Hoyte, Desmond (Hugh Desmond Hoyte), 1929–2002, Guyanese political leader. A member of the People's National Congress, Hoyte was first elected to the National Assembly in 1968 and held several ministerial posts before becoming a vice president (1980) and prime minister (1984). Following President Forbes Burnham death (1985), Hoyte succeeded him as president and served until 1992. In office, Hoyte dismantled some of Burnham's socialist programs and encouraged private investment, helping to revitalize the sugar industry and developing gold and bauxite mining, and introduced electoral reforms. In opposition after 1992, he was a outspoken critic of the Cheddi Jagan and Jagan's People's Progressive party successors in the presidency.
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