Mr. Shaw should know his party never gave me a hearing

Aug 18, 2013 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I refer to two letters in the Friday, August 16 edition of the Stabroek News; Anand Boodram’s “Politics has become a zero sum game in Guyana.” And Mohammed Shaw’s “Boodoo was not given due process.” Boodram wrote, “One cannot help but conclude that politics has become a zero sum game in Guyana.” Shaw, one of GECOM’s Commissioners observed; “Boodoo was never given due process – not even a hearing.”
When I read those letters I thought of my own contract termination at UG after serving UG for twenty six years. In Boodoo’s situation his contract had ended. In my case, it had five more months. It is clear from Shaw’s letter, you have apartheid in Guyana. Boodoo should have been given a hearing over his contract renewal but Frederick Kissoon was a lesser human being not entitled to the rights that Mr. Boodoo has
In my case I didn’t even know my contract termination was up for discussion. There were absolutely no complaints from any section of the University. Not even one person that I worked with, not even one student. Most obnoxiously, I was a legal member of the University Council that made that decision and was not invited to the meeting
Friday afternoon, I had a personal conversation with Minister of Education the contents which cannot be repeated. But I am at liberty to say that I did ask her to watch me in my eyes and tell me as someone who taught her at UG if Even Persaud is more eligible to teach at UG than me. Even Persaud was charged with the most offensive violation a teacher can allegedly be accused of. He was given a hearing and allowed to have legal representation. I woke up a morning and got a call from my dean saying that my contract was terminated. How can any country accept this kind of illegal, reckless and depraved behaviour from its government?
I did offer Minister Manickchand an apology for anything that may have caused her distress in any of my columns because I did say to her that as a mother of two young children I would not be comfortable with children reading what people have to say of their parents. I did promise her that I would be careful in the future. But the Minister must know that I have a duty to the newspaper I write for and my country to offer constructive comments. When you write as long as I have and as often, you do slip up from time to time, here is an opportunity to apologize to anyone who thinks some angles have been personal. If those people can point out to me areas that appear personal, then I would say forthright that I am sorry
Minister Manickchand did ay that she thought I should not have mentioned the name of the little girl who played Simba in the recent Lion King presentation because I may have discouraged her. I honestly thought this is the stuff you find from reviewers whether it is film or literature or Broadway plays or sports. Look how many commentators thought that Darren Sammy should not command a place in the West Indies team muchless be the captain. I admit the girl is at a tender age but all I suggested was a course in voice modulation. I never wrote her acting was bad. In fact, it was good. If I cold met her I
would tell her that nothing ill-conceived was meant. I hope she goes on to act and I will glad to participate in her encouragement. If her parents were browned off, I regret that. I didn’t mean any harm
A few persons told me I was too harsh on David Casavis’ book on the Thomas Carroll including my buddy pal, Leonard Craig. I think, all, I repeat all the persons who read and praised the book are not familiar with the Thomas Carroll affair as those of us in the media. So for them the book was a revelation. They found something exciting. But we in the media, especially my editor, Adam Harris know much more than what Casavis brought out
For the love of me I cannot understand up to this day why Casavis did not research Carroll’s cooperation statement to the district attorney so the Guyanese people can know what Laurie Lewis did and those rich business places who helped Carroll could be exposed. Casavis did not name them.

What readers didn’t know was that I had no idea that Mark Benschop was a friend of Casavis. So when Benschop wrote bitterly about me after my review, I thought out of respect for my friendship with Benschop I would call him. I did and he told me he was on the air and couldn’t talk. If he had spoken to me maybe another set of events could have been released
Looking back, I understand that Casavis did provide Guyanese with information on the US Embassy style of doing things that they would not have known about if it wasn’t for Casavis’ book. But Mr. Casavis should understand a reviewer has to do his/her work. He should not take my review personally. I acknowledge to him that the evaluation was too harsh. But I do think from what I know of the Carroll adventure in Guyana, his contents could have been more informative. We all make mistakes, Mr. Casavis.
Frederick Kissoon

 

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