Lorraine Jardime: `It's a sad day for Guyana, we have lost a great leader. I say so because Desmond Hoyte stood for justice, he stood for peace. I think he was the most peaceful leader we had for a very long time. And he was not racial: He always gave people what was due to them. I think as President he treated all the races equally. As opposition leader I think he was a little "too soft." The government needs a little more of a push but he was always for peace. Some people say he did a lot of damage to the country, he didn't do the damage. It became a racial clash and people have blamed the PNC, maybe because of [the people's] skin colour and the texture of the hair they have, but the PNC has always had a wide variety of leaders and supporters. He will be remembered as one of Guyana's great leaders and as one of the greatest that we have had in the Caribbean. But I don't think Desmond Hoyte was a politician, he was a gentleman.'

Vidya Persaud - account's clerk: `He was a great leader and contributed to the country for 28 years and as opposition leader. It's very sad to hear that he passed away and Guyana has lost one of the true sons of the soil. I don't know about the PNC but now someone needs to take up the mantle of good leadership. As opposition leader I think he represented the people to the best of his ability. Despite what people might think that was his role in the opposition, he represented the interest of the other side of the people. Now with his death and that of Dr Jagan's, we have lost two great leaders, in Guyana and in the Caribbean as a whole. I think Desmond Hoyte will be remembered for being a good person, for his 28 years as a great leader, as a good opposition leader in Parliament and for his many other contributions to the country as a whole.'

Kumar Kalladeen - driver: `It was surprising because he wasn't sick or anything. He just suddenly passed by and it was such a shock. The country has lost one of its greatest leaders. He was always standing for the people and always for peace, even unto when he became opposition leader he was still standing for the people. He was a different person from what some people thought him to be. He was supportive of all people in his own way, he was always talking about bringing peace and I think he was trying to save Guyana. The country was in a better state when he was president, calm and quiet. I think he will be remembered as a peacemaker.'

Michelle Moore - binder: `We lost an earthly father. He was always for the people, you could always go to him for advice. He did so many things for the development of this country: There were jobs for the majority of people during his time as President. And I mean jobs for everyone - when you looked at a workplace there were always mixed with all races and social classes. I think that was his biggest contribution. The money used to be small but at least everyone was in a job. No matter how small the pay they were employed. It's a great loss, he was always there for the people, he had a lot of experience. When protests were organised he would be one of the few leaders to come out and when we had trouble he would be the one to ask for peace. I believe he will always be remembered as our earthly father, our advisor and as one of the fathers of the nation.'

Norman Orford - self-employed: `His death is very sad. I believe he was too much taken up with the crime wave in the country and this is what happened. I am very sad for his family. When I was growing up I knew of him as a strong president and a very nice person. I don't know how other people feel but I know anytime my father wanted anything he only had to go to Mr Hoyte and we would get it. I was left shocked when I heard that he died, it was just so sudden, so unexpected. I had all hopes that he would have been President again after the ...elections. This is an extremely huge loss for the PNC. Desmond Hoyte will be remembered as a great political leader and a good man, it's sad to know that such a thing happened.'

Natasha Luke - housewife: `He was a good leader, he was very kind and I miss him a lot. He always spoke about goodness and as President his contributions were great. A lot of things were improved and we had a lot of success from him. As opposition leader I believe he was a very quiet person and he continued to make good contributions for the development of the country. I think he attempted to ensure that we all live good together and work to make Guyana a better place but I don't believe he had the cooperation and the support.'

Steven Juan - carpenter/contractor: `It's a big loss for the country because he was such a significant political figure. It was such a shock... I am a not a supporter of his but it was a shock to hear that he died. I think he will be remembered for his role after [Forbes] Burnham died, the changes that he made while he was president. No matter how you see it he did a lot, he engineered so many things, whether for good or for bad. People will remember him. It doesn't matter what he did, he played a major role in Guyana's politics and Guyana's history.'

Azim Alli - coconut vendor: `I am very sorry. It was shocking...it was a real shock. He was such a very great man, he did well for the country during his time in power. He did a lot of good things man! Bringing back flour and other food items into the country... He did well for the nation when the nation was punishing. He did a lot of good for everybody including the Indian people of this country. And especially the poor people. He will be remembered for this. And, for trying to work with the government to build the nation.'

Edwin David - security: `It was a shock to me. Just as if my mother or father had died. He meant so much to me. Since he took over the party leadership I thought he was humble, he was peaceful and quite reasonable in his approach and his decision-making. As opposition leader he tried his best at all times and there was nothing more that he could have done. His greatest contribution was that he always stood with the people, all the people regardless of race. He saw everyone as the same race: Guyanese. People are still shocked by his passing and I think some are only now realising that we lost a great man and a great leader.'