No one threatened Walton-Desir; lone parliamentary seat must be shared – VPAC’s Dorwain Bess

Last Updated on Thursday, 25 September 2025, 18:47 by Writer

Leader of the Vigilant Political Action Committee (VPAC), Dorwain Bess on Thursday rubbished claims by leader of the umbrella Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) that an unidentified person from his party threatened her in a WhatsApp message.

Despite the oozing rift between the two that has now hit the public, Mr Bess maintained that the lone parliamentary seat that FGM secured from the remainder of votes cast in the September 1, 2025 general and regional elections would have to be shared among Ms Amanza Walton-Desir’s Forward Guyana, VPAC and Pastor Nigel London’s The People’s Movement (TPM).

“The parliamentary seat belongs to the collective. It was won by three parties, not by Walton-Desir the individual. VPAC will fight for its rightful share of representation. We will not apologise for demanding honesty, inclusivity, and real leadership, and to be sure we will not condone racism by anyone publicly or privately whether by junior staff or senior leadership,” Mr Bess told Demerara Waves Online News in a statement in response to a number of questions.

Mr Bess accused the FGM Leader of breaching an agreement that the seats secured by their combined mandate would be rotated equally among FGM, VPAC and TPM. Contrary to their  principles of trust, collective governance, and the absolute rejection of racial hostility, among other key tenets, he said that “pact” was breached by Ms Walton-Desir. “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,” he said.

“Compounding this breach of trust, Ms. Walton-Desir also moved unilaterally to appoint herself as the Representative of the List to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), without consultation or consensus from her coalition partners,” he added.

The VPAC leader railed against Ms Walton-Desir, saying that the open disagreement stemmed from him demanding an apology for an allegedly racist statement that was posted on social media by an FGM member.

He accused the incoming FGM Member of Parliament of “practising the very politics of division she pretends to condemn.

Ms Walton-Desir did not immediately take calls or respond to questions.