Bharrat Jagdeo
He transformed Guyana's economy and global standing by leveraging its vast oil reserves to become a climate-conscious energy powerhouse.
Born 1964 (age 62)·President of Guyana from 1999 to 2011·Birthday: January 23·Baby Boomers
Biography
Bharrat Jagdeo's political journey is inseparable from the modern story of Guyana. Elected president at just 35, he inherited a nation burdened by debt and political strife, steering it toward a period of notable economic stability. His later years, however, cemented his legacy. As Guyana discovered colossal offshore oil reserves, Jagdeo, serving as Vice President, became a pivotal architect of its development strategy. His voice carries unique weight on the world stage, arguing that tropical forest nations like his must be compensated for preserving their ecosystems, even as they navigate the complex windfall of fossil fuel wealth. He embodies the central paradox of our time: a former head of state from a small South American nation who is also a sought-after global advisor on sustainable development and climate finance.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Bharrat was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bharrat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Bharrat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as President of Guyana for over 12 years, from 1999 to 2011.
- As Vice President, helped craft Guyana's national strategy for managing its transformative offshore oil discoveries.
- Holds international leadership roles advocating for climate finance and sustainable development, particularly for forest-rich nations.
Did You Know?
He is a trained economist, having studied at Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow.
He became the youngest ever president of Guyana and the first to be born after the country's independence.
He is a vocal advocate for the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), a model for monetizing forest conservation.
“Our oil wealth must build roads, schools, and hospitals for every Guyanese citizen.”
