More needs to be said about the daily sufferings of the Guyanese

Jul 23, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Freddie Kissoon had no inkling of what I had to do to get my letters about the blackouts published in the daily newspapers.
In replying to his column (Kaieteur News, 21-07-2009), my letters to the press do get ‘blacked-out’ from time to time. I have been writing since 2000/2001 or thereabouts.
My first letter to the press I remember dealt with the situation of Internet Provider Solutions2000 reportedly not being able to provide ‘internet lines’ to new customers due to the limited capacity provided by GT&T back then. I wrote about it.
And I guess from there on, I had a knack for expressing my feelings through words, as I am a very nervous wreck in the presence of crowds and groups of people. But not all of my letters get published when I want them to and how I want them to. Some of them are edited, while others are not published. It hurts me a lot.
To know that I put so much time into preparing my correspondences (sometimes sitting for hours in front of my PC thinking, deleting words, searching for better words, jotting down my thoughts, ideas and feelings) and to not see the issues I would like to be raised not published.

So, I took no chance with that letter dealing with Berbice blackouts. As Mr. Kissoon said, I sent the emails to the various newspapers hoping that the letter would be published.
So what I did shortly after I sent the letters was to call each of the editorial departments to speak with the person dealing with letters.
A kind young lady at the SN assured me that if the blackout letter was emailed the night before, then it certainly would ‘catch’ the next day’s edition (which it did). I thanked her, and even urged her to let one of her reporters from Berbice start investigating the blackouts (as it the crisis had been in its third or fourth day already yet no media house was saying anything or carrying any article about it). I then called the Kaieteur News, and a gentleman did promise to do the same.
Well I knew there was no use trying to ask the Guyana Chronicle to publish the letter. I thought if they were balanced and fair that they would, and I had confidence in the Editor there. That was some confidence. Then I called the Guyana Times.

The Editor was out, so I practically begged, the editorial people to put the letter in the papers the next day. I even sent them a picture of the Canefield Power Station, as I know they carry letters with photos.
The Guyana Times has never published any of my letters to date.
So, Kissoon was right. My voice was being stifled to the point where I was completely silenced by the State-owned Chronicle and The Guyana Times.
And so, I was preparing to respond to Kissoon all day today (Tuesday 21-07-09) about his column on the blackouts. But ironically, we had another blackout in the area (from 9:15am – 3:15pm) so I could not until the evening. GPL was doing Line Maintenance in the area as the newspapers announced.
Line maintenance power interruption guides frequent the newspapers so much these days. The next thing I would be keeping check of is the total number hours of line maintenance GPL is doing in Guyana.
With so much maintenance, then their distribution networks should be A-1. Thankfully, though, the issue was exposed properly (in the Kaieteur News and especially the SN) even though a little late and satisfactory improvement has followed.

That, as I stated, encompasses the power of the mass media. And that is where commentators like Freddie Kissoon come in.
More needs to be said about the daily sufferings of the Guyanese people.
I am so surprised that so-called activist in Berbice Dr Ramayya did not mention much about the Berbice blackouts. All he criticised was the lack of water during the period. Well, I wished he had talked about the cause of the non-existent water supply during that period — the blackouts. So, Freddie Kissoon, many have a voice in our nation, but how they use that voice depend whether or not change can come. Berbice is my home, and I know we usually get what’s left over from Georgetown and the rest of the country, but I intend to use these letter columns for the cause of my fellow Berbicians.

Sometimes I wonder what the motive is for so-called activists who frequent the TV and hold call-in programmes and yet they are out of Guyana more than they are in to see and feel the torments of the people.
Not every column must be about politics. More space needs to be given about exposing a need so that help from higher authority can be accessed. Keep writing, sir, and if you run out of topics and issues, just make contact with me. There’s always something to bring to the fore.
Mr. Kissoon can look as hard as he wants, but he won’t be finding much more letters in support of this government in these columns. Plus, I can’t remember the last letter I wrote complimenting this government. My hands would never weary; my pen never out of ink, my keyboard will always be ready, my conscience always clear; from 114 to 134 (+20) instances of “electricity withdrawal” (I like his euphemism) to date, I know one voice can make all the difference in the world and surely right here at home.
Leon J. Suseran

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