Andy Johnson tells inquiry Bakr made a miscalculation in coup attempt

Andy Johnson

Andy Johnson on Wednesday told the Commission of Enquiry into the failed 1990 Jamat al Muslimeen coup the attempt to overthrow the government was miscalculation by Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr.

The CEO of Government Information Services Limited (GISL) was a journalist at the Express newspaper at the time.

He said Bakr thought he would ride on the high wave of discontent in the country at the time. Johnson was responding to commission chairman Sir David Simmons who asked for Johnson's opinion on what he felt caused the coup d’etat. 

Johnson said the general feeling was that the people rose up because of oppressive conditions imposed by the then government.

“People were angry and dispossessed but they did not rise up,” Johnson said. “It was a misadventure, a miscalculation by somebody who hoped to ride on the mass discontent.” 

He added, “Abu Bakr made the mistake of feeling he would ride on the high wave of disenchantment. But, by and large, better heads prevailed. The masses didn’t join him in the assault on our democracy,” he added. 

Johnson also said he did not believe that government MPs who were not in Parliament when the Muslimeen invaded the Red House on July 29, 1990, had prior knowledge.

Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday, who were both in Opposition at the time, were not present when the Muslimeen stormed Parliament.

Johnson also said he did not believe that was any plan by the Muslimeen to go on a looting rampage. "I believe when there’s a clear absence of law and order, it’s human nature to do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do," he said.