Randy Persaud responds to Freddie Kissoon

Dec 24, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
I respond to Frederick Kissoon’s, “The President’s advisors: Does this make sense” (Kaieteur News December 23, 2009). In what follows, I will address all of Freddie’s main concerns.
Freddie starts his article with reference to comments made by President Jagdeo at the Private Sector Commission dinner last September. Freddie simply dug up one aspect of the President’s speech, namely, the placement of ads by the private sector.
He does not, however, comment on the central points made by President Jagdeo.
The President expressed concerns about newspapers that sensationalise unfortunate events and that routinely engage in subtle or sometimes even bold distortions.
The President also noted that the front page of the newspaper in question (taken to be Kaieteur News) has been used in manner not consistent with responsible journalism.
For Freddie’s charges to stick, he must let readers know where he stands on the substantive comments made by President Jagdeo. I wish to remind Freddie of the statement put out by the Guyana Press Association regarding the President’s speech at the Private Sector dinner. The GPA statement cautioned that “Media operatives…ought to be reminded that their pens should not be used as swords to wage private and personal battles” (SN, September 19, 2009). As expected the GPA was critical of the President. By the same token the Association also called on media houses to “hold themselves up to a much higher standard”.
Let me make a few comments on the private sector and advertising. Business establishments know where, when, and with whom to advertise their products and services. I would not second guess them on that score. The Kaieteur News edition in which Freddie published the article I am responding to is full of ads from the private sector. I counted about 65 of them. Go figure.
Let us be clear about freedom of the press in this country. The PPP has always been fully committed to a free press. Many of their years of struggle were on this subject. President Jagdeo himself has been so clear on this subject that I am not sure how Freddie could be confused here.
The President has repeatedly stated that he will defend the freedom of the press in Guyana, no matter how much he might find the media wanting with regards to accuracy, balance, and fairness.
The President is on solid grounds when he voices concerns about accuracy, balance, and fairness. Consider this paragraph from Freddie himself: “As Guyana grew older and as a phantasmagoria of evil policies, autocratic edicts, appalling practices of anti-African racism and unbelievable and incredible levels of corruption enveloped Freedom House, the PPP and the Government of Guyana, no one ever wanted anymore to hear about a bad President named Burnham. He had become a saint…” (Kaieteur News, 12.21.09). Wonderful – Burnham is now a saint. How fair, how balanced, how accurate!
I’ll be candid here. I cannot fathom how any responsible editor can allow an article with this kind of language to be published without further editing. Mr. Harris ought to explain himself. He ought to bring to bear the caution issued by the GPA.
Kaieteur News is fond of citing The New York Times in its own defence. I call upon Adam Harris to cite me a single paragraph from a New York Times column over the past 25 years that comes even close to the kind of vitriol just quoted above.
It is now time to deal with the apparent contradiction noted by Freddie. He cannot figure out how the President can criticise Kaieteur News on the one hand, while Dr. Misir and I publish in the same outlet. Freddie asks – “Do Misir and Persaud see their action as a betrayal of their boss?”
There is no contradiction and no betrayal. The President and the PPP leadership do not sit-down with me or call me up everyday and discuss what to write, or where to publish. Frankly, they have better things to do. I must also say that it appears that many people who write letters and columns on a regular basis have no idea how government works.
Whenever a media outlet leaves the arena of news gathering and news reporting, and when it becomes an advocate for revolution, velvet or otherwise, it must expect that those who have the responsibility to govern should, and will respond. Anything short of that would be tantamount to an abdication of duty. Sometimes that response might come from the “President’s men”; on other occasions, it will come directly from the President, or from Freedom House.
Randy Persaud

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Randy Persaud responds to Freddie Kissoon

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