Dear Editor,
As a proud citizen of Guyana, I am deeply concerned about the government’s decision to embed the “One Guyana” slogan into our national passport. This move is not just an act of political branding; it is an erosion of state neutrality, a threat to electoral fairness, and a fundamental violation of democratic principles.
A passport is not a party document – it is a sovereign representation of our nation, meant to be free from political influence. By incorporating a slogan closely associated with the ruling party, the government is making a partisan statement in a document that belongs to all Guyanese.
To fully grasp the gravity of this situation, it must be examined within the broader context of political hypocrisy. In 2017, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) fiercely opposed the then APNU+AFC government for painting government buildings green, arguing that it was a clear attempt to inject party symbolism into state institutions.
At the time, PPP leaders loudly condemned the move in Parliament and across media platforms, insisting that government property should remain neutral and not be transformed into an extension of the ruling party’s brand.
Yet today, the same PPP government that once criticized APNU+AFC for using state resources for political branding is now embedding its own slogan into a legal document that every Guyanese must carry internationally.
This is not just hypocrisy, it is an escalation of the very political branding they once condemned. If painting government buildings green was considered a threat to democracy, then what do we call the forced insertion of a political slogan into our passports?
This action is not only politically unethical, it is also a violation of international standards. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which sets global passport design regulations, emphasizes neutrality, international interoperability, and the avoidance of politically charged messaging.
By embedding “One Guyana” into the passport, the government is compromising the credibility of our national documents, making it appear as though they represent a specific political ideology rather than the entire nation.
Furthermore, this move violates Guyana’s own election laws. The Representation of the People Act (1964) strictly prohibits the use of state resources for political gain. A passport is an official identification document that can be used for voter access at polling stations.
By inserting a politically charged slogan into an ID document that may be used during elections, the government is introducing partisan messaging into the electoral process. This sets a dangerous precedent where future governments could brand state documents with their own political slogans, further entrenching political bias into public institutions.
The passport controversy is not an isolated issue; it is part of a broader pattern of embedding PPP branding into every aspect of Guyanese life. Over the past five years, the PPP government has systematically replaced nonpartisan national symbols with its own political branding.
Government-funded national celebrations such as Mashramani, Phagwah, and Christmas are now officially labeled “One Guyana” events. Public service uniforms and law enforcement apparel prominently feature the slogan, signaling partisan influence over state institutions.
Infrastructure projects, including the FPSO oil vessel, national road projects, and community centers, have also been labeled under the “One Guyana” banner. Even the national currency – the $2000 bill, now carries “One Guyana,” further embedding political messaging into our economy. This is not about national unity, it is about political entrenchment.
If the government truly believes that “One Guyana” is not a partisan slogan, then it must demonstrate neutrality by taking immediate corrective action. First, the “One Guyana” slogan must be removed from the passport and replaced with the national motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.”
Second, all state documents must remain politically neutral, in accordance with international best practices to prevent the abuse of state resources for political gain. Third, the government must commit to electoral fairness by ensuring that no politically branded messaging appears on any official identification documents.
As Guyanese, we must demand accountability. The PPP cannot condemn APNU+AFC for painting buildings in party colors while using a national document as a political manifesto. National identity does not belong to any government or political party – it belongs to the people. No administration should have the power to reshape our national identity to serve its own agenda.
Yours truly,
Nakisha Allen
Concerned Citizen of Guyana
