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 monarch of 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.
Portrait Name Reign Royal House Prime minister(s) Reign start Reign end Duration 1 Queen Elizabeth II 1966 1970 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 Guyana Independence Act 1966, 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.
Following is a list of people who have served as Governor-General of Guyana.
Status
Symbols Died in office Portrait Name Term of office Monarch Took office Left office Time in office 1 Sir Richard Luyt 1966 1966 Elizabeth II 2 Sir David Rose 1966 1969 – Sir Edward Luckhoo 1969 1970
Republic (1970–present) 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 by a first-past-the-post double simultaneous vote system, whereby each party running in the parliamentary elections nominates a presidential candidate and the presidential candidate of the party which receives the most votes is elected president.Guyana : Constitution and politics The Commonwealth In the event of a vacancy, the prime minister becomes president.
Political parties
Other affiliations
Portrait Name Term of office Political party Elected Cabinet(s) Prime minister(s) Took office Left office Time in officeCeremonial President 1 Arthur Chung 1970 1980 Independent 1970 rowspan="2" Burnham 1976Executive President 2 Forbes Burnham 1980 1985 PNCR 1980 Burnham ReidHoyte 3 Desmond Hoyte 1985 1992 PNCR — Hoyte I Green 1985 Hoyte II 4 Cheddi Jagan 1992 1997 PPP/C 1992 C. Jagan Hinds 5 Sam Hinds 1997 1997 PPP/C — Hinds J. Jagan 6 Janet Jagan 1997 1999 PPP/C 1997 J. Jagan HindsJagdeo 7 Bharrat Jagdeo 1999 2011 PPP/C — Jagdeo I Hinds 2001 2006 Jagdeo II 8 Donald Ramotar 2011 2015 PPP/C 2011 Ramotar 9 David Granger 2015 PNCR 2015 Granger Nagamootoo 10 Irfaan Ali 2020 PPP/C 2020 Ali I Phillips 2025 Ali II
Timeline since 1970
Standards
Notes
References
External links World Statesmen – Guyana Rulers.org – Guyana