GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – A few hours after confirming her resignation as an opposition parliamentarian and a member of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Amanza Walton-Desir, Wednesday announced the formation of her party, Forward Guyana.
She announced the launch of the party, stating that the PNCR had sidelined her and that, following a recent meeting with the party leader, Aubrey Norton, it was time for her to move on.
“There was not sufficient clarity for me on the way forward in the PNC/R as it is currently constituted. While I appreciated the opportunity to engage, it became clear that I cannot, in good conscience, remain where my contributions are undervalued. My voice is silenced,” she told the launch that was attended by several opposition politicians, including Dawn Hastings-Williams, former government minister Ronald Bulkan, former PNCR executive member Mark Archer, as well as the leaders of the opposition party, A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Dr Mark France and Kian Jabour.
Former City Mayor Ubraj Narine, businessman Terrence Campbell, and chartered accountant Nigel Hinds were also present.
Walton-Hinds said that the decision to launch the new party was agonizing, telling the population that they should not view her departure from the PNCR as an act of betrayal.
“I respect those who have given years to this struggle– that matters, but leadership is not just about how long you’ve been around; it is about what you have done with the time. Guyanese are frustrated, not because of age, but because they do not feel a sense of connection.
“So, I am now stepping forward because I know I can make a difference, and although it may be uncomfortable for me and some others, Guyana simply cannot wait, and Guyanese are out of patience with poverty amid plenty,” she said.
Earlier, the PNCR said it was necessary to “correct this inaccuracy” after it claimed that Walton-Desir had indicated she left the party because she could not be guaranteed selection as a candidate for the September 1 general and regional elections.
She said that she has also resigned as a Member of Parliament for the opposition coalition, a Partnership for National Unity, and the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).
Last week, Walton-Desir publicly expressed her frustration over the failure of the APNU and the AFC to reach a coalition agreement ahead of the elections, urging the two parties to get back to the negotiating table.
In a statement, the PNCR said that on June 7, its leader Aubrey Norton, accompanied by a party official, met with Walton-Desir to discuss her involvement in the election.
“Walton-Desir was informed that she could bring an additional person to the meeting, but she declined to do so,” the PNCR said, adding that during the meeting, Walton-Desir inquired whether she could be guaranteed extraction from the list to become a member of the next Parliament.
“In response, Mr. Norton assured her that she will be extracted to be a member of Parliament. She was also informed of the role she would play in the APNU government. She then asked about her role in the campaign, and Mr. Norton informed her that she would be a member of the campaign management team. Ms. Walton-Desir then stated that she needed to consult her team and would revert.’
However, the party stated that it had not received a response and “instead, she submitted a letter of resignation.”
Walton-Desir said that she is convinced she could help unseat the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and that Forward Guyana intends to address poverty, the high cost of living, low wages, underemployment, hunger, crime, security, and corruption, among other issues plaguing the country.
“Our country is hurting. We are not blind. We see the inequities, the injustices, the fear, the erosion of trust, the stifling of voices, the breakdown of law and order, the madness on our roads.
“We see the suffering and slaughtering of our women, the snuffing out of the lives of our children- few things have laid this bare more painfully than the death of Adriana Younge,” she said about the 11-year-old girl, whose body was found floating in a hotel here in April.
A post-mortem has indicated that she died as a result of drowning, a position that has not been widely accepted here.
“Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that justice has never entered there, much less served. And we all know, deep down, we know that tinkering at the edges will not save us. Only bold, courageous change will,” Walton-Desir said.
She said that for too long, Guyanese voters have had to choose primarily between the two major parties and that her new entity provides an opportunity for the population to vote for real change.
“Forward Guyana is a bridge to a better future. A bridge built not of concrete but of courage, conscience, and collective will. It is a bridge away from the politics of division, corruption, and favoritism toward unity, integrity, and real results.
“Guided by core values like service over status, courage and conscience, and transparency, Forward Guyana is ready to help lead this nation across old divides and into a new era where leadership is about responsibility, not rank; about action, not rhetoric; and about putting country first and before party. The bridge is ready. The time to cross it– together- is now,” she said.
The former opposition legislator has not ruled out the option of forming a joint list, noting that a coalition would be a better opposition and that she is open to negotiation based on principles, coherent policies, and a shared vision for a just and inclusive Guyana.