Guyana was a Dutch colony in the 17th century, and in 1831 it officially became British Guiana. The South American country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, and adopted the name Guyana. A third of its population is descended from African slaves, imported by the Dutch to work on sugar plantations. Around half are the descendants of indentured Indian agricultural workers brought in by the British after slavery was abolished in 1834. Persistent tension between these two groups has fuelled political instability and is reflected in hostility between the two main parties, which are ethnically-based. Political troubles, ethnic tensions and economic mismanagement have left the country with serious economic problems, including a poor investment climate, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of skilled labor. Although endowed with natural resources such as minerals and forestry, Guyana remains one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.