Freddie and Ravi Dev are the most widely read

Nov 11, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
I think Frank Fyffe is right in penning Freddie Kissoon is the most popular columnist (Kaieteur News, November 9, 2009) though not necessarily the most respected and credible writer in the nation.
Freddie is not quite a traditional journalist but a highly opinionated writer and people are interested in reading his views even if these are not in sync with reality and even if these border on gossips.
No one should underestimate Freddie’s readership just as no one should underestimate CN Sharma’s viewership as the most watched and liked TV personality. Freddie is the most read columnist and I believe Government officials also read his columns though they may say otherwise or may rebuke him.
People told me all over Guyana during my NACTA surveys, as recent as last July, that they read Freddie’s columns. Some of them indicated they read Freddie first before reading other articles. They want to see what he writes and who is his latest victim (who he attacks) or what is the latest gossip that he unearthed though they may not necessarily agree with the contents of his articles.
They find some of his columns educational and informative and others quite entertaining. But they also note there are flaws in some of his columns and he misinterprets peoples’ writings and distorts writers’ positions. I find some of Freddie’s writings quite good and should be taken seriously although some intellects I spoke with “feel no one takes Freddie seriously”.
I find some of Freddie’s columns over the last couple weeks quite good. But they would have been better if he had unglued himself from personality attacks and doing a daily on President Jagdeo. Many people reject Freddie’s unjustified “cuss outs” against the President and other decent individuals. This is one recurring complaint people have about Freddie.
Another columnist Guyanese love is Ravi Dev. Many people said they bought the paper just to read Ravi’s column, describing it as well written and intellectually stimulating. Ravi’s arguments are well structured, cohesive and logical. Some readers describe Ravi as ‘bright too bad” saying “this man can write” in Guyanese parlance.
A business tycoon on Water Street told me during a NACTA poll interview that Ravi is brilliant and no one in Guyana can quite measure up to his intellect.
A lawyer at the High Court, a parliamentary opponent of Ravi, said Ravi is the best columnist and debater in Guyana. People also said they miss his TV programme which they described as the most educational in the country when it was aired.
In my view, based on comments from across the country, Ravi attracts greater respect as a columnist than Freddie. In terms of Sunday’s readership, more people like Ravi than Freddie because people told me that Ravi writes honestly and does not attack people and his columns are well researched and written.
They see Ravi as a statesman and a gentleman who respects the views of others and does not engage in cuss outs and his columns are not personality driven. They feel Freddie distorts facts and misrepresents the views of others and is personality driven in his columns.
People feel Freddie has scant regard for truth but they still admire his courage for taking on untouchable subjects. Overall, Freddie is more read than Dev because he has been penning a daily column for the last several years and prior to that a weekly column for at least 10 years.
Freddie would gain respect and acclaim if he ends his vitriolic attacks on people based on unsubstantiated speculations and innuendoes.
He also must stop seeing those whose thinking is in sharp disagreement with him as enemies even when others’ presentations have validity and reliability.
He has to respect the views of others and stop seeing those who disagree with him as foes. And when proven wrong, Freddie should apologise as mature writers do. There is no dishonour in admitting flaws and errors.
Vishnu Bisram

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