In a political landscape long dominated by tribal loyalties and entrenched party machinery, Amanza Walton-Desir has emerged as the most compelling voice for a new direction. Once seen as a rising star within the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Walton-Desir has cast off the constraints of party politics to lead the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) into the 2025 general elections — with a clear and unequivocal message: “Put People First.”
Breaking Away: From PNCR to Principle
Walton-Desir’s political break came on June 18, 2025, when she resigned from the PNCR, citing internal sidelining and a lack of space for principled leadership. “My contributions were undervalued, my voice was silenced,” she said through tears at a packed press conference. “The PNCR helped shape who I am. But I could no longer, in good conscience, stay silent in a system that no longer reflects the values I hold.”
Sources close to the party suggest her departure followed months of exclusion from core campaign activities under the leadership of Aubrey Norton. Walton-Desir had reportedly urged greater inclusion of youth, women, and professionals—reforms that never materialised.
That same day, she launched Forward Guyana, promising to lead “a people’s movement built not on ego or entitlement, but on courage, conscience, and collective will.”
The Forward Guyana Movement: Not Just Another Party
In early July, Walton-Desir formed a coalition with Nigel London (The People’s Movement) and Dorwain Bess (V-PAC), birthing the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM)—an electoral alliance built on shared reformist values and an explicit rejection of the “false choice” between the PNCR and the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
The FGM’s symbol, a purple wheel, represents progress, unity, and inclusion. The spokes symbolise key pillars: economy, governance, sovereignty, people, and environment. The gaps represent openness to new partnerships and ideas.
“No one party or movement holds all the answers… Unity cannot be based on expedience. It must be grounded in shared principles, coherent policies and a common vision for a just and inclusive Guyana,” Walton‑Desir said in discussing FGM’s approach to collaboration and coalition-building.
A Bold Contract, Not a Manifesto
Rather than offering a traditional party manifesto, the FGM unveiled its “Contract with the People of Guyana” on August 5—a sweeping document outlining its legislative and moral commitments.
Key pledges include:
Renegotiating oil contracts to ensure ordinary citizens benefit directly from Guyana’s natural wealth.
Affordable housing and land distribution, especially for women and youth, supported by microfinancing for small businesses.
Petroleum governance reforms, including the creation of a Petroleum Commission to monitor transparency.
Incentivising settlement in the Essequibo region, reinforcing Guyana’s sovereignty through development and population growth.
A strong push for electoral and constitutional reform, aimed at ending winner-takes-all politics and improving parliamentary accountability.
“This contract is not signed in ink,” Walton-Desir said at the launch event. “It is signed in action—by every Guyanese who dares to demand more.”
Representation with Purpose
FGM’s electoral slate reflects a dramatic departure from the traditional political formula. Of the candidates contesting in seven of Guyana’s ten administrative regions, 67% are women, and several candidates are youth and differently-abled individuals.
“We are not a party of politicians. We are a movement of citizens,” she emphasised.
FGM is not just campaigning — it is galvanizing a frustrated electorate. Their town hall meetings have drawn disenchanted voters across urban and rural communities alike, many expressing fatigue with the polarized status quo.
The Woman Behind the Movement
Amanza Walton-Desir, 45, was born in East Berbice–Corentyne to PNCR-aligned parents: a Guyana Defence Force officer and a teacher. A graduate of President’s College and the University of Guyana (LLB), she later earned a Master’s in Maritime Law from the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.
Before entering politics, she held senior legal posts at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister from 2005 to 2010. In 2020, she became the PNCR’s Shadow Foreign Minister, where she earned a reputation for diplomatic poise, clarity, and principled stands on national issues.
Her critics accuse her of political naivety, but supporters say her departure from the PNCR took courage. “She didn’t just talk about integrity—she proved it,” said one former PNCR youth activist now canvassing for Forward Guyana.
Why It Matters
Guyana stands at a critical juncture: awash in oil wealth, yet riven by inequality, political fatigue, and widening distrust in public institutions. Amanza Walton-Desir is betting that this moment demands a new kind of leadership — one that prizes policy over personality, and service over power.
Her campaign’s resonance isn’t just about her message—it’s about timing. As Walton-Desir herself put it: “This is not just another election. This is a reckoning.”
If Forward Guyana performs well on September 1, it may not only shake up the balance of power—but also rewrite the rules of engagement in Guyanese politics.
