Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh is scheduled to deliver a ruling on Friday, in the case brought by the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). The matter, which was called on Wednesday morning at the Demerara High Court, is being closely followed as Guyana prepares for General and Regional Elections on September 1.
The case was filed by FGM candidate Krystal Hadassah Fisher, who is seeking an injunction to halt the elections unless her party’s candidates are placed on the ballot papers in all 10 administrative regions. At present, FGM is not contesting seats in Regions Seven, Eight, and Nine.
During Wednesday’s hearing, attorneys made final submissions before Justice Singh. Representing Fisher was attorney Vivian Williams, while GECOM’s legal team was led by attorney Arudranauth Gossai. Attorney General and Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall also appeared in defence of the elections body.
The central argument of FGM’s case is that the party’s absence from ballots in the three interior regions amounts to a denial of representation for voters there, particularly Indigenous communities. However, the Attorney General strongly rejected this view, describing the application as “perhaps the most misconceived” challenge brought against Guyana’s electoral system.
Nandlall acknowledged that Fisher may have acted “with the greatest of good intentions” but maintained that the case reflected a “lack of understanding of how the system works”. He stressed that it was FGM itself that chose not to contest seats in the three regions, and therefore claims of disenfranchisement could not stand.
Under Guyana’s electoral framework, political parties may choose which Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) they wish to contest, with their inclusion on the national ballot directly linked to submissions made on Nomination Day.
Justice Singh is expected to hand down his ruling at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, just three days before Guyanese head to the polls.
