Donald Ramotar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald Ramotar
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|---|---|
 |
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| 8th President of Guyana | |
| In office 3 December 2011 – 16 May 2015 |
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| Prime Minister (also First Vice President) | Sam Hinds |
| Preceded by | Bharrat Jagdeo |
| Succeeded by | David Granger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 October 1950 Caria Caria, British Guiana |
| Political party | People's Progressive Party |
| Spouse |
Deolatchmee Ramotar
(m. 1974) |
| Children | Three |
| Alma mater | University of Guyana |
Donald Rabindranauth Ramotar, born on October 22, 1950, is a politician from Guyana. He served as the eighth President of Guyana from 2011 to 2015. Before becoming President, he was also the General Secretary, or leader, of a political group called the People's Progressive Party (PPP) from 1997 to 2013.
Contents
Donald Ramotar's Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Donald Ramotar joined the People's Progressive Party (PPP) in 1967. This was the start of his long career in politics. He was first chosen to be part of the PPP's Central Committee in 1979. Later, in 1983, he joined the PPP Executive Committee. These committees are important groups that help make decisions for the party.
Ramotar also studied at the Government Technical Institute (GTI), where he earned a certificate in welding. From 1988 to 1993, he worked as the International Secretary for the Guyana Agricultural Workers' Union.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In the 1992 Guyanese general election, the PPP won power after many years. In this election, Donald Ramotar was elected to the National Assembly of Guyana. The National Assembly is like the country's parliament, where laws are made. He was re-elected to this position many times after that.
In 1993, he was named the PPP's Executive Secretary. After the death of the party's leader, Cheddi Jagan, in March 1997, Ramotar was chosen to take his place as the PPP's General Secretary on March 29, 1997.
Leading the Party
Ramotar continued to be a key leader in the PPP. At the party's 29th Congress on August 2, 2008, he was re-elected to the Central Committee. A few days later, on August 12, 2008, the Central Committee re-elected him as General Secretary. He also joined the team that writes for the PPP's newspaper, Thunder.
Running for President
On April 4, 2011, the PPP Central Committee chose Donald Ramotar as their candidate for President in the 2011 Guyanese general election. This election was held in November 2011. There was some discussion about how the choice was made, as it was an open vote instead of a secret one.
Before the election, on April 28, 2011, Ramotar was appointed as a Political Adviser to the President at the time, Bharrat Jagdeo. Some people who were against the government thought this appointment was made to help Ramotar's campaign. However, the government said it was acceptable because Ramotar was leading the ruling party.
Serving as President
The election took place on November 28, 2011. Donald Ramotar was announced as the winner on December 1. However, his party, the PPP, did not win enough seats to have a majority in the National Assembly. They won 32 out of 65 seats. This meant that while Ramotar would be President, two opposition parties together would have more seats in the parliament.
Ramotar said he was disappointed that his party did not win a majority. But he also stated that "the electorate has spoken and we have to work with what we have." He was sworn in as President on December 3, 2011.
During his first two years as President, Ramotar also kept his role as General Secretary of the PPP. But he later decided to step down from the party leadership. He explained that the workload was too heavy. On August 19, 2013, the PPP Central Committee elected Clement Rohee to take over as General Secretary. Ramotar himself suggested Rohee for the position.
End of Presidency and Return to Politics
Donald Ramotar and the PPP lost the 2015 Guyanese general election on May 11, 2015. They lost to a group of opposition parties led by David A. Granger. President Ramotar left office on May 16, 2015, when David Granger was sworn in as the new President. Ramotar was not included in the list of PPP members of parliament in July 2015.
In 2024, nine years after he finished his term as President, Donald Ramotar returned to active politics. He was elected to the PPP's central committee once again.
Awards and Recognition
Donald Ramotar has received special awards for his work.
| Year | Country | Ribbon | Award | Given by | Field of Merit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 |  India |
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Pravasi Bharatiya Samman | President of India | Public affairs |
In January 2015, he was given the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. This award is given to people of Indian origin who have made important contributions in their home countries or abroad. The ceremony took place in Gandhinagar, India.
See also
In Spanish: Donald Ramotar para niños
