List of heads of state of Guyana

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This is a list of the heads of state of Guyana, from the independence of Guyana in 1966 to the present day.

From 1966 to 1970 the head of state under the Constitution of 1966 was the queen of Guyana, Elizabeth II, who was also the queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Guyana by a governor-general. Guyana became a republic within the Commonwealth under the Constitution of 1970 and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonial president, by that time.

Monarch (1966–1970)[]

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign			Royal House	Prime minister(s)
			Reign start	Reign end	Duration
1		Queen Elizabeth II (born 1926)	26 May 1966	23 February 1970	3 years, 273 days	Windsor	Burnham

Governor-general[]

The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Guyana and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Guyana was granted independence by the , rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous dominion and later promoted to independence as defined by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Guyana without the involvement of the British government, with the sole exception of Richard Luyt, the former colonial governor, who served as governor-general temporarily until he was replaced by David Rose. In the event of a vacancy the Chancellor (the head of the judicial branch, serving directly above the Chief Justice of Guyana) would have served as the officer administering the government.

Status

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch	Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Sir Richard Luyt (1915–1994)	26 May 1966	31 October 1966	158 days	Elizabeth II	Burnham
–		(1903–1985)	1 November 1966	16 December 1966	45 days	Elizabeth II	Burnham
2		Sir David Rose (1923–1969)	16 December 1966	10 November 1969†	2 years, 329 days	Elizabeth II	Burnham
–		Sir Edward Luckhoo (1912–1998)	10 November 1969	23 February 1970	105 days	Elizabeth II	Burnham

President of Guyana[]

Under the Constitution of 1970, the first constitution of the Republic of Guyana, the president replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The president was elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Chancellor (the head of the judicial branch, serving directly above the Chief Justice of Guyana) served as acting president. In 1980, the powers of the president were increased, with the establishment of the executive presidency.

Currently, the president is both head of state and head of government and, pursuant to article 91 of the Constitution, is directly elected on the basis of the votes cast in the general election. On Nomination Day, each list of contesting parties designate a member of their list as that party's presidential candidate. The presidential candidate whose party's list of candidates receives the most votes is elected president. In the event of a vacancy, the prime minister becomes president.

Status

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political party	Elected	Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Ceremonial President
–		Sir Edward Luckhoo (1912–1998)	23 February 1970	17 March 1970	22 days	None[a]	—	Burnham
1		Arthur Chung (1918–2008)	17 March 1970	12 March 1976	10 years, 203 days	Independent	1970	Burnham
			12 March 1976	6 October 1980			1976
Executive President
2		Forbes Burnham (1923–1985)	6 October 1980	6 August 1985†	4 years, 304 days	People's National Congress	1980	Reid Hoyte
3		Desmond Hoyte (1929–2002)	6 August 1985	12 December 1985	7 years, 64 days	People's National Congress	—	Green
			12 December 1985	9 October 1992			1985
4		Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997)	9 October 1992	6 March 1997†	4 years, 148 days	People's Progressive Party	1992	Hinds
5		Sam Hinds (born 1943)	6 March 1997	19 December 1997	288 days	People's Progressive Party	—	J. Jagan
6		Janet Jagan (1920–2009)	19 December 1997	11 August 1999 (resigned.)	1 year, 235 days	People's Progressive Party	1997	Hinds Jagdeo
7		Bharrat Jagdeo (born 1964)	11 August 1999	31 March 2001	12 years, 114 days	People's Progressive Party	—	Hinds
			31 March 2001	28 August 2006			2001
			28 August 2006	3 December 2011			2006
8		Donald Ramotar (born 1950)	3 December 2011	16 May 2015	3 years, 164 days	People's Progressive Party	2011	Hinds
9		David Granger (born 1945)	16 May 2015	2 August 2020[b]	5 years, 78 days	People's National Congress (APNU)	2015	Nagamootoo
10		Irfaan Ali (born 1980)	2 August 2020	Incumbent	1 year, 224 days	People's Progressive Party	2020	Phillips

Timeline[]

Standards[]

Notes[]

External links[]

• World Statesmen – Guyana
• Rulers.org – Guyana