Hugh Desmond Hoyte (9 March 1929 – 22 December 2002) was a Guyanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Guyana from 1984 to 1985 and President of Guyana from 1985 until 1992.

Personal Life and Education

Hoyte was born on 9 March 1929 in Georgetown, which was the capital of

British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first European to encounter Guiana was S ...

(as it was then called). He was educated at St Barnabas Anglican School and Progressive High School, then entered public service as a teacher in Guyana and Grenada. While he was working, Hoyte earned an external B.A. from the University of London in 1950. In 1959, he went to the UK to pass his bar exams at the Middle Temple and earn an LL.B. In 1960 he set up private practice and became one of the leaders of the Guyana Bar Association. He married Joyce De Freitas in 1965.

Politics

He entered Parliament as a member of the People's National Congress in 1968 and soon began serving in the cabinet. He was 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 in 1974 to 1980. Hoyte concentrated on economic affairs during his political career. Following the December 1980 election he became one of five vice-presidents, with responsibility for economic planning, finance, and regional development.Historical information events and dates on the Parliament of Guyana from 1718 to 2006
Parliament of Guyana Hoyte suffered a personal tragedy in 1985 when his two daughters Amanda and Maxine died in a car crash while traveling on April 30 to hear him deliver the May Day address in the town of Linden. His sister-in-law and his driver also died; his wife Joyce was the lone survivor.

Presidency

Shortly before Burnham's death, he and other members of the PNC had embarked on talks with the opposition People's Progressive Party attempting to achieve a national unity formula to deal with the country's problems. Hoyte announced his willingness to continue the dialogue, but also announced that a general election would be held on 9 December. Responding to criticisms of previous elections as fraudulent, he agreed to certain reforms. In July 1987, he hosted the President of the African National Congress,

Oliver Tambo Oliver Reginald Kaizana Tambo (27 October 191724 April 1993) was a South African anti-apartheid politician and revolutionary who served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1967 to 1991. Biography Higher education Oliv ...

, for a four-day visit, highlighting the close links Guyana maintained with the liberation struggle in Southern Africa. Hoyte was also Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 until 1992.

Post-Presidency

The October 1992 election was won by the People's Progressive Party, led by Cheddi Jagan; Hoyte conceded defeat. Hoyte remained leader of the PNC until his death, and also Minority Leader and

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...

.Historical information events and dates on the Parliament of Guyana from 1718 to 2009
Parliament of Guyana He also was the PNC candidate in the presidential elections of 1996 and 2001. He received second place both times (40.6% in 1996 and 41.7% in 2001). The PNC never regained the power that it had under the Burnham administration and his own administration. He died in Georgetown, Guyana on 22 December 2002, aged 73. His tomb is at the Botanical Gardens.

References

External links

Desmond Hoyte 1929–2002

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoyte, Desmond Presidents of Guyana Prime Ministers of Guyana Vice presidents of Guyana Foreign ministers of Guyana Finance ministers of Guyana 1929 births 2002 deaths People's National Congress (Guyana) politicians Afro-Guyanese people People from Georgetown, Guyana Burials in Guyana 20th-century Guyanese politicians