Answering questions about Uncle Adam

Aug 03, 2010 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

The publisher of this newspaper, Mr. Glenn Lall, once told me that he has to answer questions about my writings all the time from the wider society. Adam Harris, the editor, echoed the same sentiment.
That societal reaction obtains all over the world. Publishers and editors will be approached by subjects who feel they were not treated fairly either by reporters or columnists. I once told Mr. Lall that such an attitude will continue for as long as I have a page in this paper. If there is any expression about life that is true, it is the old saying that you can never please all the people.
It so happens I have to answer questions about what gets published in Kaieteur News all the time. Associating me with the newspaper, people would come up to me and voice disapproval of many items. It is the same about what others in KN write. I have had many queries about Uncle Adam.
Sunday was no exception. I was in the National Park on Emancipation Day to lend support to the education booth set up by Mark Benschop, and several inquiries were made about last Sunday’s column by Adam. One remark went like this; “Freddie, wuh happen to Uncle Adam boy?”
For years now, Adam was less emphatic on the politics and concentrated on more sociological subjects. But his last piece on Sunday was pungently critical of the exercise of power. Questioners wanted to know why the sudden change in Harris. I don’t know but I believe my guess has proximity to the actual reason – I believe Harris just couldn’t take it much longer as a patient journalist. No one can take what is happening in Guyana. The people of this country have to raise their collective voice.
Harris’s article centered on the complete and unadulterated contempt the main actors in the Government and its extended arms have for the media when the media asks for answers about the affairs of the nation. It is not that these politicians are evasive or subtle, but downright insulting. They would in the most barefaced manner say to the media; “We don’t have to tell you anything.”
Harris cited several egregious examples but missed out on the deplorability of Mr. Neil Kumar. Here is a quote from the sports section of Stabroek News for Wednesday, June 30. The report is titled; “GFF withdraws Lady Jags from CAC Games.” The journalist wrote; “Kumar had told Stabroek Sport that ‘government would be giving its unflinching support for Lady Jags’ presence to be felt in Puerto Rico but when contacted yesterday for a comment on what he had previously said, Kumar hung up his phone without commenting.”
Kumar is a PPP Parliamentarian. Next year, he will ask people to vote for him. Why should voters put into the Legislature people who in the most barefaced of ways tell the entire country that the nation’s business is only for them to know.
Kumar could easily have said; “I will get back to you.” How about; “Let me ponder on your question for a moment and call me back in five.” Or even; “Well, I don’t think you have quoted me correctly.” None of these commonsensical tactics were adopted but just plain brutal contempt – the phone was put down.
The other dimension of this morbid use of power is the role of the Opposition in all of this. All the members of the opposition in Parliament should be forced by the Guyanese people to read a basic textbook in psychology. If a human being knows you are his/her slave, the excesses will never cease because he/she has no respect and the logical spin-off is the belief that any nefarious act can be perpetuated and like a slave you will “humble.”
The Opposition keeps running into Parliament at the behest of a government that Khemraj Ramjattan said on benschopradio.com is worse than the PNC under Burnham. Opposition Leader Robert Corbin repeats that judgment over and over.
Why then is the opposition sitting in Parliament and is submitting to the treatment of slaves? Can the combined parliamentary opposition show this nation its balance sheet of parliamentary accomplishments? Are we not in need of fresh faces to dethrone the PPP in elections which are just around the corner? As the days go by, the PPP keeps the mill of power drunkenness turning. Elections or no elections, the PPP will continue to run amok over this country.
The opposition, meanwhile, will be given the keys to the door of Parliament. The National Assembly is the Opposition’s thirty pieces of silver.

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Answering questions about Uncle Adam

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