Hugh Desmond Hoyte (9 March 1929-22 December 2002) was Prime Minister of Guyana from 16 August 1984 to 6 August 1985 (succeeding Ptolemy Reid and preceding Hamilton Green) and President of Guyana from 6 August 1985 to 9 October 1992 (succeeding Forbes Burnham and preceding Cheddi Jagan).
Biography[]
Hugh Desmond Hoyte was born in Georgetown, British Guiana in 1929 to a middle-class African family. He practiced law before becoming a legal advisor to a trade union and becoming a member of the general council of the People's National Congress Reform party in 1962. He became an MP in 1968 and served as Home Affairs Minister from 1969 to 1970, Finance Minister from 1970 to 1972, Works and Communications Minister from 1972 to 1974, and Economic Development Minister from 1974 to 1980, supporting Forbes Burnham's move towards a planned economy. He served as Prime Minister from 1984 to 1985 and as President from 1985 to 1992 after Burnham's death; inspired by former American president Jimmy Carter, he oversaw the democratization of Guyana, opening Guyana to international trade, restoring freedom of the press, and holding free and fair elections in 1992. He remained leader of the PNCR until his death in 2002.