Bharrat Jagdeo
Bharrat Jagdeo (born 23 January 1964) is a Guyanese politician who has been serving as Vice President of Guyana since 2020, in the administration of President Irfaan Ali. He had previously also held the office from 1997 until 1999, during the presidency of Janet Jagan. Jagdeo subsequently served as the President of Guyana from 11 August 1999 to 3 December 2011. He also holds a number of global leadership positions in the areas of sustainable development, green growth and climate change.
The Honourable Bharrat Jagdeo | |
|---|---|
Jagdeo in 2022 | |
| Vice President of Guyana | |
| Assumed office 2 August 2020 Serving with Mark Phillips | |
| President | Irfaan Ali |
| Prime Minister | Mark Phillips |
| Preceded by | Carl Barrington Greenidge Khemraj Ramjattan Sydney Allicock |
| In office 19 December 1997 – 9 August 1999 Serving with Sam Hinds | |
| President | Janet Jagan |
| Preceded by | Janet Jagan Reepu Daman Persaud |
| Succeeded by | Reepu Daman Persaud |
| 7th President of Guyana | |
| In office 11 August 1999 – 3 December 2011 | |
| Vice President | Reepu Daman Persaud |
| Prime Minister (also First Vice President) | Sam Hinds |
| Preceded by | Janet Jagan |
| Succeeded by | Donald Ramotar |
| 7th Prime Minister and First Vice President of Guyana | |
| In office 9 August 1999 – 11 August 1999 | |
| President | Janet Jagan |
| Preceded by | Sam Hinds |
| Succeeded by | Sam Hinds |
| President pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations | |
| In office 26 November 2010 – 29 October 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Rafael Correa |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Lugo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 January 1964 Unity Village, Demerara-Mahaica, British Guiana (present-day Guyana) |
| Political party | People's Progressive Party/Civic |
| Spouse |
Varshnie Singh
(m. 1998; div. 2007) |
| Alma mater | Patrice Lumumba University |
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Jagdeo, a member of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), served as Minister of Finance from 1995 to 1999, becoming president in 1999 after Janet Jagan resigned for health reasons. Subsequently, he won two elections, in 2001 and 2006. He was the first and youngest President of Guyana to relinquish office in accordance with term limits he signed into the Guyanese Constitution.
Following the PPP/C's electoral defeat in 2015 Jagdeo became Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. Furthermore, when the PPP/C returned to power in 2020, Jagdeo was sworn in as a vice president in the administration of president Irfaan Ali. Vice News alleged that it had uncovered corruption by Jagdeo and several Chinese businessmen. These allegations were rejected by Jagdeo who pointed out instead, that the Vice News documentary failed to provide irrefutable evidence to substantiate its claims and it mostly relied on hearsay and comments by a Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong against whom he has filed a defamation lawsuit.