forbes burnham was the first executive president of guyana.
forbes burnham was the first executive president of guyana.
who was the first executive president of guyana?
forbes burnham
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. after a 1980 referendum, the constitution was amended to make the president an executive post, and the president became known as the executive president. the leader of the party receiving the most votes in a general and regional election becomes president, and holds office for the legislature's duration—in practice, five years.









































presidents are counted beginning with president arthur chung in 1970. executive presidents are counted beginning with president forbes burnham (first executive president) in 1980.
president of guyana
a new constitution was promulgated in 1980. the old ceremonial post of president was abolished, and the head of government became the executive president, chosen, as the former position of prime minister had been, by the majority party in the national assembly. burnham automatically became guyana's first executive president and promised elections later in the year. in elections held on december 15, 1980, the pnc claimed 77 percent of the vote and forty-one seats of the popularly elected seats, plus the ten chosen by the regional councils. the ppp and uf won ten and two seats, respectively. the wpa refused to participate in an electoral contest it regarded as fraudulent. opposition claims of electoral fraud were upheld by a team of international observers headed by britain's lord avebury.
history of guyana