FGM ballot exclusion case for CCJ hearing on July 16

– AG reprimands FGM leader for saddling “Ordinary Citizen” with Court debts

The constitutional challenge filed by the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) over its exclusion from ballots in constituencies where it did not contest in the September 1, 2025, General and Regional Elections (GRE) is set to be heard by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on July 16, 2026.
This was disclosed by Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, on Tuesday during his weekly programme “Issues in the News”.
According to the AG, the appellant, Krystal Fisher, was required to file submissions by May 6, while the respondents, the Attorney General and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), have until May 22 to submit their responses. Fisher will then have until June 1 to file a reply ahead of the July hearing.
Both the High Court and Court of Appeal in Guyana have already ruled against Fisher, dismissing her case as “frivolous” and “unmeritorious”. Both courts also awarded costs against Fisher for both respondents, with the High Court awarding $1 million each and the Court of Appeal awarding a further $1 million each.
The AG said that the costs awarded against Fisher in the lower courts will continue to be pursued while warning that additional costs could be incurred if the matter is unsuccessful before the CCJ.
In a sharp rebuke of the FGM and its leader, Amanza Walton-Desir, Nandlall accused the party of using “an ordinary Guyanese” to front what he described as “worthless and abusive legal proceedings”.
He further criticised Walton-Desir for not personally fronting the litigation or appearing in court as counsel in the matter while Fisher bears the financial consequences of the failed legal challenge.
According to Nandlall, Fisher, whom he said resides in Paramakatoi and works as a teacher in Region Eight, is being saddled with mounting legal costs while party leaders avoid personal exposure.
“Losing in two courts and still proceeding, still going higher, incurring costs all the way… That is what they’re doing to ordinary Guyanese. Amanza, the leader of this party, is not fronting or incurring the costs. She’s not even appearing here as a lawyer… she’s a lawyer, but she’s not appearing, but she has this poor lady being used to front these worthless and abusive legal proceedings,” Nandlall remarked.
Nandlall contended that should the state seek to recover the costs from Fisher, there would likely be claims that the Government is victimising an ordinary citizen.
“The costs will be pursued,” he warned. Nandlall said he remains confident that the arguments advanced by GECOM and the State will once again prevail at the CCJ.
“I have every confidence that the arguments of the respondents, GECOM and the AG, will prevail once again,” he said.
The case stems from legal proceedings initiated shortly before members of the disciplined services voted in the 2025 elections. Fisher challenged GECOM’s decision not to place the name of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) on ballots in regions where the party was not contesting seats.
According to Guyana’s electoral setup, parties are required to submit Geographical Constituency Lists of Candidates for each of the regions that they wish to contest in the General and Regional Elections. In regions where lists are not submitted, the party is not listed on the ballot issued to electors in that region.
In the 2025 elections, the FGM party did not submit Geographical Constituency Lists of Candidates for Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and was therefore excluded from the ballots in those regions.