FAUST is a classic fictional German legend who has been featured in numerous books based on real-life historical character, Johann Georg Faust. The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a pact with the Devil at a crossroads, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. The word Faustian has made its way into our lexicon, describing a circumstance in which a person compromises her beliefs or morals in order to achieve some kind of success. Transposed to the current Guyana political circumstance, the devil, in the form of his representative, Mephistopheles, is personified by Guyana’s underworld. It is reasonable to conclude that they have offered a pact to one side of the political divide and it has been readily accepted in the pursuit of power at any cost. This teems with perilous implications for Guyana if they are triumphant.

The Plot
The mother of all elections has expectedly thrown up numerous unprecedented developments that run the full gamut of jaw-dropping surprises, from the private sector, civil society, citizens and the regional and international community. We have seen staunchly apolitical personalities and organisations metamorphose into quasi-political parties. We have seen the international community take daring steps into areas that were considered, hitherto, diplomatic taboos. We have witnessed the international and regional media pay close attention to every insignificant development in Georgetown. All of these developments bear witness to the fact that Guyana is in a new economic paradigm due to its nascent oil and gas economy; it is difficult, nay, impossible to find any evidence that could negate this conclusion.

In the midst of all this, the most dangerous phenomenon brought on by these unparalleled regional and national elections is the passionate involvement of the dark forces of Guyana’s underworld. There is enough in the public domain which demonstrates that unscrupulous businessmen, drug Lords, guns-for- hire and gold smugglers have thrown their hats in the political ring with passion and vigour never seen before. Out of an abundance of caution, evidence on the subject at hand cannot be proffered but suffice it to mention, on March 2nd, heavily armed men showed up at a place of poll in Alberttown and numerous videos circulating on social media point to the political preference of those who despise the rule of law. Unsurprisingly, they have found themselves in the anti-Granger camp and due to their burning interest in a certain outcome of these elections, one political party has seized the opportunity and has entered into what appears to be a Faustian pact with nebulous finance.

The Origins
As you may know by now, in the pre-2015, Guyana’s underworld had a friend in the state apparatus. This was made possible due to a direct link between the streets and the halls of government. Accessibility became quite easy due to the simple pleasure of the nightlife which was the indulgence of key members of the previous administration. Heads of state and senior state functionaries frequented nightspots owned by the operators of the underworld, private rooms were secured to cut deals. Also, there was no fear of a compromised judiciary and the tax authority could not even suggest that some untouchable businessmen pay their fair share. The cover and shade they enjoyed ended in May 2015 when David Arthur Granger ascended to the presidency. Immediately upon assuming office, the commitment to law and order was made pellucid and the key players in the underworld felt the impact, and there was a determination from day one to bring an end to this state scrutiny which would certainly end the lawless party. The bacchanal quickly ended when the President made key security changes which completely cut off access to main members of the Cosa nostra. This development irked the souls of the dark forces and the commitment to regime change started. In service of that interest, a plot to assassinate the President was put into motion and, thankfully, foiled. However, the mission did not end or slowed down. The 2020 regional and national elections became the main focus to bring down this ‘cochore government’ and return to the glory days of lawlessness.

CAMPAIGNING AND GOVERNING
With a burning desire to see the back of this government which has dared to expand the tax net, make gold dealers pay their fair share, stop the illicit trade of drugs and repair Guyana’s damaged reputation, it can be easily inferred that this enterprise found succour in the camp outside of government. In this, it can be envisioned that in numerous meetings at the Marriott Hotel and smoke-filled rooms, deals were made to channel dark finance to any electoral endeavor that would see the end of the reign of David Arthur Granger.

As a consequence, the Guyanese public witnessed, for the first time, record spending on campaigning which started before the elections commission even considered the location of one place of poll. Dark money was there to burn; the Faustian pact had commenced. This led to the introduction of heavy lobbying, every hall of power in Washington, London and Brussels were inundated with anti-government petitioning. Cambridge Analytic and Mercury were in the mix, all made possible by a deluge of cash from every murky crevice of the Guyanese society. It became a matter of life or death, the mantra was that the ‘chochore President’ must go at all costs. With all of this mind, it is an opportune time to remind that there is nothing such as a free lunch and, therefore, the question is begged: what do these forces require from a return on their investment? In answering this question, the difference between campaigning and governing emerges and dangers that lies in the distinction of the two. Once you campaign with collect dark money, once you enter the government, you must deliver and in this, the average country is in serious trouble. For example, once drug Lords are involved in the buying of elections, at minimum, they expect once their man [is] in the seat, he must allow them to engage in a carnival of blood and guns.

The Faustian pact was sealed and signed before the elections and Dr. Faust has offered his soul in return for power at the expense of the citizens of this nation who shall feel the wrath if he succeeds.