Hoyte, (Hugh) Desmond (1929– )

Guyanese politician and president 1985–92. He held a number of ministerial posts before becoming prime minister under Forbes Burnham. On Burnham's death in 1985 he succeeded him as president.

He was born in Georgetown and studied at London University and the Middle Temple, taught in a boys' school in Grenada 1955–57 and then practised as a lawyer in Guyana. He joined the socialist People's National Congress (PNC) and in 1968, two years after Guyana achieved full independence, was elected to the National Assembly.