FGM Ballot Challenge “Ludicrous” – Chief Justice Singh

–Upholds GECOM’s Ballot Exclusions Ahead of Monday Elections

August 29 2025

With Monday’s General and Regional Elections fast approaching, Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh on Friday ruled that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) acted lawfully in excluding the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) from the ballots in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine.

FGM had filed the case through candidate Krystal Hadassah Fisher, arguing that the commission acted unfairly by omitting the party from those districts.

However, Chief Justice Singh dismissed the challenge, calling the party’s arguments “ludicrous.”

He emphasised that under the Constitution of Guyana and the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), political parties must submit candidate lists for every district they wish to contest.

He noted that FGM’s failure to provide lists for the three regions automatically disqualified it from appearing on the ballots.

The court also reviewed the exclusion of the Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), led by Simona Broomes, from Regions One, Two, Eight, and Nine.

Justice Singh found that GECOM acted in accordance with the law, as ALP similarly failed to submit candidate lists.

“The FGM party did not submit a list to GECOM to contest the geographical constituencies located in administrative Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine, nor did ALP submit a list… In this regard, the omission of those parties… was completely lawful,” the Chief Justice held.

Attorney Dr. Vivian Williams, representing FGM, had argued that GECOM’s actions discriminated against voters in certain regions, citing Articles 59, 149, and 13 of the Constitution.

He maintained, “ROPA is, in my humble opinion, not inconsistent with the Constitution. What is inconsistent with the Constitution is GECOM’s application of ROPA.”

Justice Singh, however, rejected the claims, stating, “A party being lawfully omitted from a ballot paper cannot result in applicant’s rights under Article 30 of the Constitution being violated… The applicant’s assertion is speculative.”

FGM had also sought a declaration that elections held without its inclusion on every regional ballot would be “null, void, and of no legal effect,” but the Chief Justice ruled there was no need to address that request, dismissing the application in its entirety.

Following the ruling, Justice Singh awarded discretionary costs of $1 million each to GECOM and the Attorney General, to be paid by September 8.

FGM, comprised of Forward Guyana, The People’s Movement, and the Vigilant Political Action Committee, and ALP are among six parties contesting Monday’s elections, alongside the PPP/C, APNU, AFC, and WIN.

GECOM was represented by attorney Arudranauth Gossai.