Leaders of the newly formed coalition, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), are expressing their outrage over the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) decision to reject their proposed election symbol. One leader described the decision as “irresponsible,” sparking significant concern within the coalition.
The news of FGM’s symbol being rejected came just hours after the coalition was officially established. The movement consists of Forward Guyana, The People’s Movement, and the Vigilant Political Action Committee, all coming together to contest the upcoming elections.
Amanza Walton-Desir, leader of Forward Guyana, criticized GECOM for its lack of communication regarding the symbol’s modification requirements. “It is irresponsible, it is prejudicial, and it has caused a lot of anxiety,” she stated during a Facebook broadcast with her coalition partners. Walton-Desir emphasized that GECOM has a duty to facilitate free, fair, and transparent electoral processes, and described the situation as unacceptable.
In an informal discussion with Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) Aneal Giddings, Walton-Desir learned that GECOM had issues with two logos embedded in the coalition’s wheel symbol. “They have an issue with the Forward Guyana sign within our symbol and with the People’s Movement because they don’t want anything affecting the outline of the map,” she explained.
Notably, while Forward Guyana was formed just weeks ago, the People’s Movement had previously contested in the 2023 Local Government Elections with its symbol approved without issue. Walton-Desir pointed out a clear disconnect between GECOM and its Secretariat regarding the approval process.
With Nomination Day set for Monday, July 14, 2025, the Forward Guyana Movement remains hopeful that the symbol issue will be resolved quickly, allowing them to finalize their list of candidates for the election.
In a statement released on Tuesday night, GECOM confirmed that 19 out of 22 symbols submitted by political parties for the upcoming elections were approved, leaving FGM’s symbol among those requiring modification.
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