List of heads of state of Guyana

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

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From 1966 to 1970 the head of state under the Guyana Independence Act 1966 was the Queen of Guyana, Elizabeth II, who was also the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen was represented in Guyana by a Governor-General. Guyana became a republic under the Constitution of 1970 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President, by that time. Currently, the President of Guyana is both head of state and head of government and is elected by the National Assembly.

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
Reign start Reign end Duration
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(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. The Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Guyana without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status
  Denotes Chief Justice of Guyana as acting Officer Administering the Government
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Monarch Prime Minister
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Sir Richard Luyt
(1915–1994)		 26 May 1966 31 October 1966 158 days Elizabeth II Burnham
– Sir Kenneth Sievewright Stoby
(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 1970 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 five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Prime Minister served as Acting President. In 1980, the powers of the President were increased, with the establishment of the executive presidency.

Status
  Denotes last Governor-General acting as President
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Political party Prime Minister
Took office Left office Time in office
Ceremonial President
– Sir Edward Luckhoo
(1912–1998)		 23 February 1970 17 March 1970 22 days None[lower-alpha 1] Burnham
1 Arthur Chung
(1918–2008)		 17 March 1970 6 October 1980 10 years, 203 days Independent Burnham
Executive President
2 Forbes Burnham
(1923–1985)		 6 October 1980 6 August 1985† 4 years, 304 days People's National Congress Reid
Hoyte
3 Desmond Hoyte
(1929–2002)		 6 August 1985 9 October 1992 7 years, 64 days People's National Congress Green
4 Cheddi Jagan
(1918–1997)		 9 October 1992 6 March 1997† 4 years, 148 days People's Progressive Party Hinds
5 Sam Hinds
(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 Hinds
Jagdeo
7 Bharrat Jagdeo
(1964–)		 11 August 1999 3 December 2011 12 years, 114 days People's Progressive Party Hinds
8 Donald Ramotar
(1950–)		 3 December 2011 16 May 2015 3 years, 164 days People's Progressive Party Hinds
9 David Granger
(1945–)		 16 May 2015 2 August 2020[lower-alpha 2] 5 years, 78 days People's National Congress
(APNU)		 Nagamootoo
10 Irfaan Ali
(1980–)		 2 August 2020 Incumbent 183 days People's Progressive Party Phillips

Timeline
Irfaan AliDavid GrangerDonald RamotarBharrat JagdeoJanet JaganSam HindsCheddi JaganDesmond HoyteForbes BurnhamArthur Chung

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[lower-alpha 3]

Living former heads of state

There are five living former Guyana Heads of State:

Image Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1966–1970 Queen of Guyana (1926-04-21) 21 April 1926
Sam Hinds 1997 President of Guyana (1945-12-27) 27 December 1945
Bharrat Jagdeo 1999–2011 President of Guyana (1964-01-23) 23 January 1964
Donald Ramotar 2011–2015 President of Guyana (1950-10-22) 22 October 1950
David A. Granger 2015–2020 President of Guyana (1945-07-15) 15 July 1945

Notes
  1. Was Chief Justice of Guyana
  2. Lost confidence vote on 21 December 2018; see 2020 Guyanese general election
  3. Used by Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo (1999–2011) and Donald Ramotar (2011–2015)
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