The Federal United Party (FED UP) is the most recent political party to come out condemning the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for acts of “lawlessness” during a protest action at the Pegasus Hotel on September 19, 2019.

The Party stated that it abhors the actions witnessed of senior members of the Opposition and is “deeply concerned” that such actions fail to advance Guyana’s standing in the international community.

“We hereby call on all political parties to embrace a more matured and enlightened attitude, to respect the Constitution of Guyana, and to respect the office of the president. Undoubtedly, there is need for peaceful and respectable protests. But we urge that all political parties conduct proper protests at the right time(s), and at the proper place(s), in a proper manner, and that they no longer stir up the cesspool of lawlessness while they drape themselves in shouts of democracy,” FEDUP stated in a release on Monday

The Party added that should the party ever have need to protest, it would do so with a “high moral cloud of dignity and discipline” and then sternly urged the PPP to “Stop the lawlessness!!”

Since the protest broke out on September 19, the Guyana Police Force has been on high alert for planned reoccurrence of what has been termed by the Liberty and Justice Party (LJP) as “chaos and legal disobedience.”

During the play of events, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Karen Cummings was restricted entry into the venue by PPP supporters, who were being encouraged by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo and PPP/C Presidential candidate Irfaan Ali to restrict entrance to the building and to ‘behave as they please’.

They surrounded her vehicle threatening to turn it over while moments later, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson was tailed and heckled by other protesters using degrading slurs like “dog”.

Protesters also sought to hinder President David Granger from speaking at a business luncheon that day within the hotel.

The Alliance For Change (AFC), the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) are other political parties which have noted their respect for the right to protest but condemned the actions of the PPP/C.

“While the Police Force respects the rights of all citizens to protest and has no objection to persons conducting peaceful protest, such acts will not be condoned,” the Police Force has stated.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Presidency indicated: “Peaceful and civilised protest action is common in any democracy, but it becomes a sign of worry when a Presidential Candidate and a former President, who is a constitutional office holder, seek to incite violence against the sitting Head of State and Ministers of the Government, during the execution of their official duties.”