Court of Appeal dismisses FGM challenge over ballot exclusion

The Court of Appeal has ruled that it has no jurisdiction to hear the case filed by the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), which challenged its exclusion from the ballots for the 2025 general and regional elections.

Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Roxane George, said the application lacked merit, noting that FGM itself denied its supporters the opportunity to vote in certain constituencies by failing to field candidates in those areas.

The ruling follows a similar decision by the High Court in August, where Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh dismissed a case brought by FGM candidate Krystal Fisher.

The legal action had argued that FGM should have been placed on ballots in all regions, despite not contesting in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9.

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj explained the rationale behind the High Court’s decision.

“It would be unlawful for GECOM to include FGM on the ballot paper when they haven’t submitted a list for a particular geographical constituency,” he said.

Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, speaking after the High Court ruling, said the case should never have reached the courts.

“The case should have never been filed…the judge pointed out that this framework of rules and the constitutional provisions have been there since 2000…you think 25 years would have passed and nobody would have seen this?” he said.

Both courts rejected claims that excluding FGM from certain ballots violated citizens’ constitutional rights to vote and participate in the democratic governance process.

The Court of Appeal’s decision now finalizes the matter.

FGM has been ordered to pay $1 million each to the Attorney General and GECOM by November 14.