I made a painful mistake I will regret the rest of my life

Jan 14, 2018 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

No human will ever walk into a time machine, go back into the past and achieve mental piece through the removal of a torment that nags at their soul. I came back to Guyana in the mid eighties after studies abroad and working with the Maurice Bishop Government in Grenada. In 1988, I became a columnist with the Stabroek News and around the same time, a columnist too with the Catholic Standard.
I put in for membership of the Colgrain swimming pool which at the time was administered by Guyana Stores that was headed by the brother in-law of former President, Forbes Burnham. Mr. Herbert “Herbie” Harper was the brother of Mrs. Viola Burnham. I had already become a critic of the PNC Government under President Hoyte, and maybe that deterred Mr Harper from signing my membership form. I was advised to see Mr. Harper himself but I refused. For such a small issue, I felt Mr. Harper was too small minded.
After going with friends to swim as their guest, I got to know the lifeguard/pool attendant, Roy. His real name is Odat Singh. I swam very early in the mornings so Roy allowed me to use the pool since Mr. Harper rarely touched down there and when he does, it is always in the afternoons when the middle class of Guyana would be there.
Roy allowed me to use the pool with the connivance of the security guard who no doubt knew me from my columns. I would strap my daughter in her buggy and swim while Roy and the security guard kept an eye on her. Then bad luck stepped in. At the western end of he pool was a huge pear tree. Apparently Mr. Harper issued instructions for the employees not to pick the pears. But Roy did pick the pears and on that day, there was a new security guard. She reported the matter.
I never thought anything of the incident but the next morning, Mr. Harper turned up and saw me swimming. He said not a word. The next day, I was banned and Roy was fired. I asked attorney Oswell Legall, then deputy leader of the Democratic Labour Movement headed by Paul Tennassee, if he could sue Mr. Harper for denying me my right to swim. He agreed to do the case pro-bono.
That was it for me and Colgrain swimming pool. I never went back since that day. I never saw that place since. I caused Roy, a man with children to lose his employment. Maybe I should have swallowed my pride and beg Mr. Harper for his reemployment. If I had to live my life over again, I would beg Mr. Harper. You cannot put poor people on the bread line and I did exactly that to Roy. I had no any money that I could have given Roy. I never saw Roy again.
I walk my dog late at nights at the back of Giftland Mall car park. One night in last year, I saw this security rank walking towards me. He called out my name. I couldn’t make him out at first. It was Roy. I was hugely delighted to see Roy. There was no question about it; I told Roy to let me know whatever I could for him including money. But he is a modest man. I renewed my friendship with Roy after about three decades but he never asked me for a cent or a favour last year.
On the night of December 27, a few Giftland Mall security personnel came up to me while walking my dog. They asked if I heard what happened to Roy. On Christmas Eve night, a motorist, parked in lane 9, reported a burglary in his car and his firearm was stolen. Gitftland called in the police. The Turkeyen ranks beat Roy and put him in the van. Superintendant Mansell of Cove and John ordered the detention of Roy at Sparendam station despite the intervention of Giftland security administrators who told Mansell that Roy did not work in lane 9 but lane 5 and that they can vouch for him. Giftland’s cameras are not working
Gitfland security people asked that he be put on bail. Mansell refused. He spent December 24, 25 and 26 in the lock up. He was released on $50, 000 bail and is back with Giftland security. My research into the case revealed that Mansell and the complainant are good friends. I asked Superintendent Brutus of Cove and John to investigate. He promised to. I went Friday last to get Roy’s bail money. Superintendant Withright of Sparendam said that cannot be done soon. The poor will always suffer in this land.

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