Amanza and Bess in tiff over lone parliamentary seat

Sep 26, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News – The recently formed Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) is grappling with internal conflict, with allegations of threats, bullying, and unfair distribution of the coalition’s sole parliamentary seat.

FGM was established under a coalition agreement between Forward Guyana, led by Amanza Walton-Desir; The People’s Movement, headed by Nigel London; and the Vigilant Political Action Committee (V-PAC), led by Dorwain Bess. The alliance secured one parliamentary seat in the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

However, V-PAC has since accused Walton-Desir of reneging on a prior agreement to rotate the seat equally among the three parties. On Wednesday, Walton-Desir took to her Facebook page, alleging that she had received a threatening message related to the dispute. “Tonight a line has been crossed. I will not tolerate threats,” she declared “So to the young man that went into my WhatsApp and send me a message that reads “ Amanza I am giving you one last chance to reconcile with V-PAC or else…”

In a live broadcast, she condemned intimidation against women leaders, adding: “You will not intimidate me. You are not going to bully me. I am a very proud decedent of a generation of people who have served this country and who have served with distinction and as a woman in leadership, you do not call me or get into my inbox because you cannot have your way and issue ultimatums that you will burn this bridge. And I take it very personally because the symbol for forward Guyana is a bridge so I want to be clear. Too many of our women were lost to abuse and bullying and intimidation and you see me as a female leader, you believe that you could come and you could threaten me. The PPP can’t try it with me, the PNC could not try it with me and none of you are going to be able to do it with me,” she said.

V-PAC, however, strongly denied issuing any threats, calling Walton-Desir’s claims “a deliberate, malicious lie.” In a statement, the party argued that their members had merely pressed the coalition leadership to denounce racist remarks, but instead of responding, Walton-Desir “fabricated a story” to deflect accountability. The statement accused her of “weaponising her gender, crying victimhood, and pretending accountability was an attack on a woman.”

“No threats were made. VPAC demanded only an answer. Do you condone racism, yes or no? Rather than face the truth, Walton-Desir weaponised her gender, crying victimhood and pretending that being held accountable was an “attack on a woman.” That is disgraceful. It is not courage, it is manipulation,” the statement read.

Further, V-PAC accused Walton-Desir of betraying the coalition agreement by monopolizing the parliamentary seat. “The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) was built on the principles of trust, collective governance, and the absolute rejection of racial hostility, among other key tenets. VPAC entered that coalition in good faith, knowing that no single party in the coalition could win on its own. The agreement was simple, the parliamentary seats secured by our combined mandate would be rotated equally among the three partners. That was our pact. Walton-Desir tore up that pact the moment it suited her. Instead of honouring the deal, she anointed herself sole power-broker, keeping 60 percent of the seat for herself and handing 40 percent to Nigel London. VPAC, which fought alongside them and helped win that mandate, was cut out entirely. That is not leadership. That is theft, ” V-PAC claimed.

The party insisted that the parliamentary seat belongs to the collective, not to Walton-Desir personally, adding: “For months, VPAC supported Walton-Desir as a female leader. We never demanded the Prime Ministerial slot. We defended her publicly,” V-PAC said.

For his part, Nigel London defended Walton-Desir and reaffirmed The People’s Movement’s support for her leadership. “We reject any bullying tactics directed toward the leadership of the Forward Guyana Movement. Partnerships thrive through dialogue, respect, and mutual understanding. When parties refuse to attend discussions or to engage meaningfully in meetings, it does a disservice not only to the coalition but to the Guyanese people whom we are collectively called to serve. Our focus must remain on the greater good, that is, advancing the interests of Guyana and all Guyanese. The People’s Movement stands ready to work with our partners in a spirit of inclusivity, accountability, and shared progress,” the statement read.

When contacted for a response to V-PAC’s accusations, Walton-Desir said that a statement would be issued on the matter. However, up to press time, no such statement had been released.

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• Amanza Walton- Desire, Dorwin Bess, Forward Guyana Movement, Nigel Londen

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