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, 189 days | People's Progressive Party | 2020 | Phillips |
Timeline[]
Standards[]
Flag of the Governor-General of Guyana (1966–1970)
Presidential Standard of Guyana; from 1970–1980.
Presidential Standard of Guyana 1980–1985; under President Forbes Burnham
Presidential Standard of Guyana 1985–1992; under President Hugh Desmond Hoyte
Presidential Standard of Guyana 1992–1997; under President Cheddi B. Jagan
Presidential Standard of Guyana 1997–1999; under President Janet Jagan
Presidential Standard of Guyana 2015–2020; under President David A. Granger
Presidential Standard of Guyana; 1999–2015 and 2020–present[c]
Notes[]
- ^ Was Chief Justice of Guyana
- ^ Lost confidence vote on 21 December 2018; see 2020 Guyanese general election
- ^ Used by Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo (1999–2011) and Donald Ramotar (2011–2015)
External links[]
- Government of Guyana
- Lists of political office-holders in Guyana
- Presidents of Guyana
- Lists of heads of state