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Kissoon is not a child of Madiba

Dec 14, 2013 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
What was Freddie Kissoon’s real point in his column, “President Obama and the richest African woman in the world”, (KN, 12-12-13)?  Perhaps it was encapsulated in his last line of that column, “I documented race discrimination in my own country and it earned me a libel suit from the then President. I am not afraid. I am a child of Madiba.”
Kissoon postulates that by criticizing the richest African woman in the world (Isabel dos Santos), it would grandstand him as being “non-racial”.  For more than a decade, he lambastes the East Indians of Guyana ad nauseam, and makes derogatory comments on individuals and icons that East Indians of Guyana are sensitive to – to be seen as the “good guy” by his fans.  And now, by criticizing Isabel dos Santos, it underscores that Kissoon is “a child of Madiba”!
How dare Mr. Kissoon assume the venerable progeny of Madiba (the proud clan name of Nelson Mandela); this conceit and aggrandizement are akin to desecration or sacrilege.
Mandela was a proud (black) African, and proud of his clan.  He recognized long and far the dignity of his people.  He criticized racists from all sides of the divide; he upheld the decorum and self-respect of his people.  He never labelled any group – especially his clan – with the hauteur and contemptuous egotism that Kissoon is known for.
About 7 years ago or so, a (Guyanese) African rights activist upbraided Mr. Kissoon for criticizing Blacks, and reverberated that the only people who criticize Blacks should be Blacks themselves.  After receiving this reprimand, Mr. Kissoon quickly tugged his tail between his legs, and retreated.  Now, the only significant criticism of blacks in years by Mr. Kissoon comes by way of referring to an African leader that 99.99% of Guyanese never heard of.  So, is Mr. Kissoon now seen as “non-racial” that he criticized Isabel dos Santos?
For years, Mr. Kissoon has debased, demeaned and degraded the East Indians of Guyana.  And of course, many have known of his contempt of things Indian, and being ashamed of being East Indian. Mandela was never ashamed of being black, and neither is this the case of Mr. Kissoon’s hero (and mine), Eusi Kwayana.  Eusi has been a proud Black person – and rightly so. (The name “Eusi” is derived from an East African root word that means “black”, Eusi had explained to me).
Freddie Kissoon is no child of Madiba; Eusi hails from that clan.  And so is Cheddi Jagan, as mentioned by Dr. Kingsley Harrop, in a letter, “There was a Mandela among our leaders”, (KN, 13-12-13).
Devanand Bhagwan

 

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