President of Guyana

The President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is the head of state and the head of government of Guyana, as well as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Republic, according to the Constitution of Guyana. The president is also the chancellor of the Orders of Guyana.[3] Concurrent with their constitutional role as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the President does not appoint a separate Minister of Defence. That portfolio is held by the President who fulfils all responsibilities designated to a minister of defence under the Defence Act.[4]

President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Presidential Emblem
Presidential Standard
Incumbent Irfaan Ali since 2 August 2020
Style	His / Her Excellency
Residence	State House, Georgetown, Guyana
Term length	Duration of National Assembly (five years), renewable once
Inaugural holder	Arthur Chung
Formation	17 March 1970
Succession	Prime Minister of Guyana as First Vice President
Deputy	Vice Presidents of Guyana
Salary	GY$ 1,800,750 per month[1][2]
Website	https://motp.gov.gy/

Presidential styles of Mohamed Irfaan Ali
Reference style	"His Excellency the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana"
Spoken style	"Your Excellency"
Alternative style	"Mr. President"

History and description

When Guyana was declared a republic in 1970 the president was elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term and possessed largely ceremonial powers. Arthur Chung was the only person to hold the office under those legal provisions. Namely, after a 1980 referendum the constitution was amended to make the presidency an executive post (i.e. the office holder would be both the country's head of state and its head of government) and the office became known as the executive president. Forbes Burnham was the first person to become president following these changes.

Election

Pursuant to article 91 of the constitution, the president is elected by the people on the basis of the votes cast in the general election. Each list of contesting parties will on Nomination Day 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 deemed to be elected president and holds office for the legislature's duration — which is, in practice, five years.

If two or more candidates who have more votes cast for them than any other candidate receive an equal number of votes, then under article 177(3) of the constitution, the president shall be determined by drawing lots in the presence of the Chancellor of the Judiciary and the public.[5] This process of drawing lots to determine the president has never occurred in the history of Guyana since the creation of the presidency.

Qualification for election

In order to be qualified to be elected president, a candidate must:

• Be a citizen of Guyana by birth or parentage
• Have resided in Guyana for a period of seven years prior to the date of the election
• Be qualified to be elected a member of the National Assembly, that is to say:
  • Be a citizen of Guyana 18 years and older
  • Be able to speak, and read the English language to an extent which would allow active participation in the proceedings of the National Assembly, unless an incapacity prevents this. In which case this provision will not apply.

Concurrently, under article 155(1) of the constitution, and reinforced by a 2019 ruling of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, persons holding citizenship of Guyana and any other country (dual citizens) are not allowed to be members of the National Assembly, and consequently would not be eligible to be president.[6]

Oath of office

Before entering into office, the a person who has been elected or re-elected President must take and sign the following oath of office, the wording of which is specified in the First Schedule to the constitution:

"I (name) do hereby solemnly declare that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the People of Guyana that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana without fear or favour, affection or ill-will and that in the execution of the functions of that office I will honour, uphold, and preserve the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana."

The phrase 'so help me God' is not specified in the constitution, but may be added at the end of the oath on the personal descretion of the President.

Absence and vacancy of the office

Whenever the president is out of Guyana or is absent from Guyana by reason of illness the Prime Minister, or - if the Prime Minister is already out of Guyana at the same time - any other Minister designated by the president shall assume the office as Acting President until the President is able to resume office.

The constitution also makes provision for a scenario where a president is too ill to transmit the above instructions. In the event this occurs, the temporary succession would proceed, however the person acting as president is prevented from dissolving the National Assembly without the advice of the Cabinet, and may not revoke Presidential appointments. The person acting as president will cease to do so when the substantive president informs them that he/she is well and able to resume office.

The office of President only becomes vacant in the following circumstances:

• If the holder of the office dies
• If the holder of the office resigns via a letter under his/her hand and addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly
• If the holder of the office is removed for incapacity (pursuant to article 179 of the constitution)
• If the holder of the office is removed for violating the constitution or gross misconduct (pursuant to article 180 of the constitution)

Where a vacancy in the office exists in the above circumstances, the Prime Minister becomes the new substantive President rather than being an Acting President.

Order of Succession

In the event that there is a vacancy in the office of President, article 95(1) of the constitution makes provision for a 'worst case scenario' accounting for multiple levels of vacancy and specifies that the order of succession to the presidency shall be:

• The Prime Minister

(of if there is no Prime Minister)

• Any Minister who is an elected member of the National Assembly as determined by the Cabinet

(or if there is no Prime Minister, and no Cabinet)

• The Chancellor of the Judiciary

Symbols of office

Cacique’s Crown

The Cacique’s Crown is the personal emblem of the President of the Republic. Designated as such in 1970 when Guyana became a republic, the Cacique’s Crown has been consistently used by all Presidents. It is commonly seen on stationery, the Presidential vehicle, at the President’s office, and at State House – the President’s official residence. While the Cacique's Crown used by the President and on items connected to the President may have slight artistic variations, it always consists of a design containing seven feathers and often coloured in solid gold or in different shades of gold to show relief. Use of the Cacique’s Crown in an unauthorized manner is restricted.[7] The Cacique’s Crown is also the main feature of the crest of the coat of arms of Guyana.

Cacique’s Crown	Presidential vehicle plate

Arms of the President

The Arms of the President was adopted by Proclamation on 23 February, 1970 when Guyana became a republic. It consists of the shield from the coat of arms of Guyana containing a green inescutcheon bearing a Cacique’s Crown in full colour. The overall shield design is surmounted by a predominantly gold coloured Cacique’s Crown.

The Arms of the President is rarely seen in use. Successive presidents have used the Cacique’s Crown more frequently and consistently than the Arms of the President. During the David Granger presidency (2015-2020), the Arms of the President was used more frequently when it formed the main charge of his Presidential Standard.

Arms of the President

Presidents of Guyana (1970–present)

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	188 days	People's Progressive Party	Phillips

Notes

1. Was Chief Justice of Guyana
2. Lost confidence vote on 21 December 2018; see 2020 Guyanese general election

See also

• List of Commonwealth heads of government
• List of governors of British Guiana
• List of heads of state of Guyana
• Vice President of Guyana
• List of prime ministers of Guyana

References

1. Staff Reporter (10 July 2015). "House cuts 'scandalous', 'outrageous' benefits of former Presidents - 'If Jagan were alive, he would have been appalled by the extravagance', says Finance Minister". Guyana Chronicle.
2. Sanders, Sir Ronald (2015-11-16). "Why is President Granger's salary tax free?". Kaieteur News. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
3. "Ramotar blasts arbitrary handout of national awards". Guyana Times. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015. ...according to the Constitution of the Orders of Guyana, the President is the Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana and custodian of the insignia, ribbons and records of the orders.
4. "Pres Granger presents Brig. Godfrey Bess with Instruments of Commission – Department of Public Information". Department of Public Information – DPI, Guyana, Government, Media, News. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
5. "LAWS OF GUYANA" (PDF). parliament.gov.gy. 2012. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
6. "Clerk of National Assembly wants proof MPs have renounced foreign citizenship". September 1, 2020.
7. "Look-alike presidential crown on wedding car lands road safety advocate in hot water". Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana. 2018-07-17. Retrieved 2021-01-28.

External links

• Office of the President