President of Guyana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids President of theCo-operative Republic of Guyana |
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Current presidential standard
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Presidential emblem
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| Style | His Excellency |
| Residence | State House, Georgetown |
| Seat | Georgetown |
| Term length | Five years, renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Guyana |
| Precursor | Queen of Guyana |
| Inaugural holder | Arthur Chung |
| Formation | 17 March 1970 |
| Succession | Prime Minister of Guyana (as First Vice President) |
| Deputy | Vice Presidents of Guyana |
| Website | https://motp.gov.gy/ |
The President of Guyana is a very important leader in the country of Guyana. This person is both the head of state (the main representative of the country) and the head of government (the leader who runs the country day-to-day). The President is also the commander-in-chief of Guyana's armed forces, which means they are in charge of the military.
The President also holds the special title of Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana. This means they are in charge of giving out national awards and honors. The President even acts as the Minister of Defence, looking after the country's safety and military.
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History of the Presidency
When Guyana became a republic in 1970, it meant they no longer had the British monarch as their head of state. Instead, they created the role of President. At first, the President was mostly a ceremonial leader, like a symbol for the country. The National Assembly (Guyana's parliament) chose the President for a five-year term.
Arthur Chung was the first person to be President under these rules. Later, in 1980, the rules changed. The President became an "executive president." This meant the President was now both the head of state and the head of government, holding much more power. Forbes Burnham was the first executive president of Guyana.
How the President is Chosen
The President of Guyana is chosen by the people during the country's general elections. When people vote for a political party in the parliamentary election, they are also voting for that party's chosen presidential candidate.
Each political party names one person as their presidential candidate before the election. The candidate whose party gets the most votes in the election becomes the President. They usually serve for five years, which is the length of time the parliament usually lasts.
If, by chance, two candidates get the exact same number of votes, the constitution has a special rule. They would draw lots (like picking a name from a hat) to decide who becomes President. However, this has never happened in Guyana's history!
Who Can Be President?
To become President of Guyana, a person must meet certain requirements:
- They must be a citizen of Guyana from birth or because their parents are Guyanese.
- They must have lived in Guyana for seven years right before the election.
- They must also be able to be a member of the National Assembly. This means they need to be:
- A citizen of Guyana who is 18 years old or older.
- Able to speak and read English well enough to take part in parliament meetings.
There's also a rule that says people who are citizens of Guyana and another country (called "dual citizens") cannot be members of the National Assembly. Because of this, they also cannot be President.
Taking the Oath of Office
Before a new President starts their job, they must take a special promise called an "oath of office." This is a formal declaration where they promise to do their best for the country.
The oath says: "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."
Sometimes, a President might choose to add "so help me God" at the end of the oath, but it's not required by the constitution.
When the President is Away or the Office is Empty
If the President is out of Guyana or sick, someone else steps in to act as President. Usually, this is the Prime Minister of Guyana. If the Prime Minister is also away, another minister chosen by the President can take on the role. This acting President does the job until the real President returns or gets well.
The President's office can become officially empty in a few situations:
- If the President passes away.
- If the President decides to resign (quit) by writing a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly.
- If the President is removed from office because they are unable to do their job due to a serious illness.
- If the President is removed for breaking the constitution or for very bad behavior.
If the office becomes empty for any of these reasons, the Prime Minister becomes the new President permanently, not just acting.
Who Takes Over if There's No President?
If the President's office becomes empty, there's a clear order of who takes over:
- First in line is the Prime Minister of Guyana.
- If there is no Prime Minister, then any minister who is an elected member of the National Assembly, as decided by the Cabinet (a group of top government officials).
- If there's no Prime Minister and no Cabinet, then the Chancellor of the Judiciary (a top judge) would take over.
Symbols of the President
The President of Guyana has special symbols that represent their office and the country.
The Cacique's Crown
The Cacique's Crown is a special symbol just for the President. It was chosen in 1970 when Guyana became a republic. All Presidents have used it since then. You can see it on official papers, the President's car, in their office, and at the State House, which is the President's official home.
The Cacique's Crown design always has seven feathers and is usually gold. It's a very important symbol, and only the President or authorized people can use it. This crown is also a main part of Guyana's national coat of arms.
Arms of the President
The Arms of the President is another symbol adopted in 1970. It looks like the shield from Guyana's coat of arms, but it has a green shield inside with a colorful Cacique's Crown on it. The whole design is topped with a gold Cacique's Crown.
This symbol is not used as often as the Cacique's Crown. Presidents tend to use the crown more frequently.
Guyana's First Constitution
When Guyana became independent on May 26, 1966, it got its first constitution. This document said that Guyana was a democratic country where laws were very important. At first, the British monarch was still the head of state, but a Governor General represented them in Guyana. The Governor General had mostly ceremonial duties.
The real power was with the Prime Minister, who was chosen by the party with the most votes in the National Assembly. Forbes Burnham became a very important leader during this time.
On February 23, 1970, Guyana officially became the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. This was a big step because it completely cut Guyana's ties with the British monarchy. The Governor General was replaced by a Guyanese President, who became the country's first head of state.
Even though Guyana broke ties with the British monarch, it remained part of the Commonwealth of Nations. This group helped Guyana with trade and defense, especially against claims on its land by Venezuela.
In 1978, there was a vote (called a referendum) about changing the constitution. The proposed change would make it easier to change important parts of the constitution without needing another referendum.
List of Presidents
Images for kids
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Cacique's Crown
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Presidential vehicle plate
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Arms of the President
See also
In Spanish: Presidente de Guyana para niños
