Arthur Raymond Chung (10 January 1918 – 23 June 2008) was President of Guyana from 17 March 1970 to 6 October 1980.[1] He was the first ethnic Chinese (Chinese Caribbean) to be head of state in a non-Asian country.[2] A leader in Guyana's fight for independence during the British colonial era, he was honoured with Guyana's highest national honour, the Order of Excellence (O.E.).
Arthur Chung | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1st President of Guyana | |
| In office 17 March 1970 – 6 October 1980 | |
| Prime Minister | Forbes Burnham |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Forbes Burnham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arthur Raymond Chung 10 January 1918 Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, British Guiana |
| Died | 23 June 2008 (aged 90) Georgetown, Guyana |
| Resting place | Guyana Botanical Gardens |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Middle Temple |
Early life and career
editChung was born into a Chinese Guyanese family at Windsor Forest at West Coast Demerara in British Guiana; he was the youngest of Joseph and Lucy Chung's eight children.[1] Arthur was educated at Windsor Forest, Blankenburg, and Modern High School. In 1954, he married another native of Windsor Forest, Doreen Pamela Ng-See-Quan, with whom he had one daughter and one son.[1]
Before civic service, Chung was an apprentice surveyor and sworn land surveyor. In the early 1940s, Chung entered the Middle Temple of London, England and qualified as a barrister in 1947. He returned to Guyana and was later appointed an acting magistrate. He became a magistrate in 1954 and a senior magistrate in 1960. Chung also served as Registrar of Deeds and of the Supreme Court. He then became a puisne judge and finally an Appeal Court Judge in 1963.[3]
Presidency
editWhen Guyana became a republic under the leadership of Forbes Burnham in 1970, the Guyanese National Assembly elected Chung President, making him the first President of Guyana; he took office on 17 March 1970. In addition, the powers of President Arthur Chung was the Commander-in-Chief of Guyana's Armed Forces and chancellor of the Orders of Guyana. Ten years later, a constitutional revision transformed the presidency into an executive position, and Burnham succeeded Chung as President[1] on 6 October 1980.[4] During his time as President of Guyana, the office was that of a ceremonial head of state with the powers of the Governor-General of Guyana, while Prime Minister Forbes Burnham was the head of government.
During his presidency, on June 27, 1972, Guyana established formal diplomatic relations with China, making Guyana the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.[5] In 1977, President Chung of Guyana visited China and met with officials and ambassadors.
Later years
editChung died aged 90 on 23 June 2008[1][4] at his home at Bel Air Springs, Georgetown. In the two months prior to his death he had been hospitalized a number of times, and he was last released from the hospital on 20 June.
A week after his death, he was buried at the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens.[6]
Legacy
editIn 2015, it was announced that the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) would be renamed the "Arthur Chung Convention Centre" to commemorate President Arthur Chung, and newly elected President David A. Granger stated: "I would like the first President in this country to be remembered. ... this is the 45th anniversary year of becoming a Republic and Mr Chung was the first person of Chinese descent who was President in a non-Asian country and it was historic."[7] After undergoing rehabilitative work, the Arthur Chung Convention Centre was recommissioned in June 2018.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Guyana's first President dies"Archived 14 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine, GINA, 23 June 2008.
- ^ "Obituary - Arthur Chung". 29 June 2008. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ "270 PERSONALITIES CARIBBEAN - PDF Free Download". docplayer.net. Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Guyana's first president Arthur Chung dies" Archived 26 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Starbroek News, 24 June 2008.
- ^ "Visit to China by H.E. Raymond Arthur Chung, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, 1977". Embassy of Guyana, Beiijing. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015.
- ^ "Guyana's first president laid to rest at Seven Ponds". Stabroek News. 1 July 2008. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
Yesterday ... with full military honours just after noon, following a state funeral at the National Cultural Centre.
- ^ "International Conference Centre to be renamed in honour of first President" Archived 8 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Guyana Times International, 22 May 2018.
- ^ "Rehabilitated Arthur Chung Centre recommissioned", Ministry of Public telecommunications, 8 June 2018.