Amanza Walton-Desir announced the formation of a new political party, Forward Guyana, just hours after confirming her resignation as an opposition parliamentarian and member of the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR).
At the party’s launch on Wednesday, Walton-Desir said she felt sidelined by the PNCR and that after a recent meeting with party leader Aubrey Norton, she decided it was time 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 and my voice is silenced,” she said.
The launch was attended by several opposition figures, including Dawn Hastings-Williams, former government minister Ronald Bulkan, former PNCR executive member Mark Archer, and 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-Desir described the decision as agonizing and urged Guyanese not to see her departure from the PNCR as 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 connected.
“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 in the midst of plenty,” she said.
Earlier, the PNCR had stated the need to “correct this inaccuracy” after claiming Walton-Desir indicated she left the party because she could not be guaranteed candidacy for the September 1 general and regional elections.
Walton-Desir 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, she publicly expressed frustration over the failure of the APNU and AFC to reach a coalition agreement ahead of the elections and urged the parties to resume negotiations.
The PNCR stated that on June 7, leader Aubrey Norton and a party official met with Walton-Desir to discuss her election involvement. “Walton-Desir was informed that she could bring an additional person to the meeting, but she declined to do so,” the party said. During the meeting, Walton-Desir inquired about guaranteed placement on the candidate list, and Norton assured her she would be included as a member of Parliament and part of the campaign management team. Walton-Desir then said she needed to consult her team but did not respond further, instead submitting her resignation.
Walton-Desir said she believes she can help unseat the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and that Forward Guyana intends to address pressing issues including poverty, high cost of living, poor wages, underemployment, hunger, crime and security, and corruption.
“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 slaughter 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, referring to the 11-year-old girl found drowned in a hotel pool in April. Walton-Desir said justice has yet to be served in the case.
“Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear knows that justice has never entered there, much less been served. And we all know, deep down, we know that tinkering at the edges will not save us. Only bold, courageous change will,” she said.
She added that Guyanese voters have long been limited to choosing between the two major parties and that Forward Guyana offers an alternative 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 favouritism, 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.
Walton-Desir has not ruled out forming a joinder list and said she is open to coalition talks based on shared principles, policies, and vision for a just and inclusive Guyana.
