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Contradictions in Kissoon’s complaint on Bisram

Nov 28, 2012 Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,
This is in reference to Mr. Kissoon’s “The KN and SN need a policy on anonymous signatures” (KN Nov 25) , a reply to a SN editorial note (SN Nov 21) in which he admitted that he “wrote letters to SN and KN on Bisram” complaining that they failed to check into Mr. Vishnu Bisram’s academic and polling credentials. Contradictory information are found in the pieces in SN and KN.
Let me note that Mr. Bisram is not “anonymous”.  He has been a popular and respected contributor in the media on varied subjects. I enjoy reading his contributions. In addition, he is well respected overseas for his role in restoring democratic rule in Guyana.
Mr. Kissoon’s letter is full of contradictions. Mr. Kissoon stated that SN did not query Mr. Bisram’s credentials at his insistence although he admitted that he filed queries requesting said information.
So how does Kissoon know SN did not act on his queries? Did he ask SN whether the information it provided was a result of his queries?
Incidentally, the queries Kissoon raised had nothing to do with polling. Where Bisram worked and his academic qualifications are not related to polling.
It can be logically inferred that SN acted upon Mr. Kissoon’s insistence in seeking and publishing information on or about Mr. Bisram.
In numerous commentaries in KN, Kissoon complained that SN was not providing information he requested on Bisram and threatened to file a complaint against SN to the media body.
How is a reader to interpret the course of action undertaken by SN in soliciting the information from Mr. Bisram?
Did SN seek such information from Mr. Bisram on its own accord or did SN act only after Kissoon demanded the information from his letters?
Are readers to conclude, naively, that Kissoon’s letter demanding the information played no role in SN seeking to ferret out information from Bisram on his academic and polling credential?
I recall reading a few years ago information put out by the SN’s Sunday editor Ms. Anna Benjamin (confirmed by Kissoon) on Mr. Bisram’s employment as a teacher, the school he was employed, and aspects of his academic and polling credentials.
Kissoon even alluded to a letter he wrote to Bisram’s place of employment after obtaining information from SN.
So the SN editor is not being honest when she stated that SN “never published Mr. Bisram’s academic credentials and teaching experience on its own account”. Mr. Kissoon confirmed that there is a long editorial note in which SN stated that in a conversation with Ana Benjamin, Mr. Bisram was advised to provide evidence of some aspects of the affiliations he claims to have with polling and his academic background.
Information about Mr. Bisram’s academic background was provided as a response to Kissoon  and not of his own volition.  In this regard, SN misled readers – something one could not have accused KN of doing or SN during the tenure of the late David DeCaires.
Mr. Bisram may want to offer further clarification on this matter so we can determine the veracity of the editorial note. Since the death of Mr. DeCaires, the paper has shown a tendency of violating objectivity, fairness and balanced editing.
I and many others look forward for the polling information provided by NACTA on various issues. Kissoon’s distortions as a writer have been exposed by so many people including the publisher and editor of KN.
Unlike what Kissoon believes, I don’t think the findings of a survey would change if Mr. Bisram conducts and publishes it under his own name or NACTA’s – the gist of Kissoon’s complaint or if NACTA has a website or mailing address. I look forward to  reading more of the NACTA polls.
Balliram Sugrim

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