Freddie Kissoon ‘getting away with murder’ in his columns

Dec 16, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is deeply troubling that a university lecturer like Freddie Kissoon would engage in unprofessional conduct by making conclusions without evidence or supporting details, distorting the theories and arguments of others to buttress his own, falsifying information to denigrate others, and attacking decent people unprovoked.

This is “Getting away with murder” (Kaieteur News December 2), a caption that aptly describes some of Freddie’s writings on several subjects and issues and his unprovoked attacks on others.

I do not know if Freddie recognises that he is further destroying his sagging reputation with some of his writings. Very few people bother to take on Freddie.

So he picks fights with reputable individuals who dwarf his intellect.What is upsetting is not so much Freddie’s irrational views but his lies and distortions of the views (analyses and arguments) of others, apparently to show the superiority of his own. Any college student knows that is unethical conduct.

Academics in America are fired for less a violation. Like others, I too try to ignore his fulminations. I can understand readers’ frustration in dealing with Freddie – just continue to ignore him! Recently, I met an old friend, Dr. Lutchman Narain, a psychologist, and a founder of NACTA, in Guyana after several years.

Dr. Narain, who was involved in the anti-dictatorial struggle in Toronto and NY, advised me to laugh when I read Freddie’s writings because his arguments and conclusions are often not factual and in fact are comical.

Dr. Narain said when he read Freddie’s writings that Bisram is not a teacher and does not conduct polls, etc., he laughed.

I urge readers to do the same when Freddie writes about others – don’t take him seriously!
Freddie is right that “in Guyana, the culture of intellectual and political discussion has sadly declined”.

Just look at Freddie’s writings and arguments – no solid stuff! On the issue of polling, I conducted a poll in Trinidad last month. Prof, Selwyn Ryan of UWI and Prof Derek Chadee also conducted separate polls. All three polls showed similar findings on the popularity of the ruling party and its leader.

The NACTA poll, which was published first, gave the PNM (Prime Minister Manning) 21%, SARA (Ryan)’s published second gave Manning 19%, and the Psychological Center 17%, which was published last. All three polls were conducted within a two-week period.

I should also note that in last year’s general elections, NACTA projected a PNM victory of 26 seats and 0 seats for COP with 15 to UNC.

SARA and Ansa projected 0 seats for UNC, and COP either forming the opposition or government in a close contest with PNM. NACTA’s polls found the battle wasn’t even close between PNM and COP. The result: PNM won 26 seats and COP 0 seats, with 15 seats to UNC.

If Vishnu Bisram does not have skills to conduct polls and does not conduct polls, as Freddie claims, then how is it that the other two pollsters were off in last year’s elections in Trinidad? How was it that NACTA’s findings are similar to those of the other two pollsters in last month’s poll? And how is it that all of Bisram’s polls in Guyana were on target?

I remind readers that Freddie was pleased with the Dick Morris polls showing the AFC nearly beating the PPP in the 2006 elections. Freddie had no problems with that poll. Freddie also makes other conclusions and interpretations of my polls not supported by facts.

On President Jagdeo, if readers were to go back to the published polls, they will find several politicians, including CN Sharma and Moses Nagamootoo, were more popular or likeable than Jagdeo. Freddie is yet to offer evidence to contradict NACTA’s findings that Jagdeo is more popular than most of his Ministers.

Since 1990, the man said he would conduct polls but is yet to do so. Freddie is also wrong on why SN carried the last NACTA Guyana poll as a letter.

Instead of making an incorrect conclusion, he should have sought verification as any responsible writer would. With regard to his attack on Dr. Ravi Dev, Freddie is wrong again.

Dev substantiates his arguments with solid facts and logical reasoning, which are sadly missing in Freddie’s. Dev is an outstanding intellect and a responsible writer. He does not make declarations without evidence.
Vishnu Bisram