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 Guyana Independence Act 1966 was the Queen of Guyana, Elizabeth II, who was also the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen 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 a ceremonial President, by that time. Currently, the President of Guyana is both head of state and head of government and is elected by the National Assembly.

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

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.

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, with the establishment of the executive presidency.

...
Wikipedia