Status: Free
Legal Environment: 5
Political Influences: 5
Economic Pressures: 13
Total Score: 23

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 65
Religious Groups: n/a
Ethnic Groups: East Indian (49 percent), black (32 percent), mixed (12 percent), Indian (6 percent), white and Chinese (1 percent)
Capital: Georgetown

The constitution provides for press freedom and the government generally respects this right in practice. The daily Stabroek News and several other newspapers publish freely, although journalists are apt to exercise self-censorship. Concerns were raised in 2001 that the government was failing to respect the freedom of the electronic media. The government maintains a monopoly on radio broadcasting, and private interests alleged that authorities either denied or failed to respond to more than 20 requests for radio frequency authorizations. In November a private radio station was shut down on the grounds that it was illegal. A number of unregulated TV stations exist, and the privately owned channels can freely criticize the government. However, two television hosts were arrested for sedition during the year.

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