As Guyana celebrates the 177th year of Emancipation, it is a befitting time to reflect on the Afro-Guyanese Presidents of the country, who have all contributed in their own way to the country’s development.
Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham
First to be mentioned is the first black President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, L. F. S. Burnham. Even though he passed away three decades ago, his name is still frequently mentioned when discussing Guyana’s politics. The qualified lawyer by profession was born on February 20, 1923 in Kitty, in the then British Guiana. He aided in leading the country to independence on May 26, 1966, after which, under the new Constitution, he became the first Prime Minister of Guyana. Four years later, on February 23, 1970 Guyana became a Republic.
When the people’s new Constitution was promulgated on October 6, 1980, Burnham became Guyana’s first black Executive President, a position he held until his death on August 6, 1985. He died at the Georgetown Hospital after leading the country for 21 years. Burnham maintained a farm, loved to ride on horseback, and was keenly interested in cricket and chess.
Hugh Desmond Hoyte
Hugh Desmond Hoyte was born March 9, 1929 in Georgetown, Guyana. He served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1984 to 1985, and President of Guyana from 1985 (after the death of Burnham) until 1992. Soon after assuming the Office of President, he began dismantling Burnham’s socialist framework. He also began courting foreign investors and making peace with the International Monetary Fund in order to stanch rising poverty and the national debt. He was instrumental in helping to create the Iwokrama project, a conservation area in the Guyana forests.
After losing the 1992 general and regional elections, the first to be termed as fair since 1964, Hoyte remained a formidable force in the opposition. He was the People’s Nation Congress’ (PNC’s) presidential candidate in the elections of 1996 and 2001. Hoyte remained leader of the PNC until his death on December 22, 2002.
Samuel Archibald Hinds
Samuel Archibald Anthony Hinds born December 27, 1943, is Guyana’s longest serving Prime Minister. He served as President briefly in March 1997 after the passing of Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
In the December 1997 general elections, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic nominated Hinds as candidate for Prime Minister, while Janet Jagan was the candidate for the presidency. Following the PPP/C’s victory, he was re-appointed as Prime Minister.
David Arthur Granger
Though currently head of the nation, President David Arthur Granger cannot go unmentioned. Born on July 15, 1945, the retired brigadier has been serving as President of Guyana since May 16, 2015. He was declared the President after the May 2015 general election. Granger will serve as President for the next five years, until the country’s next general elections. The President is married to Sandra (née Chan-A-Sue) and has two daughters – Afuwa and Han.
Granger’s presidency has inspired a nationwide clean-up of the country by citizens from all parts of Guyana. He has pardoned 60 prisoners between the ages 18-25 who were sentenced for minor misdemeanours (non-violent crimes). Annually, he will grant presidential pardons to prisoners who were sentenced for such crimes.
