People disagree but then they must move on

Aug 22, 2013 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I called Mark Benschop last week to tell him that I didn’t have anything personal against him after our torrid exchange of public letters. I did this because I was urged by scores and scores of persons who expressed regret that Benschop and I may have fallen out.
I can tell readers that many persons, some of them very respected names in politics, asked me what went wrong and my answer was that I did not know; it was for Benschop to explain it. Only APNU Parliamentarian, James Bond said to me on Emancipation Day in the National Park, “Man, Freddie, you can quote me as asking you for an explanation.”
I wanted those people to know that I bore no animosity to Benschop and so I called him to tell him that. Here is the sequence of events in print. These words of Benschop are in print with dates provided so people who enquired of me could do the same with Benschop:
1. I wrote a torrid review of David Casavis book on Thomas Carroll –July 14.
2. Mark Benschop in KN the next day, responded to my review and wrote the following: “Unlike Freddie Kissoon’s personal ramblings, I’d like to congratulate Mr. Casavis…when someone’s objectivity is clouded with emotions, bitterness and gripe readers can determine what’s nonsense from what’s not…you can contact me for your copy.”
3. Out of respect for our friendship, I called him on the phone, since in his KN letter it appeared that he knew Casavis, because after all he was assisting in selling the book. I wanted to tell him that there was too much Casavis left out in the book. Out of my friendship for him, I was concerned that he was promoting a book that was weak. My intention was honest and I am glad he quoted me correctly as telling him. “I hope the guy is not using you.”
Why would I say that if I didn’t have Benschop’s interest at heart? I admit I should have showed him Carroll’s cooperation statement to the district attorney, but looking back I am not sure it would have changed his mind. Benschop thinks Casavis has written a giant of a book. I respect his right to that opinion. I think Mr. Casavis’s book was necessary, but too much was left out. I apologize most sincerely for calling the book, nonsense.
4. I ignored his letter even though it was clear in his letter that he implied I had a gripe and was bitter with Casavis. I never heard the name Casavis before and merely reviewed a book of events of which I was familiar with and found the research inadequate.
5. On July 17 in KN, Benschop attacked me again on the Casavis book in a letter captioned; “Freddie Kissoon and Beyond Redemption.” In this letter, instead of dealing with my weaknesses if any in my review, he described for readers, the commotion I was making in the Brickdam remand facility when we spent three days, arrested for two traffic offences. The letter went on to say all kinds of personal things about me. What was the relevance of those insults?
6. On July 18, one day after Benschop attacked me again, I wrote a letter in KN praising him. Here are my words; “People like Lincoln Lewis, Mark Benschop, Ramon Gaskin… are committed, multi-racial Guyanese that I know and believe have important roles to play…”
7. On July 22 came another attack which space would not allow for extensive quotes. But here are some (A) “I am confident that Guyanese are intelligent enough to identify a kakabelly fish from a tilapia.” (B) Freddie wants Guyanese to bow down to him as either King Kissoon or King Kong.” (C) “Assessing the function of his brain would be a strenuous task for any competent neurologist.” (D) “Some unfortunate traumatic event occurred during his childhood.” I could go on with extensive quotes from that letter which was very poisonous and vicious. It took me by extreme surprise, because up to that point we had no falling out whatsoever
These then are the sequences. Anyone can read them to see who said what first. I think I have cleared my conscience and my obligation to all those who asked me why Benschop was so vicious in his July 22 letter. I don’t have the answer. All I can say is that people in this country tend to hold on to animosity and I have none for Benschop.
I do not have any bad feeling for Benschop. People disagree but then they must move on. I called him to let him know there is no bitterness. I have noticed that he has declared his candidacy for Mayor of Georgetown and signed his name as leader for The Independent Party. I wish him well, and I hope we can continue to struggle together for human rights in our country
Frederick Kissoon

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