The Police Commissioner and his officers were very nice to me. Thanks.

Aug 16, 2013 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

I begin this column by offering an apology to my editor. I told him I would not be around from Thursday for three days because I was off in the interior. The truth was that I was off from Thursday to Saturday to Trinidad. My nephew sent two tickets for me and my daughter to attend his wedding in Tobago.
I didn’t go to Trinidad on Thursday so my editor knew I lied. I did apologize to Nigel McKenzie, my friend, but I explained to him that security was the reason. I have been attacked twice and almost lost my life. The last time was August 15 last year. It was midnight and I was leaving the People’s Parliament when as I approached my car, this guy was waiting for me. He kept hitting me to my head with severity. The next day I took a brain scan.
This week, the Trinidad trip was not on my mind. I was feeling severe pains in the vicinity of my head where that guy struck me a year ago. I consulted Dr. Mitchell of the Medical Arts Centre and Dr. Benjamin Singh. Dr. Mitchell said if there is brain damage, parts of my body would be affected. Dr. Singh sent me for a skull X-ray. Plus I was depressed over the AFC debacle and the unfair treatment of Nigel Hughes, so I did ask Dr. Benjie Singh for some anti-depression treatment. So Trinidad was not on my mind.
But I wanted badly to have my daughter attend her cousin’s wedding. I couldn’t tell Nigel Mc Kenzie over the phone that I was leaving for Trinidad. My phones are not safe. State security gets that information beforehand and I am afraid they may try to hurt me. I believe I am not safe in Guyana. This is my honest fear. And please believe me it is the way I honestly feel. Had I met editor in person I would have told him the truth. So I offered my apology yesterday.
I did not go to Trinidad on Thursday and will have to miss my nephew’s wedding, all because Trinidad has its backwardness in some areas that Guyana lacks. I grabbed our passports, and it was off to the airport. We checked in, only to find that my daughter’s passport expired two weeks ago. She was frustrated and I was devastated. I immediately called a friend who could help, Dale Andrews, from this newspaper. He got in touch with Commissioner Leroy Brumell.
I say most appreciatively, Mr. Brumell and his staff and immigration personnel were very nice to me. This was service and professionalism the likes of which may be hard to find in many parts of the world. I criticize the police when they mess up, and human decency demands that I acknowledge when police service is phenomenal. I thank Mr. Brumell, his staff and immigration officials for their excellent professionalism. I would also like to thank the staff of Caribbean Airlines who tried their very best to get me on the nearest flight the same Thursday or Friday, the next day. I would also like to praise Ms. Banawar, from the Guyana Revenue Authority, who was kind to inform me that my exit tax would be tenable whenever I wish to travel again.
Let me say most graciously that from the time at the airport we were told that my daughter’s passport had expired to the time Mr. Brumell and immigration intervened, I have seen wonderful attitudes from a wonder people named Guyanese. My special thanks to my friend Dale Andrews. I love this country and its people. We are good people but our politics has given us a bad name throughout the world. Caribbean countries that have far less than us treat us like outcasts, because our politics have caused Caribbean people to frown on us.
I am not going to Trinidad for my nephew’s wedding on Saturday, because even though Caribbean Airlines could have arranged a Thursday flight and ensured a Friday flight, today, I cannot get to Tobago where the wedding is. All the shuttle flights by Caribbean Airlines from Thursday through to Saturday to Tobago are filled. How backward! A Guyanese can go to Hog Island or Wakenaam from morning to 6 p.m. everyday. What nonsense is this in a so-called developed country like Trinidad?
Finally, I did say to Mr. Brumell that it must not be taken personal when I criticize the police. While waiting at Eve Leary, my daughter and I were hungry. We went to the police café. I refused to eat so did my daughter. The place looks terrible. I call upon the Government to immediately make that eating place what a modern eating place should be.

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The Police Commissioner and his officers were very nice to me. Thanks.

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