Bharrat Jagdeo (born January 23, 1964) is a Guyanese politician who was President of Guyana from August 11, 1999, to December 3, 2011. He holds a number of global leadership positions in the areas of sustainable development, green growth and climate change.
Prior to his presidency, he was Minister of Finance and became President after Janet Jagan resigned for health reasons. Subsequently he won two elections, in 2001 and 2006. He was the first President of Guyana to relinquish office in accordance with term limits he signed into the Guyanese Constitution. Jagdeo was born in Unity Village on the East Coast of Demerara.
President Jagdeo was elected as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in September, 2005. He occupied this position until September 2006.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) identified Jagdeo as one of their inaugural Young Global Leaders in 2006.
Time Magazine named Jagdeo as one of their “Heroes of the Environment” in 2008, and he was awarded the United Nations “Champion of the Earth” award in 2010.
