Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
Amanza to take up seat in parliament for FGM
Kaieteur News – Former parliamentarian under the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton-Desir, has confirmed that she will take up the movement’s lone seat in the national assembly.
Speaking with Kaieteur News on Wednesday, Walton-Desir responded directly when asked who will represent FGM in parliament, “Amanza Walton-Desir,” she stated.
Leader of Forward Guyana Movement ; Amanza Walton Desir
During a live broadcast of the Reset Talk Show with host JR Giddings, earlier on Tuesday, Walton-Desir stated that her first priority in the national assembly will be advocating for electoral reform. She emphasised the urgent need to address the current structure of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), declaring, “GECOM is no longer useful in its current configuration. It has to be reformed. As of right now, the configuration of GECOM cannot reflect the political reality. There are three political parties in opposition who are our commissioners. So, there’s a lot that we have to unpack in the coming weeks.”
A longstanding member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs in the 12th Parliament, Walton-Desir officially resigned from the PNCR in June 2025. Shortly after, she launched her own political movement, Forward Guyana. She later formed a coalition with Nigel London’s The People’s Movement (TPM) and Dorwin Bess’ Vigilant Political Action Committee (V-PAC), creating the united political front now known as FGM.
The coalition managed to secure a seat in parliament following the general and regional elections held on September 1. The Guyana Elections Commission declared that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) emerged victorious, with Dr. Irfaan Ali re-elected for a second term. PPP/C won 36 seats, while the newly-formed We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by Azruddin Mohamed, secured 16 seats. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), under Aubrey Norton, gained 12 seats, and FGM earned one seat. The official vote count showed the PPP/C with approximately 242,000 votes, WIN with over 109,000, APNU with 77,988, and FGM with around 4,300 votes.
“Our role will be to keep electoral reform on the national agenda, to use our seat to demand debate, and to ensure that this issue cannot be swept aside. Even from the minority, we will work with citizens, civil society, and all stakeholders to make sure electoral reform remains a priority for the country,” Walton-Desir had promised.
In a previous interview, Walton-Desir expressed gratitude to FGM’s supporters, emphasising the party’s commitment to transformative politics and high accountability. “Our agenda is clear: to give voice to the people who entrusted us with their vote and indeed, for all Guyanese,” she stated. “We will use our presence in parliament to hold the government accountable, to stand up for fairness and dignity, and to keep real change at the center of national decision-making. The issues that matter most to ordinary Guyanese will be the issues that we bring to the floor.”
Walton-Desir said the FGM will engage constructively in parliamentary affairs, guided by principles and public interest rather than partisanship. “Where there is common ground that benefits the nation, we will not hesitate to support it. Where there are concerns, we will raise them fearlessly and responsibly,” she stated. “Our commitment is not to partisanship but to the people who put their trust in us.”
Meanwhile, in a press statement the political movement which was formed two months before the elections said one seat may look small in number, but it is mighty in meaning. “It represents the courage of every Guyanese who believed our nation deserves better, and who cast their vote for real change,” the party said.
FGM also reflected on its rapid journey, having been officially launched on July 1, 2025. “From the very beginning, our coalition of the willing, The People’s Movement, VPAC, and Forward Guyana Movement, understood that if we wanted to see change, we had to be that change ourselves,” the statement read. “Together, over roads and rivers, from city streets to hinterland trails, we carried one message: Real Change can’t wait. Enough of you agreed.”
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