Since March 22, 1967, Guyana has been a member of the Universal Postal Union. Following independence in 1966, Guyana began issuing its own postage stamps as an independent nation. The first stamps of the new independent republic were the 1966 issue, produced by overprinting “GUYANA INDEPENDENCE 1966” (“Guyana. Independence 1966”) on stamps of British Guiana. At the same time, a commemorative issue commemorating the declaration of independence of Guyana also went into circulation.