Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) Takes GECOM to Court Over Ballot Exclusion

The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) has filed a high-stakes constitutional challenge against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), accusing the electoral body of unlawfully omitting its candidates—and those of the Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity (ALP)—from the official ballots in multiple regions ahead of the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

In a media conference held this afternoon, FGM announced the filing of a Fixed Date Application in the High Court seeking urgent judicial intervention. The party contends that GECOM’s exclusion of duly qualified political parties from ballots in Regions 7, 8, and 9 (FGM and ALP), and Regions 1 and 2 (ALP), is not only illegal, but unconstitutional and discriminatory.

“This court challenge is not just about a technicality; it is about giving the people of Guyana the knowledge and the fair choices they need to make the right decision come September 1,” the party said in a statement.

The legal filing—brought by Krystal Hadassah Fisher, a registered elector in Region 9 and national list candidate for FGM—argues that GECOM’s actions violate Articles 59, 149, and 160 of the Constitution, along with provisions of the Representation of the People Act.

At the heart of the case is a damning claim: that GECOM’s selective exclusion disproportionately affects Indigenous voters, particularly in Amerindian-majority regions, amounting to racial and geographic discrimination.

Key Allegations in the Filing:

1. Exclusion of approved parties: FGM and ALP, both legally cleared to contest, have been left off ballots in key interior regions without justification.
2. Denial of voting rights: Voters in these regions are being denied the constitutional right to vote for all qualified national lists, undermining Article 59 and the principle of proportional representation.
3. Discriminatory impact: The exclusion predominantly affects Indigenous Amerindian communities, creating what FGM describes as a “discriminatory burden” based on race and place of origin.
4. Distortion of representation: By reducing the national vote totals available to excluded parties, GECOM is allegedly skewing proportional representation in Parliament.

The legal team, led by constitutional attorney Dr. Vivian Williams of VMW Law, is seeking sweeping relief, including:

• A declaration that elections conducted without full inclusion of approved parties are null and void;
• A court order compelling GECOM to include FGM and ALP candidates on ballots in all affected regions;
• An injunction preventing GECOM from restricting the participation of any qualified party.

FGM’s statement framed the issue as a direct assault on democratic rights and electoral fairness.

“Forward Guyana Movement stands as David against the Goliath of the ruling PPP [People’s Progressive Party] and a complicit GECOM, insisting that every Guyanese, from the Hinterland to the Coast, deserves a fair chance to choose their future. This fight is about fairness, dignity, and ensuring that no community is silenced or treated as second-class in their own country.”

The challenge comes just 12 days before Guyanese head to the polls, injecting volatility into an already fraught political season. GECOM has not yet responded to the legal action.

FGM maintains that unless the court intervenes swiftly, entire communities risk being disenfranchised—and the legitimacy of the election itself could be called into question.

“This moment is of the utmost importance,” the party warned. “Real change can’t wait.”

GECOM has not yet publicly responded to the court filing.

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See full statement below:

Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) held a Media Conference this afternoon to announce its legal challenge to the omission of duly approved political parties from ballots in several regions by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The text of the issued Media Release follows:

DEMOCRACY ALERT: FGM FILES HIGH COURT CHALLENGE OVER BALLOT BOX EXCLUSION

The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) has today, filed a fixed date application in the High Court challenging the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) regarding the omission of duly approved political parties from ballots in several regions.

The application seeks constitutional relief under Part 56 of the Civil Procedure Rules, arguing that GECOM’s exclusionary ballot practices violate Articles 59, 149, and 160 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, as well as provisions of the Representation of the People Act (ROPA).

Specifically, the affidavit highlights that:

1. Approved parties were omitted: The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) and Assembly of Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) have been excluded from ballots in Regions 7, 8, and 9, while ALP is excluded from Regions 1 and 2, despite both parties meeting all legal requirements to contest.
2. Constitutional rights are violated: Electors in these regions are denied the opportunity to vote for duly approved national lists, contrary to Article 59 (the right to vote) and Article 160 (proportional representation).
3. Discrimination: The affected regions are predominantly inhabited by Guyana’s Indigenous Amerindian population. Excluding parties in these regions disproportionately burdens Amerindian voters, amounting to discrimination on the grounds of race and place of origin.
4. Impact on proportional representation: By artificially reducing the total national votes available to excluded parties, GECOM’s practice distorts proportional allocation of seats in the National Assembly.

Krystal Hadassah Fisher, a registered elector in Region 9 and candidate on the national list, the plaintiff, is arguing that GECOM’s ballot design is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and silences the voices of Indigenous and rural communities.

The motion, filed by Dr. Vivan Williams of VMW Law, seeks urgent relief by asking the court to:

1. Declare that elections held without full party inclusion are null and void
2. Restrain GECOM from excluding any duly qualified party from national ballots
3. Direct GECOM to immediately include the Forward Guyana Movement list of candidates in Regions 7, 8, and 9
4. Ensure that voters in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 are not restricted in their electoral participation.

The Forward Guyana Movement is steadfast in its commitment to holding GECOM accountable and ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and inclusively for every Guyanese citizen. This court challenge is not just about a technicality; it is about giving the people of Guyana the knowledge and the fair choices they need to make the right decision come September 1. When voters are denied the full truth of their options, democracy itself is weakened. Forward Guyana Movement stands as David against the Goliath of the ruling PPP and a complicit GECOM, insisting that every Guyanese, from the Hinterland to the Coast, deserves a fair chance to choose their future. This fight is about fairness, dignity, and ensuring that no community is silenced or treated as second-class in their own country. Forward Guyana Movement believes this moment to be of the utmost importance, because real change can’t wait.

END