Society-wide
About Demerara Mutual
A mutual life assurance society founded in Georgetown in 1891 and owned by the people it insures. We have offices in Guyana, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and a wholly owned fire and general insurer in Guyana.
- 1891
- Founded in Georgetown, Guyana
- 4
- Countries with local offices
- G$49.4B
- Total assets at 31 December 2025
- ISO 9001
- Certified quality management system
Who we are
Owned by our policyholders since 1891
Demerara Mutual has no shareholders. Everyone who holds a participating life policy is a member of the Society, with the right to attend and vote at the annual general meeting, and the Society’s surplus is held for members rather than paid out as dividends. Directors must be members too: each one holds a participating policy with the Society.
The Society was formed to offer affordable life assurance to working people in what was then British Guiana, and it still writes life, health and pension business from its head office in Georgetown and branches in the Eastern Caribbean.
One member, one vote
Members elect the directors and the auditors at each annual general meeting.
Directors who are members
Every director holds a participating policy with the Society, as its rules require.
16 offices and agencies
Sales, premium payments and claims are handled in person in all four countries.
Regulated in each territory
The Society reports to the insurance regulator in every country where it operates.
Mission
To surpass our customers’ expectations by providing superior service through the integration of people and technology.
Vision
To develop, promote and sustain a customer-focused organisation.
Two companies
The Society and its fire and general subsidiary
Demerara Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited
The mutual society, incorporated by Ordinance in 1891. It writes individual life assurance, group life and health, pension schemes and mortgages, and it operates in Guyana, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Life insurance plansThe Demerara Fire & General Insurance Company Limited
A wholly owned subsidiary of the Society, incorporated in 1992 and writing motor, fire and general insurance in Guyana since 1 July 1993, from its own office on Avenue of the Republic.
Motor and property insurance
History
More than 130 years in the Caribbean
- 1891
Founded in Georgetown
The Hand-in-Hand Mutual Guarantee Fire Insurance Company sponsored the first locally owned life assurance company in British Guiana.
- 1914
Home Purchase Plan and the West Indies
A plan that cleared the mortgage on death, with fire cover included, launched in February.
- 1993
Demerara Fire & General
The wholly owned subsidiary, incorporated in November 1992, began writing fire, motor and general insurance in Guyana on 1 July 1993.
- 2025
Essequibo
A new office opened at Suddie on the Essequibo Coast, and the Society reported total assets of G$49.4 billion at the year end.
People and governance
Who runs the Society and how it reports to members
Board of directors
7 directors, chaired by Ronald Burch-Smith, with five standing committees.
Management team
Led by Melissa De Santos, Chief Executive Officer, with 11 department heads.
Governance and quality policy
How the Society is governed and regulated, its advisers, and the ISO 9001:2015 quality policy.
Annual reports
Reports to members from 2012 to 2025, with the audited financial statements.
Talk to us
Membership and the annual general meeting
The Company Secretary’s office at the head office in Georgetown answers questions about membership, the annual general meeting and proxies. For a question about your policy, call the office that holds it.
Contact us