South America the first decade of the 21st century, South American governments have drifted to the political left, with leftist leaders being elected in Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Most South American countries are making increasing use of protectionist policies, helping local development. All South American countries are presidential republics with the exceptions of Peru, which is a semi-presidential republic, and Suriname, a parliamentary republic. French Guiana is a French overseas department, while the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are British overseas territories. It is currently the only inhabited continent in the
Pan-American Highway (South America) Pan-American Highway (South America) The project of a Pan-American highway began in or before 1923. The main idea was to create a network of wide roads that would connect the major points of interest in North and South America with a single highway. The longest segment connects the Brazilian city of Macapá in Amapá State to Cayenne in French Guiana, Paramaribo by the East-West Link Highway in Suriname, Georgetown in Guyana, and Boa Vista city in Roraima Brazilian State. Boa Vista is connected with all the cities in Venezuela such as Ciudad Guayana, its easternmost city. The highway supports trade