Mr. Freddie Kissoon did not address the salient points

Feb 22, 2013 Letters

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DEAR EDITOR,
Mr. Freddie Kissoon, in his letter, “The imbalance in the ethnic balance advocacy” (KN, 17-02-13), branded me as an “Indian Supremacist”, and a “PPP supporter”. Martin Luther King Jr., the Black evangelical, born-again Christian has been my hero and inspiration – and was called worst names.
I am not thwarted by name-calling; rather, false caricatures embolden me, as I speak with what I feel is Truth on my side.
With regards to being a PPP supporter, let me make it clear that I have never voted for the PPP, even though the late Satyadeow Sawh, former Minister with the PPP, was my first cousin. I do, however, happen to think that the PPP is a better political party than the PNC, going by history. I voted for the WPA, and was an enthusiastic supporter of the AFC.
Mr. Kissoon asked in his letter if I believe in God. Let me answer this question simply and clearly: yes, “I believe in God the Father Almighty…”; check out the Apostles’ Creed.
Mr. Kissoon is all agog if I ever thought that when I open my mouth, that God would strike me down.
Oh, Freddie, I am not sure what your concepts of God are, but the true and living God that I love and serve is full of compassion; his mercies are ever true; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness!
So when awful sinners such as the Bhagwans and the Kissoons lapse, they can prostrate themselves at the foot of the cross. When they truly repent, God will pave the way for them. God is beckoning – even now – for all to come to him!
I agree with Mr. Kissoon that God would be much kinder to him than Mr. Vassan Ramracha or me (or any other human ever could), for only God is truly good.
God is holy, just and full of grace and truth. And whether Mr. Kissoon believes it or not, God has overwhelmed me with his love, and has caused me to want to love all, including my perceived or real enemies.
As a person, I have nothing against Mr. Kissoon; at heart, I do believe that he wants peace and progress in the country, and loves Guyana to the core. As a journalist, however, I scoff at untruth, disinformation and exaggeration that he peddles virtually day after day.
Poor Freddie – he feels that Devanand Bhagwan is such an “obnoxious” sinner because this Bhagwan guy has been coming up with egregious and contemptible statements and figures that are unscrupulously ignoble.
You see, Bhagwan has been bursting his statistical balloon. Kissoon “meet ‘e meeter”! This “footnote” has re-emerged to make outlandish statements, and it has thrown the mouther off balance. Mr. Kissoon has been splashing statistics carelessly and ludicrously – you’d think (maybe he thinks) he is the King Tut of stats; maybe we should give him the name King Stut!
If Mr. Kissoon is right in that Salem Church officials would give him (an avowed atheist) a greater welcome than me (a brother in Christ), it reflects the sad truth that has plagued the Christian church in Guyana over the past two decades or so.
Many Christians (especially evangelicals) have chosen to side with the world and demand what is ‘good’ for them, rather than what is good in the sight of God.
This was very clear in the recent Linden debacle, where Christian leaders were repugnant in their rants and demands; the raucous ensued was anything but Christian.
I’ve spoken with influential evangelical leaders in Georgetown, as well as some on the East and West Coasts of Demerara.
The racism that surfaces in their conversation is deep while they masquerade a facade that all is good and well on the racial front in Guyana.
There is a need for Christians to stand up for what they think is the truth, thereby being Salt and Light.
I trust that my two cents worth of opinion propel good people (from all convictions) to bring to the fore facts and feelings of justice and injustice.
Standing up for what one thinks is truth comes with a cost. For me, I’ve been branded as an “Indian Supremacist!” (By the way, I reject that title – afforded by the affable Freddie. Suffice it to say that I have never thought that Indians are supreme or superior to any race).
Mr. Kissoon was blatantly dishonest in his comments on my letter. He used quotation marks by saying that Bhagwan wrote, “While some are asleep from their late night dance, Indians get up early in the morning and start to wuk haad to feed themselves and their families”.
Mr. Kissoon is well versed in the world of libel, and so he should know that he is sitting on dangerous ground to so misquote a person.
Mr. Kissoon substituted the word “they”, with “Indians”. Such dishonesty, Mr. Kissoon, is defamatory and libellous! Mr. Kissoon deliberately, knowingly and purposely exaggerated the statement to make it appear ‘racial’ and ‘supremacist’.
Such an abberation could be excused for an ordinary writer, but it is inexcusable for an academic (former University lecturer), and journalist, to commit such a blatant faux pas.
Yes, there are those who love to sport late at night, including Indians, and those who wake up early in the morning to start their work, including Indians. Perhaps King Stut could give us some median numbers of the ethnic peoples of Guyana who sleep and rise when; that should not be too difficult!
Mr. Kissoon asserted, “I believe in ethnic balance in all things in Guyana including, the public service, the police force, business places, investments, financial houses, property ownership, land ownership, awards of contracts, commerce and the retail trade etc.” Is that statement supposed to be a joke? If so, tickle me!
Take the last 10 years – the columnist fired approximately 3,650 missives (missiles?) in the media. How many of those referred to in any way, shape or form, the (racial) imbalance in the public service and police force? How many spoke of the Amerindian or Indian plight? Virtually none, I surmise; so much for Mr. Kissoon’s outlandish view of balance!
I am disappointed that this intellectual letter writer did not address the salient points in my letter – which hovers on the composition of ethnic peoples in the country, and the need to address the racial question more universally. Instead, Mr. Kissoon has wallowed into the dirty cesspool of which ethnic group caused which problems. Have fun, Freddie, but I refuse to descend to that depth in getting into an ugly, senseless, uncivilized and childish racial slugfest.
Editor, I implore you to control the uttering of Mr. Kissoon. His meandering and pronouncements are downright dangerous, and incites racial hatred between ethnic peoples of the country; the matter should not be taken lightly.
Devanand Bhagwan

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