Jagan, Cheddi Berret (1918–1997)

Guyanese left-wing politician, president 1992–97. With his wife, Janet Jagan, he co-founded the People's Progressive Party (PPA) in 1950, of which he was the leader, and was the first prime minister of British Guyana 1961–64. As presidential candidate in August 1992, he opposed privatization as leading to ‘recolonization’. The PPA won a decisive victory, and Jagan became president (succeeding Desmond Hoyte). Vice president Samuel Hinds succeeded to the presidency on Jagan's death, but in elections in December 1997, Jagan's wife, Janet, was elected as president.