Guyana: The World's Newest Petrostate

[@spacenomad3]

I don’t think I ever comment on KZbin videos. This series, however, has been absolutely amazing. The right mix of history and culture, which has been interspersed very well with the travel like vlog segments. Can’t believe this is not airing on TV and is available for free on KZbin!

[@AlexRothman]

You’re very kind! Thanks for watching

[@joshuataylor3550]

​@@AlexRothman I had the exact same thoughts.

[@supacupa]

@@AlexRothmanGreat work man

[@MattmclellandMusic]

Agreed this was incredible!

[@maturetraveller5683]

I watch it for free on KZbin

[@AdeleMcAlear]

I can't believe this series hasn't been picked up by a major distributor for TV or streaming. @AlexRothman your work is the highest quality - the filming, drone shots, editing, research, context, narration, and the care you've taken with your subject matter, its people, and history - genuinely one of the best series I've watched.

[@christopherross727]

As a Guyanese watching from Guyana you are spot on

[@marcellemay7721]

I don't know where this channel came from, but I'm very happy it came up in my feed. I just watched the entire Guyana series and it was phenomenal. I didn't even know where Guyana was geographically. You gave a good picture of the political climate there and also the economic and cultural environment. It is certainly one of the most unique ethnic cultures that I have ever seen. It's mind blowing to what extent, the colonial powers of the past have shaped the current world that we now live in, especially here in the Americas. You did a great job explaining the cultural divisions and how they came to be.

[@moonfishhhh]

As a diasporan Guyanese that's never visited before, this series has taught me so much about my home country, people and history. Amazing work! I'm hoping to make my first trip to visit next year :)

[@admagnusson]

The best KZbin channel I've come across in a long time. Intelligent, sincere and made with real effort.

[@natasharamen8620]

As a Guyanese born American citizen I’d like to thank you for making such a great documentary about my motherland. You did an awesome job and I thoroughly enjoyed watching your content.

[@nwbrownboi]

Thank you for making this series. As an Indian-American, I’ve always been really interested in Indian diasporas worldwide and I always wanted to know more about Guyana but the resources about it are so minimal. Your series was incredibly informative and scratched an itch I’ve had for such a long time. I’ve shared it with a ton of my friends. :)

[@AlexRothman]

Glad you like them!

[@anandmeloth]

Same here

[@rubenanibal]

Amazing videos! Please the Suriname video! More than 1M Surinamese around the word will apreciate it!!

[@MrMosiah3000]

I grew up in Brooklyn with Guyanese friends. I remember both Indian, Black (and mixed) and we always thought they were Caribbean, I remember them laughing saying NO, it’s in South America lol, It was because of the Caribbean vibe and food. Informative video

[@BosleyBeats]

Tchuxxxxxx Guyana is a part of the Caribbean / Caribbean culture by definition hahaha. Me ain’t know what nonsense they talking 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@dominiqueallums-farley6704]

It is because the colonizers where British and Dutch which is similar to most English speaking countries in the Caribbean. There is also French Guiana which was colonized by France. Several European countries sliced up and divided south America and the Caribbean. They used African people as slaves and the creole languages formed from a mixture of African and English language.

[@resireg]

One of their Caribbean characteristics is that they drive on the left

[@john-hk5pu]

Glad it was highlighted not all Guyanese Identify as Caribbean. The further away you're from the coast the less you feel that Caribbean connection. I'm a Guyanese and I'm South America.

[@Mayalovestosleep]

im from peru, and i think its stupid to label a country as caribbean, latino or hispanic, we are all south american and we belong to the same continent

[@john-hk5pu]

@@Mayalovestosleep The labels where created to divide and confuse. Countries shouldn't identify by language in this side of the world because we're made up of people from all over the world. I believe its high time Guyana forge relationships with its actual neighbors. We are a south American country yet we're so isolated that what we call our neighbors are in the Caribbean sea. I really believe there is a lot we can learn from our fellow south Americans, we might even get good at football😄

[@Mayalovestosleep]

@@john-hk5pu i totally agree, a lot of us want guyana, suriname and french guiana in conmebol i think the main things that actually put as apart despite being neighbors is diplomacy and economic trade, brazil does not speak portuguese but theyre well integrated with that rest of its neighbours

[@john-hk5pu]

​@@MayalovestosleepI've seen similar comments from others and it warms my heart to see that you guys also want this. Believe me it is also my wish to see it happen. The isolation must come to an end and Guyana must become a fully integrated member of south America.

[@IssacMorrison-ee5xt]

It's was all based on treaty, which was legally binding. People can drive from Florida to Alaska on beautiful pave roads how can't people from the northern coast of South America drive the same all the way Patagonia.

[@Viajesygeopolitica]

I really appreciate this kind of content in YT. So true, honest and really enlighting about these places in the world. Far away from clickbait, quick dopamine and the classical stuff. Amazing work once again, Alex

[@selectayouwot]

Great video but a small correction. There is actually a Maroon village in Guyana named Baracara - it's where Shamar Joseph the West Indian cricket ace hails from

[@AlexRothman]

I didn’t know that, thanks for sharing. Is that over by the Suriname border or a completely separate thing?

[@selectayouwot]

@@AlexRothman Yes it's towards that way located on the Canje river. Great videos by the way I also spent a month Tajikistan. If you're ever in Guyana again give me a shout!

[@jeromeclarke4141]

Abracadabra exist in THE CANJE CREEK "" I AM FROM THE CANJE TURN "" TIMES OF THE OLD DUTCH CANJE SWING BRIDGE WHICH I WELDED WHEN REPAIRS WERE NEEDED / THAT SWING BRIDGE WAS MAINTAINED BY THE M.W.H JULY 2024

[@dominiqueallums-farley6704]

How long was the drive into the Brazil border? Is there only one way in? Have you heard of any other plans to build more road connections? It is a shame the former colonizers did not do anything to build infrastructure. Are you aware of examples of any countries where European colonial rulers developed the country? Guyana didn't gain independence until the 50's so what kind of development happened before that?

[@Toma23358]

Comming from East Europe, i didnt know anything about Guyana. This travel series changed that. Far better than some education videos that talk about countries in front of green screen. Kep up this work and you will get 1M subscripers in no time.

[@mikhailv67tv]

Fabulous series I’ve just binged the last few episodes.

[@gordon2766]

I wish I could like this more than once

[@stereomachine]

Same. It's hard for me to overemphasize how much I appreciated this. It really did Guyana justice, still covering the good and the bad fairly.

[@AlexRothman]

Thanks a lot guys!

[@robertplatte5700]

watch it more than once add to the views, just as good as a like

[@kerrygillis5745]

As a Creole Guyanese-Canadian, I thank Alex Rothman for producing such a well researched, sensitively-narrated and engaging series of videos. I learned even more about a country that's dear to me and many of Alex's conclusions are spot-on. But why is there no mention of the Chinese communities in Guyana? They descended from Chinese indentured labourers who arrived in 1853 and became successful merchants over time. Arthur Chung was Guyana's 1st president from 1970 to 1980 while Burnham was PM. Also, the videos suggest that the violence of its colonial past somehow defines its present and seems to create a foreboding impression of the country. Yes, it's poor, and yes it can be unsafe, but no more so than any country in similar cirumstances. Its people are incredibly generous and share a deep sense of community, even in Georgetown. As they say in the video, race never really seems to be a "thing" there until election time and even the 2 political parties aren't as cleanly divided along racial lines anymore. Otherwise, I really appreciate that Alex is sharing these stories, our stories, with the rest of the world. I'm looking forward to the others, Alex...

[@dominiqueallums-farley6704]

Unfortunately race relations is probably more of a problem that you may not see. It is a problem in the United States as well. Something called implicit bias. It shows up in every space of someone's everyday life. It shows up in ways someone is prejudged Services Healthcare education and access to quality of life. A community cannot thrive if the majority around them are unwell physically emotionally spiritually etc. All of the issues of the unwell will boil up and spill over and contaminated all around

[@ra-neter6662]

whats creole guyanese ?

[@ra-neter6662]

and bruh they cant everything perfect

[@bertanelson8062]

Thanks for info.

[@RobertJohnson-lc5bj]

Thank you , it was a pleasure to visit Guyana with you . I learned a lot .I made the mistake of calling the lingo “plantation English” once . My Trinnie friend expressed his disapproval . Creole it is .

[@joelwale]

I rarely comment, but a like and comment is deserved. Just found this and binged your playlists. Thank you, formidable content sir.

Amazing job guys! Perfect blend of history, politics, culture, geography, environment...etc etc. Great visuals as well (film and GIS)

[@oneworld797]

Many years ago when I visited Guyana I had an opportunity to travel from Parika to Hog Island. While I was boarding a twin engine motor boat I saw a few foreigners boarding couple of vessels with many equipments as well as many c a n s of gasoline. I ask someone out of curiosity where these people were heading to. I was told they were Canadian oil explorers who are heading deep into the forest of gaya na with the intention of finding oil. I had forgotten this issue for a very very long time until I heard Guyana has made huge discoveries of oil. Very happy to see this video and experience the change Guyana has made since then. I wish Guyana will make great progress . Wonderful friendly people of Guyana. I also stayed at Le Meridien Georgetown to name a few. I enjoy their Pepper pot and other specialities. I saw Manatees , Anaconda in real, as well as stuffed species of one of world's largest river fish, i think it is called Arapaima. I was equally thrilled by the youthful Guyanese playing Hindi and Eddy Grant numbers on Steel drums in the evenings at Georgetown. Eddy grant is a Guyanese by birth? Cheers.

[@werquantum]

What a fantastic series this is. I love the photography, the music, and the honest and rawness of the production. Also, your love of this kind of work is evident, and your presentation style is easy to follow and respectful to the subject and your audience. Your regular recapping of the history and of previous important details is key in keeping me square on what’s going on. Great breadth of discovery and a very cogent and interesting explanation of how its history continues to impact today. Just great. Thanks for risking your lives for our entertainment. Be well.

[@vigilante7]

FINALLY!!!! We’ve all been waiting. Christmas 🎄has come early!!!!

[@davidmiles-hanschell]

Until rising sea levels encroach over the dikes.

[@SandstormGT]

This was a great series. I am an American that knew nothing about Guyana and not sure how I stumbled across the first video but it was captivating so I had to watch them all!

[@AlexRothman]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Junje-ri9jo]

​@@AlexRothman⚪️🗑

[@paveltimofelle]

Hey Alex, Thanks a lot for brilliant content. Always waiting for new episodes!!

[@thor.halsli]

Norwegian here, to all the guianas, please please please adopt the norwegian oil policy and model. Our way is tested and proven to work for over 50 years now. Congrats on your find and good luck in the future

[@CMCNestT]

Norway had a solid, low corruption democracy before you found oil. Unfortunately, it is more likely Guyana follows the path of Venezuela or Angola.

[@gaim44]

@@CMCNestT . Norway consistently ranks among the happiest countries globally, thanks to its robust social safety nets, high levels of trust and equality within its society, and the priority it places on work-life balance. Nice try .

[@mirowestmaas4566]

Impossible. Guyana is a human resource drained nation.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@gaim44 Because Norway is a relatively homogeneous society, hence the high trust and equality.

[@trishdelacour8746]

No offence but as an African who knows how these types of countries operate I can only say I would fall on my back in shock if it worked. You have absolutely no idea of corruption.

[@MugPunter-ur5gf]

Hands down the best documentary series I’ve seen on KZbin, i just had to binge watch the whole series. Exceptionally well done.

[@leonardoo6150]

Really great series! Looking forward to the amazon one

[@amenenema474]

I'm so glad I just stumbled upon this channnel! These videos are incredibly well-made, and your voice and presentation are perfect. Succinct, calming, and easy to listen to and follow 👍

[@AlexRothman]

Glad you like them!

[@ianbarlow5581]

Ive been watching all your travel docs for a long time now. Great job intertwining the past with the present to make sense, somewhat, of it all. My mate and I were stuck in Paramaribo in 2000, these current travel docos are so on the mark. Ive learnt so much from them. Looking fwd to all your future ones. Thanks

[@garyley4270]

Another fascinating video, thanks

[@skektek]

I just finished this series, and wow, I'm impressed. I learned an immense amount and was entertained throughout. Your presentation was so professional and engaging, and the camera work was beautiful. I'm subscribing and can't wait to watch more of your content, it really gives a great insight into countries and cultures I knew very little about.

[@anamulhaquejasim1523]

Hey Alex, I think you can also make a series on my country "Bangladesh" like you did with Sri Lanka and now you're doing with Guyana. You can also make a series on "Partition of India 1947" and it's consequences. I think you will find almost everything interesting about my country or the history of the whole indian subcontinent. Anyway I always enjoy when someone talks about a land, it's people, it's geography, it's history altogether and where it stands today. So I find your work Absolutely Amazing❤

[@fareenahahn5288]

Great documentation. One of the Best i have seen in modern Times. Thank you Roth

[@laion_uy]

What a journey this video series has been. I’m so happy to have discovered this channel. Can’t wait for the next ones!

[@1notoriousnomad]

Well made educational content!! Thank you so much for this experience you’ve given me to learn in-depth.

[@huwtindall7096]

Just binge watched your Guyana series mate. Fascinating. Hope you've got plans for future series.

[@IanSowers]

Really enjoying these videos - thanks! I greatly appreciate the recaps & occasional repetition, as they contain a LOT of information

[@8unk8]

my mom moved to the states from Guyana right in that 1979-1980 period. Never been there as she has no desire to return there again, but my cousin said it was getting alot better recently and has made me start thinking about visiting. I knew alot but didn't know anywhere near the depth of what you were able to find out and see. when i was young i was never proud of being half guyanese as almost nobody around me knew about it and if they did it was that it was the origin of don't drink the kool-aid. lately i've found myself embracing it more, even though the country has so far to go. but the hope and attention of recent years is drawing me closer and closer

[@trishdelacour8746]

Wow this has been an incredible series. I did not know much about Guyana at all. I am South African and there are a few parallels as in the Dutch, English colonisation. The huge influx of indentured Indians to work in the cane fields of the province of Natal. The interference by USA and communist Russia during the cold war. Looking at other poorer countries in the world the discovery of oil can be a nightmare with not only local governments fighting over the spoils but internationals too. I really hope these people find their way to peace and prosperity. Thank you for this most informative documentary!

[@gretchenpersimmon4162]

Incredibly well done series, I watched the whole back-catalog of videos and they're just as good. I think I might need to watch them all again! Can't wait to see what's next.

[@KongKillha]

Excellent series about Guyana! Well done. Keep them coming.

[@andresmc210]

I've recently discovered your channel and have been binging it since then. It's like a video version of Matt Lakeman's blog, which is one my favorites. Amazing work, keep it up.

[@AlexRothman]

Massive Matt Lakeman fan right here! I discovered him long after starting this type of video, but the comparison occured to me as well

[@FuturFab]

Thank you so much ! We watched the whole series on Guyana, it was very informative. Great job !

[@NC-qc7wd]

Love it love it. I am hooked with you guys and thank you for both different views and perceptions.

[@joaohenriquedesouzafleck449]

I honestly can't understand how you're not already a top tier channel with 100 million subscribers, amazing series. Not only that, but also Tajikistan and Sri Lanka (I'll watch Guatemala next).

[@believeinpeace]

Wow, thank you so much for this series. what a great education i have received

[@ellenbettini3877]

Thank you so much for your explanation with the history of Guyana. Im originally from Brazil and intent to visit Guyana one day .

[@Swentibold]

Amazing series, great videography and provides a lot of information

[@nico.exeeee]

The temperature records are only the ones recorded in the capital, Georgetown. In the hilly regions it drops way below 18°C year round and it often reaches over 38°C in the Savannahs during dry season. The record low temperature at the CJIA airport was 12.7°C in 2006.

[@BobSweete]

Thanks for the perspective...insightful as usual.

[@scottbeckett4190]

As the son of white colonialists with roots going back to the mid 1800’s this was an incredible education. Thank you. My father became a sea captain and left Guyana around 1945 and never really went back. His mother left in the mid-60’s. My father was an interesting man with more Indo, Chinese and Afro Guyanese friends than white friends. He also loved the food and the music. He went back only once as a group of volunteers who scrutinized the elections. I have never been but when it is a bit safer I will be visiting. Thank you for this.

[@AlexRothman]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

[@UnstoppableYouth-wu9np]

Bruh wat you talking it's really safe here

[@RK-cj4oc]

​@@UnstoppableYouth-wu9np I assume he means when Venezuela stops threatening to invade the country, not any safety issues within the country itself.

[@johnfrantzen9214]

Wow what a great series So glad it popped up for me on KZbin

[@jonathanharrison815]

Top quality programme making. Excellent visuals and the commentary is a superb mix of really well researched and presented information alongside great authentic travelogue content.

[@odadayem664]

Kepp up the great work! really enjoyed this series

[@Lvl7susceptible]

Good stuff, glad I just found this series yesterday and didn't have to wait

[@darylalbert4872]

Interesting video about Guyana - look forward to watching more

[@JeffreyMartin]

really great video series, thank you so much!

[@WAengus48]

A really top class documentary series. Very educational and entertaining, expertly presented and featuring some beautiful views of Guyana. 10/10.

[@thejosephb]

Amazing series! I'm really looking forward to the next one.

[@nadmohab]

I loved this series and learnt so much 🤓🇬🇾

[@DrAnxiety17]

One of the most informative videos I've seen in a while.

[@anamulhaquejasim1523]

Just absolutely amazing content

[@carolinepedersenable]

OMG. This was so fascinating. I’ve watched all 4 videos on Guyana and am anxious to see your video on the Amazon. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us armchair travellers. We are better for it.

[@squishydoo5417]

Perfect timing! I had been putting off watching this series for some reason but finally sat down and watched the first three yesterday-and then this one came out! I found your channel through the Tajikistan series and loved that, and I’m loving this one so far, too!

[@AlexRothman]

Thanks a lot for the comment! Glad you’re enjoying

[@ctceoar8498]

Fascinating series 🙌

[@permelin2233]

That was a very interesting and well produced serie of episodes. Thank you 🙏

[@AlexRothman]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@permelin2233]

@@AlexRothman Suprised you don't have more followers? There loss, I will go through your videos 👍

[@sethbardsley5870]

Really nice interspersing of travel vlog and history. Loved the series so far.

[@proximacentaur1654]

What a great series. I watched it all back to back. Really well done.

[@AlexRothman]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@googa-u6o]

Hey man you make amazing videos, recently found your channel and binged all your videos. The Sri lanka and tamil conflict is was really interesting topic and i wanted to ask if can make a video about the indian tamils and their history you have piqued my interest would love a video about that thank you so much for the content you make

[@DuncanWilcock]

Same. Learned a lot about Tamil & south east Asia. Thank you!

[@StephenGoodfellow]

Deserves many more views. Fascinating insight into a country on the cusp of complete transformation!

[@WanderingVik]

This series is amazing! 🎉🎉🎉

[@carrickmay3944]

Great series mate, very thoughtfully put together, well informed, and telling the story in an engaging way. Just like your Sri Lankan series. Look forward to your next adventure.

[@chrislegg4949]

Enjoyed the series mate! On the topic of the prices, some countries have a local price and a tourist price as I'm sure you are aware, the $80 seems like it would be more of a tourist price to me.

[@Hadassah7000]

I can't wait for the next videos! You are inspiring me to conquer my fears and go meet real people down south. (I'm not afraid of them, but the spiders and snakes...) and no, I'm not afraid of the tarantulas. I've done my research. What do you think, I'm watching the Rothman!

[@stereomachine]

This is such a great video. Very nuanced, you clearly took a lot of effort to actually understand the country.

[@AlexRothman]

Thanks! 😃

[@ImranHarripersaud]

Watching from Guyana

[@applegatearts]

I really enjoyed this and learned a lot. Thank you.

[@awolnid8580]

Very good, thanks from France

[@willcowan]

Excellent series, I cant wait for the next episode.

[@abduakhmedov1492]

great explanation of the data and amazing exploration . Thank you sir!

[@WanderingVik]

Great job Alex!

[@nafijulalam]

Its been a great series.

[@kathyschreiber9947]

You are an amazing traveler. Thanks for the deep dive on a little known country. Somehow I don't see Guyana as the new Norway of South America, sadly.

[@producedbypodcast]

Love these videos!

[@Functional_Dissident]

Great stuff. Can I recommend in your future videos/travels you give us more of an idea of what the cost of things are. I know u touched on it a bit at the end. Again, great stuff

[@eldraque4556]

great series

[@bhastro9959]

informative, balances, well-made and interesting.

[@lancecorporal7605]

wow, Guyana seems cool~

[@Ammil25]

great video, good calipso!

[@KtoTo-v2k]

Отличное видео 🎉🎉🎉 огромная работа

[@AdeshSoodeen]

Great Videos on Guyana. I hope you will consider doing a future video about Trinidad and Tobago. It's just north of Guyana.

[@iangomes]

Thanks for doing these!

[@AlexRothman]

Glad you like them!

[@davidmiles-hanschell]

I am looking forward to your next account as you travel south; keep safe and alert to all the potential hazards.

[@Bakabana77]

Hi Alex, I really enjoyed your Guyana videos... didn't you promise a video about Suriname / maroons? I hope you will do some videos on Suriname (and French Guyana). For now, loved the four videos already!

[@SharonHF]

I just discovered your channel through my suggested (it makes sense) and I’m already almost done with what you have. You deserve way more viewers than you have. Your information is presented in a clear way that isn’t babbling, with graphics that add to the info but also aren’t “too much”.,

[@davidmiles-hanschell]

This is an informative and in my humble opinion an excellent up to date portrayal of what was a colony of the British Empire and now a multicultural multiracial society independent nation state coming to terms with the mixed good fortune of fossil fuel on its doorstep.

[@anthonyclementson9658]

Very good analysis. Guyana current GDP does not reflect in its current GNI.

[@curly__3]

Awesome vid! Thanks. This explains why Venezuela wants to steal all their oil...and appears they could without US defenses.

[@amazonwarrior7126]

so you ar saying the Us will let the crazed nut from venezuela take all of exxonmobile billions invested in Guyana? And the USA will say oh Venezuela oh venezuela please dont do that?

[@dominiqueallums-farley6704]

Great job on mentioning the importance of having an identity. It is very important to understand how colonization impact the mental health of the oppressed peoples who worked the colony. The oppressed peoples typically have their identities stripped and do not learn to value themselves. Anyone who takes a basic human psychology class understands the importance of self identity. Without that identity a group of people can be self destructive. That is why you mentioned you saw or heard about violence alcoholism etc. The creole dialect is a mixture of various languages like you said. There are some afroguyanese who have made videos showing others and children how to embrace it. There is a statue of Coffey/Cuffie in town however there should be a statue of indoguyanese heroes as well. Ive heard thar many IndoGuyanese long for some relationship with the mother country. Perhaps there is an identity complex there. The divisions that were set up and exacerbated are another form of mental colonization that unfortunately it is difficult for the country that is not monlithic to break from. This phenomenon is seen in the united states as well.