ON September 19th, 2019, the President of Guyana proceeded from the stately home ambiance to attend the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association annual luncheon at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown. The Presidential entourage wailed through the busy streets of the capital and arrived at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel. The head of state and his team encountered a group of protestors who were exercising their right to peaceful protest which continues to receive the consistent protection of the coalition government.

The angry and restless sea of men and women, dressed in red, folded their fist and punched the skies in disgust yelling ‘unconstitutional’, ‘illegal President’ and ‘elections now’. Led by a small cabal of usual political suspects, they swarmed this event and falsely imprisoned government officials and threatened to turn over the vehicle of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. At a cursory glance, a reasonable mind could easily conclude that this was a peaceful protest that morphed into incitement to violence against high state officials but there was much more of Machiavellian consequence to come.

Inside this event, as the President proceeded to the microphone to encourage manufacturers to continue to provide jobs for Guyanese and put the manufacturing name of Guyana on the map, the diabolic plot unfolded. The intellectual authors of the Pegasus Red Uprising planted a small band of rebels among the decent and law-abiding Guyanese to harangue, harry and harass a head of state. The ugly scene of hooliganism ensued and the Pegasus Red Uprising was in process. The small group of decent [persons] who respectfully disagreed with the government, led by their party, was there to peacefully protest but they were clueless about this intricate guerilla warfare enterprise which was designed by intellectual authors versed in the dark arts of politics. It mimicked the ambush Freddie Kissoon received at the Guyana Historical Institute conference at the National Library in 2010, it was classic PPP dark arts politicking. This piece makes a clear distinction between the peaceful protestors and the small band of rebels who led the Pegasus Red Uprising.

Causes/Context

There are four main causes of what occurred on that dark day in our nation’s modern history. Firstly, the nascent oil and gas economy has raised much anxiety among some political leaders. This precious resource has changed the game and the political party that does not control the reins of the state apparatus in the first phase of the fiscal impact of black gold may find itself outside of the halls of power for decades. Secondly, the political opposition had long stuck to the position that once the constitutional clock had expired on the government, there would be no parliamentary extension and this would mean Guyana is in full-blown anarchy. This, they argued, will invite the justification of extra-legal manoeuvres to force the government to comply. This mythical and hypothetical clock expired on September 18 and this guided the Pegasus Red Uprising. Secondly, a small coterie of the leadership of the political opposition is on the last hurrah for their political survival. Facing a serious leadership challenge from the moderate leaders within their ranks and an anxious base, a showing of militancy was almost sine qua non. Hence, the Red Pegasus Uprising. Thirdly, the no-confidence motion was a political basket in which all eggs would be placed.

It was the basis on which the weakest presidential candidate was selected. It was the basis on which the leadership submitted to their financial backers, that leadership was assured. Political science studies show that incumbents seldom win elections that are called from confidence votes but those elections have to be immediately held. Once the incumbent gets time, they correct themselves. The no-confidence motion and its concomitant objectives were dashed, smashed, crashed and made null with the announcement by the Gecom Chairman that elections can be held in February 2020. The cabal needed the plug to be pulled on the coalition government before first oil, to deny any commissions of inquiries into 23 years of drugs, murder and corruption and to ensure there would be no budgetary and fiscal final moves by the government before elections. The Chairman’s announcement left the leaders for the Pegasus Red Uprising with no political options but to invite conflict and chaos.

CONSEQUENCES/EFFECTS

There is an unprecedented emotional attachment to the President of Guyana by large swathes of the Guyanese populace. He is a decent and incorruptible man with a heart and vision for the country. This normally results in a visceral connection with the people. Attempts to chase him and to destroy the aura of the institution of the Presidency could result in unsolicited reactions from supporters that can have serious repercussions for the nation. This unintended or intended consequence of the Pegasus Uprising has already begun to take effect. Some are uncontrollably upset and are demanding that the weight of the state comes down with full force on the perpetrators. The President’s excellent and statesmanlike reaction to this sordid development has negated any unsolicited negative reactions, thus far.

Also, the sight of the leadership of the parliamentary opposition who once demonized and executed citizens who peacefully protested against them, conjures images of a desperate ragtag guerilla group that has lost its way. As a consequence, they could see massive political capital being lost from law-abiding Guyanese who scoff at the wanton display of lawlessness. Secondly, this unparalleled hooliganism manifested at the Pegasus Red Uprising will encourage lawless and court anarchy, all will be consumed with this negative development in the end.

Conclusion
The Pegasus Red Uprising, like the no-confidence motion, has failed to achieve its most basic objective. This writer is of the view that as we come closer to the mother of all elections, this regrettable development will be the order of the day; this may very well be a scratch of the troubled surface. Men who proceed from the standpoint that if we cannot rule, there will be no country, are seldom disposed to compromise; conflict is their best friend.