NACTA Not Founded by Bisram

Jun 12, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I write in reply to Mr. Freddie Kissoon’s letter captioned “Kissoon replies to Mr. Bhagwan” (KN May 29). I would have preferred not to respond but I don’t want his distortions and lies about me to remain uncorrected. I have no problem with Kissoon attacking me but at least he should be honest and accurate and not manufacture information to which he has a monopoly. I did not invent NACTA. Kissoon’s claims lack corroborative evidence. There is nothing but ‘fluff’ and ‘vacuity’ in them and there is no logic in his thinking and writings.
Kissoon pens he, “does not give an infinitesimal fraction of a thought to what Bhagwan, Bisram or Jagan write about him”. Yet he devoted dozens of columns and letters on me. In addition, he made numerous references to me and Joey Jagan in numerous other columns.
Kissoon claims Bhagwan “sees only Frederick Kissoon as a person to criticize”. That is not accurate as only about three (for the last several months) were on Kissoon and the overwhelming number of Bhagwan’s commentaries have been on other matters.
Kissoon made reference to Jagan’s red eyes and black sun shades. Kissoon has nothing else to comment on but a person’s organ!
Kissoon made reference to NACTA which are far from being accurate. It is not correct in Kissoon’s imagination that I “invented” NACTA. I do not wish to take credit or have Kissoon assign me credit (I am not a fraud like him) for that which is not mine.
NACTA was the brainchild of educators Vassan Ramracha and Prof. Dr. Latchman Narine . The two gentlemen rendered invaluable contributions to the struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana and for the Guyanese diaspora. Narine helped many Guyanese families and students in NY. The two gentlemen are unsung heroes.
Several educators, including myself, came together, endorsed (Ramracha and Narine’s conception of NACTA) and made financial donations to register the organization. The organization planned, sponsored and hosted lectures on various topics (including on Indian Arrival) in Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn and other places. It donated supplies and money to educators and organizations in Guyana. For several years, members of the group made annual trips to Guyana and Trinidad to conduct research. Vassan, his brother Rennie, and others accompanied me on trips to Guyana, Tobago, and Trinidad to conduct polls.
NACTA’s polling followed those of Prof. Baytoram Ramharack whose (Turkeyen Research and Polling Institute formed around 1990) polling was assisted by the Ramrachas, Dr. Ravi Dev, myself and others. Kissoon knows about our polling activities because he showed up in front of UG library (responding to an ad in SN to recruit interviewers) and made snide remarks (and moving up and down and around us) about the survey questionnaire and how he was not consulted.
When the findings of the poll came out, he wrote (in SN) that the TRPI poll was conducted in Ramharack’s basement apartment (Prof. Ramharack actually lives in a magnificent private house in a posh neighborhood) and complained that he was not consulted – even though he saw and met us recruiting interviewers.
I conducted NACTA polls when Prof. Ramharack did not conduct TRPI polls and should Dr. Ramharack resume polling work in Guyana, I will yield to him as I am quite busy with charitable activities, writing on other subjects relating to my travels, fending for my community in NY as an activist, and serving as a reporter.
Kissoon claims it is not possible to be a teacher and travel at the same time. It exposes the stupidity of the man. Like in Guyana, educators in other countries get several duty breaks during the academic year. Annan Boodram, an outstanding educator who was featured in NY Daily News for his skills, explained to Kissoon in several pieces in SN and KN (a few years ago) how it is possible to travel during school breaks. But Kissoon will have none of Boodram’s explanations and dismissed the man.
On polls, NACTA published its Trinidad findings in the media in October, December, February, April, and May and one is being conducted right now. Subsequent polling by MFO and UWI revealed findings that are similar to NACTA’s. Since Kissoon believes NACTA’s findings are fictional, then the findings of UWI and MFO are also fictional.
Kissoon claims that the NACTA polls showing the PPP and President Jagdeo being “on top” are fictional. Since for Kissoon the PPP is not on top, then Kissoon must tell readers who is on top according to his poll.
Kissoon attacked the NACTA polls in the 2006 elections and praised the staged Dick Morrison polls which showed the AFC “emerging on top”.
The NACTA poll was right in 2006 but Kissoon won’t give it credit. Instead, in his twisted mind, Dick poll is not fictional but NACTA’s is fictional – shows how messed up is Kissoon’s mind.
Kissoon attacked Anand Persaud of SN for publishing the findings of the NACTA poll. The late David DeCaires commissioned me on several occasions to conduct polls in Guyana going back to 2002; all the polls were accurate.
For Kissoon, it is okay to publish the Dick and CADRES polls which showed unrealistically low support for the PPP but not NACTA’s which showed the real support for the PPP.
If the NACTA poll had showed the PNC or AFC in the lead, that would have been an excellent poll for Kissoon – Kissoon wants me to partake in fictional polls, a la Dick that he loves, but I will have none of it. Whatever the findings of the NACTA poll, that is what I will release to the media. I don’t think the professional media will pay heed to a twisted mind and not publish findings of NACTA’s professionally conducted polls. Anand Persaud is a professional.
Vishnu Bisram

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