GUYANA | Opposition Slams Government for Political Branding on National Passport

GEORGETOWN, Guyana March 2025 - In a scathing rebuke delivered Wednesday, Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs Amanza Walton-Desir condemned President Irfaan Ali's administration for embedding the political slogan "One Guyana" in the nation's new passport design, characterizing it as "a bridge too far" in what she describes as the government's march toward authoritarianism.

"A passport is not a party manifesto," declared Walton-Desir in her strongly-worded statement. "It is a sovereign document of our nation. It belongs to 'we the people' and is issued in our name by the State."

The controversy centers on the incorporation of the People's Progressive Party's campaign slogan onto official travel documents, a move the opposition claims violates international standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). According to Walton-Desir, ICAO Document 9303, which governs passport design globally, emphasizes neutrality and non-discriminatory practices that implicitly prohibit partisan messaging.

This passport redesign represents the latest flashpoint in escalating tensions between the government and opposition. Critics have previously raised alarms about the widespread application of the "One Guyana" branding across multiple government functions - from law enforcement uniforms to public service attire, educational materials, and even state-sponsored cultural and sporting events.

"This isn't just about the opposition," Walton-Desir stated. "This is about all of us as Guyanese, including those who have historically supported the PPP, realizing that our country is being hijacked by a political elite of friends, family and favourites." Her statement accuses the administration of systematically dismantling democratic institutions and manipulating national identity for partisan advantage.

The Shadow Minister's denunciation reaches its apex with the assertion that the PPP is now practicing the very "party paramountcy" they once vociferously criticized their political rivals for allegedly implementing. "National identity is being replaced with party allegiance. State power is being wielded as a weapon. Dissent is being punished," she warned.

Walton-Desir concluded her address with an ominous prediction: "Today it's the passport, tomorrow it might be the Constitution," while calling for international attention and domestic resistance to what she termed "political megalomania."

The government has not yet responded to these allegations, which come amid heightening political rhetoric as the nation grapples with rapid economic transformation following major oil discoveries.

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