Amanza Walton-Desir’s FGM takes GECOM to court less than 2 weeks before Sept. 1 polls

Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), headed by former APNU politician Amanza Walton-Desir, has taken the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to court – less than two weeks before the September 1 General and Regional Elections.

This is a developing story…

See full statement from the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM):

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.