner here, and people will make you aware they know you are. Name-calling, kissing and harassment aside, Guyanese are very hospitable and warm. Tourism is on the rise.
• Since you will most likely be called names as foreigners, come with thick skin and you will have a blast. Women especially get howled and kissed at.