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 Guyana Independence Act 1966 was the Monarch, who was the same person as the Monarch of the United Kingdom and of the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch 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 an ceremonial President.

Monarch (1966–1970)

The succession to the throne of Guyana was the same as the succession to the throne of the United Kingdom, governed by the Act of Settlement 1701.

Monarch Reign Royal House Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Reign start Reign end Duration
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 26 May 1966 23 February 1970 3 years, 273 days House of Windsor Burnham

Governors-General

Standard of the Governor-General of Guyana

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. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, 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 acting as Officer Administering the Government
Governor-General Term of Office Monarch(s) Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Took Office Left Office Duration
1 Sir Richard Luyt
(1915–1994)		 26 May 1966 16 December 1966 204 days Elizabeth II Burnham
2 Sir David Rose
(1923–1969)		 16 December 1966 10 November 1969
(Died in Office)		 2 years, 329 days Elizabeth II Burnham
3 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, taking the President of France as an example.

Status
  Denotes Acting President
President Term of office Political party
(at time of election)		 Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1 Arthur Chung
(1918–2008)		 17 March 1970 6 October 1980 10 years, 203 days Independent Burnham
2 Forbes Burnham
(1923–1985)		 6 October 1980 6 August 1985
(Died in Office)		 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
(Died in Office)		 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 Janet 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 Incumbent 3 years, 149 days
(as of 1 May 2015)		 People's Progressive Party Hinds

Living former heads of state

Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1966–1970 Queen of Guyana 21 April 1926
Sam Hinds 1997 President of Guyana 27 December 1943
Bharrat Jagdeo 1999–2011 President of Guyana 23 January 1964

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