Is the President’s nephew getting this job?

Mar 01, 2018 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

President Granger doesn’t like some of the things contained in these columns of mine. There have been three times his office replied to me. One is in relation to the names of prominent UG graduates Professor Noel Menezes has taught and the government’s official release not mentioning me. I couldn’t believe my name was not on the list. I am not looking for recognition. Anyone who lives in Guyana and thinks I want to be mentioned at a UG event has to be a dishonest person.
I inquired in one of my columns why I wasn’t mentioned because it was a matter of principle. First, I am one of Sister Menezes’ students that have remained close to her for over forty-five years. I mention her often in these columns. How could lesser known graduates of hers come in for honourable mention and not me?
Secondly, if there is any UG graduate that is always in the presence of this nation, it is me. How can they possible forget my name? The President asked that I withdraw my accusation that my name was deliberately left out. I ignored him for reasons that will be stated below.
The second occasion is when I mentioned that because UG Vice Chancellor Ivelaw Griffith and the President have been long standing friends, his application to be Vice Chancellor was assured. The President asked that I withdraw that observation. I haven’t for reasons that will be offered below.
The third occasion is when the President accused me of making public mischief by quoting what Minister Raphael Trotman told the nation that the President, acting on his own, gave three AFC leaders ministerial portfolios without input of the AFC, and one of those ministers was his son-in-law. I resented that reaction from the President and requested a withdrawal of the mischief section of the press release. Mr. Granger’s office has not done so. For this reason I will not recant anything I write on Mr. Granger or apologize. My request is exactly one year old.
Before I move on to the subject of Mr. Granger’s nephew, I want to assert that since time immemorial, humans have been protected by natural law to the right to say what they believe or do not believe in. I do not believe countless things Presidents Burnham, Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Jagdeo and Ramotar have said. I don’t believe many of the denials of President Trump on his encounters with certain women. You can get into legal trouble with the words you use.
Long ago, when I first started as a Kaieteur News columnist, I went to Glenn Lall’s house and retired judge, Justice John Romao, who lived across the road, was on his bridge and he called me over to talk about what I write in my commentaries. In a long conversation, he said some words to me that live in my soul. He told me that how you use words can save you from being sued. He advised that never call a person a liar. Simply say, “I do not believe your story.”
Justice Romao in a brilliant way explained the difference. It goes like this. When you say a person is a liar, the subject is the person. You are speaking about the person. Do not speak about the person; speak about yourself. He asserted that it is within your God-given right (his words that I remember up to this day) to say what you believe or do not believe. I remember him saying, “just leave it at that.”
I believe what Raphael Trotman told the nation about the three ministers. The entire country can disbelieve Trotman. It is my right to say I believe him.
I now come now to Kevin Granger, the president’s nephew. I do not know anything about Kevin Granger and therefore will not write anything even remotely critical. From the time Mr. Granger became president, I have been told by knowledgeable sources in PNC, WPA and AFC circles that he is close to his nephew and consults with him.
With the rise of an oil economy, I have been informed that his nephew may function in that sector with the government. Now there is the creation of a Department of Energy. I am simply asking if there will be a role for Kevin in that unit. I will leave it at that.
My research shows that since he began his presidency, Mr. Granger has cultivated the penchant to make high level appointments of people he worked closely with and people who are his friends from the seventies onwards. Is there anything wrong with such a penchant? It depends!

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Is the President’s nephew getting this job?

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