Prime Minister of Guyana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Flag of Guyana
Seal of the Office of the Prime Minister of Guyana
Incumbent Mark Phillips since 2 August 2020
Cabinet of Guyana
Style	The Honourable
Residence	Prime Minister's Residence, Main Street, Georgetown
Appointer	President of Guyana
Term length	5 years, renewable
Formation	26 May 1966
First holder	Forbes Burnham
Succession	Any Minister of Government as designated by the President

The Prime Minister of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is an important leader in Guyana. This person is an elected member of the National Assembly of Guyana. Their main job is to help and advise the President. They also lead government activities in the National Assembly. However, the Prime Minister is not the main head of the government. If the President's job becomes empty, the Prime Minister takes over as President.

History of the Prime Minister's Role

The job of Prime Minister in Guyana started in 1966. This was when Guyana became an independent country. Before that, the role was called Premier or Chief Minister of British Guiana. In 1964, the last elections happened when Guyana was still British Guiana. The Premier at that time automatically became the Prime Minister when Guyana gained independence.

From 1966 to 1980, the Prime Minister was the head of the government. This meant they had the main power to run the country. During this time, the head of state was Elizabeth II (represented by a Governor-General) until 1970. After 1970, Guyana became a republic, and a ceremonial president was the head of state.

In 1980, Guyana changed its constitution. This new rule created an executive president. This President became both the head of state and the head of government. The person who was Prime Minister before this change became the new President. The job of Prime Minister still existed, but it also became the First Vice-President. This showed that the Prime Minister was next in line to be President. The power of the Prime Minister can change. It depends on what jobs the President gives them.

How the Prime Minister is Chosen and What They Do

The President chooses the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister must be an elected member of the National Assembly of Guyana. In Guyana, when people vote for members of the National Assembly, they are also voting for the President. This means the Prime Minister always comes from the same political party or group as the President.

Most political parties announce who their President and Prime Minister candidates will be. But only the President candidate is legally required to be named before the election. The President has the power to choose, appoint, or remove the Prime Minister. However, the person chosen must be able to become President if needed. This makes sure that if the Prime Minister has to take over as President, they meet all the requirements.

According to Guyana's Constitution (Article 101), the Prime Minister is the President's main helper. They assist the President in doing their job.

The Prime Minister's responsibilities include:

• Acting as President when the President is away or cannot do their job.
• Becoming President if the President dies, is removed, or resigns.
• Leading Cabinet meetings when the President is not there.
• Leading government activities in the National Assembly. This is about making laws, not being the main head of government.
• Managing the Prime Minister's office and its related agencies.
• Taking on any extra government minister jobs the President gives them.

The Constitution also says that the Prime Minister, as the First Vice-President, is more important than any other Vice-Presidents.

Taking the Oath of Office

Before a Prime Minister is officially appointed, the President signs a special document. This document is called an 'Instrument Appointing a Prime Minister'. It names the person chosen and explains which part of the constitution allows the appointment.

The person chosen to be Prime Minister then takes an oath. This is a promise to do their job well. The oath is written in the Constitution of Guyana. It 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 Prime Minister 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 words 'so help me God' are not in the official oath. But the Prime Minister can choose to add them at the end. After taking the oath, the Prime Minister signs it. The President also signs it. Then, the official appointment document is given to the Prime Minister.

Symbols of the Prime Minister's Office

The Prime Minister does not have special symbols for their job. They use the national coat of arms of Guyana. The Prime Minister is one of only two officials in Guyana who do not use regular car license plates. The other is the President. The car carrying the Prime Minister has a gold image of the coat of arms of Guyana on it.

Leaders of Guyana: Chief Ministers, Premiers, and Prime Ministers

This is a list of the main leaders of Guyana. It starts from when the job of Chief Minister of British Guiana was created in 1953. After 1980, when the vice presidency was created, the title became the Prime Minister and First Vice President of Guyana.

Chief Ministers of British Guiana

No.	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Political Party	Monarch(s)
			Started	Ended	Length of Time
1		Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997)	30 May 1953	9 October 1953	132 days	People's Progressive Party	Elizabeth II
(1)			21 August 1957	5 September 1961	3 years, 261 days

Premiers of British Guiana

No.	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Political Party	Monarch(s)
			Started	Ended	Length of Time
1		Cheddi Jagan (1918–1997)	5 September 1961	12 December 1964	3 years, 98 days	People's Progressive Party	Elizabeth II
2		Forbes Burnham (1923–1985)	12 December 1964	26 May 1966	1 year, 165 days	People's National Congress

Prime Ministers of Guyana

No.	Picture	Name (Born–Died)	Time in Office			Political Party	Head(s) of State
			Started	Ended	Length of Time
Guyana (Commonwealth Realm)
1		Forbes Burnham (1923–1985)	26 May 1966	23 February 1970	3 years, 273 days	People's National Congress	Elizabeth II
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
(1)		Forbes Burnham (1923–1985)	23 February 1970	6 October 1980	10 years, 226 days	People's National Congress	Luckhoo Chung
2		Ptolemy Reid (1918–2003)	6 October 1980	16 August 1984	3 years, 315 days	People's National Congress	Burnham
3		Desmond Hoyte (1929–2002)	16 August 1984	6 August 1985	355 days	People's National Congress
4		Hamilton Green (born 1934)	6 August 1985	9 October 1992	7 years, 64 days	People's National Congress	Hoyte
5		Sam Hinds (born 1943)	9 October 1992	17 March 1997	4 years, 159 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	C. Jagan Himself
6		Janet Jagan (1920–2009)	17 March 1997	19 December 1997	277 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	Hinds
(5)		Sam Hinds (born 1943)	19 December 1997	9 August 1999	1 year, 233 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	J. Jagan
7		Bharrat Jagdeo (born 1964)	9 August 1999	11 August 1999	2 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic
(5)		Sam Hinds (born 1943)	11 August 1999	20 May 2015	15 years, 282 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	Jagdeo Ramotar
8		Moses Nagamootoo (born 1947)	20 May 2015	2 August 2020	5 years, 74 days	Alliance for Change (APNU)	Granger
9		Mark Phillips (born 1961)	2 August 2020	Incumbent	4 years, 316 days	People's Progressive Party/Civic	Ali

Timeline of Prime Ministers

More to Explore

In Spanish: Primer ministro de Guyana para niños

• List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II
• List of governors of British Guiana
• List of heads of state of Guyana
• President of Guyana
• Vice President of Guyana
• List of Privy Counsellors (1952–2022)