List of heads of state of Guyana

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

Politics of Guyana
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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 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.

Status
  Denotes Chancellor as acting Officer Administering the Government
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
– 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 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
  Denotes Chancellor acting as President
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[lower-alpha 1] — 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[lower-alpha 2] 5 years, 78 days People's National Congress
(APNU)		 2015 Nagamootoo
10 Irfaan Ali
(born 1980)		 2 August 2020 Incumbent 1 year, 272 days People's Progressive Party 2020 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]

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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