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.

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)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign start	Reign end	Duration	Royal House	Prime minister(s)
1		Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022)	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.

Following is a list of people who have served as Governor-General of Guyana.

Symbols

^† Died in office.

Denotes Acting Governor-General

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch (Reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Monarch (Reign)
1		Sir Richard Luyt (1915–1994)	26 May 1966	16 December 1966	204 days	Elizabeth II (1966–1970)
2		Sir David Rose (1923–1969)	16 December 1966	10 November 1969^[†]	2 years, 329 days
–		Sir Edward Luckhoo (1912–1998)	10 November 1969	23 February 1970	105 days

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)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Political party	Prime minister(s)
Ceremonial President
1		Arthur Chung (1918–2008)	1970	17 March 1970	6 October 1980	10 years, 203 days	Independent	Burnham
1		Arthur Chung (1918–2008)	1976	17 March 1970	6 October 1980	10 years, 203 days	Independent	Burnham
Executive President
2		Forbes Burnham (1923–1985)	1980	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
3		Desmond Hoyte (1929–2002)	1985	6 August 1985	9 October 1992	7 years, 64 days	People's National Congress	Green
4		Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997)	1992	9 October 1992	6 March 1997†	4 years, 148 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	Hinds
5		Sam Hinds (born 1943)	—	6 March 1997	19 December 1997	288 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	J. Jagan
6		Janet Jagan (1920–2009)	1997	19 December 1997	11 August 1999 (resigned.)	1 year, 235 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	Hinds Jagdeo
7		Bharrat Jagdeo (born 1964)	—	11 August 1999	3 December 2011	12 years, 114 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	Hinds
			2001
			2006
8		Donald Ramotar (born 1950)	2011	3 December 2011	16 May 2015	3 years, 164 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic
9		David Granger (born 1945)	2015	16 May 2015	2 August 2020^[a]	5 years, 78 days	People's National Congress Reform (APNU)	Nagamootoo
10		Irfaan Ali (born 1980)	2020	2 August 2020	Incumbent	4 years, 104 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	Phillips