Arthur Raymond Chung

Arthur Raymond Chung, first president of postcolonial Guyana, dies at 90

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Arthur Raymond Chung, who helped usher in a socialist government as this South American republic's first president, has died. He was 90.

He died Monday at Georgetown Hospital after an undisclosed illness, a government statement said.
Chung was appointed ceremonial head of state in 1970 when the Republic of Guyana, formerly British Guinea, ended its association with Britain.

A former high court judge, Chung served as president in Prime Minister Forbes Burnham's administration until 1980, when Guyana's constitution was changed to make the top political post into an executive job.

Chung was the titular president when the tiny English-speaking country switched to socialism in 1974, strengthening ties with China, North Korea and regional communist nations.

Guyana, since achieving independence from Britain, has been run mostly by socialist-oriented governments.
The current government, a democratic republic run by Soviet-trained economist Bharrat Jagdeo, has sought closer U.S. ties to fight drug trafficking and crime.

After retiring in 1980, Chung, who was of Chinese ancestry, split his time between England and Guyana and largely kept out of the public eye.

There was no word of funeral arrangements.