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A high-level PPP leader contacted me

Jan 27, 2019 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon

A high-level PPP leader contacted me to offer my ideas on the decentralization of power and democratization of governance at UG. He asked not to be named, but one day the release of my political, personal and other related papers, which I have instructed my daughter to donate to UG after I am gone, will reveal who he is.
Obviously, I have retained his correspondence. I quote from it; “Freddie, I am aware of your grievances with the former PPP/C administration and some of its leaders. I cannot do anything about that. I can, however, address your concerns about the functioning of the University of Guyana, and with your guidance, commit the PPP/C to bring these changes, or most of it, to fruition. You and I have not seen eye to eye in the past on the political front, but I do respect your opinions and admire your courage and patriotism. Guyana is on the threshold of greatness. But we need the political will and inclusiveness of all our people for this to happen. I can assure you, the PPP/C stands ready to work with everyone to accomplish this noble task.”
My problem with this correspondence is rooted in the routine (basically simple) understanding of philosophy. It is banal knowledge that when undemocratic leaders victimize their detractors, critics and dissidents, the consequences are never confined to the victim him/herself. Families suffer in the process. It is dishonestly and vulgarly easy to say; “let’s forget about the past and work for the future of the country.” But what about the other people who were hurt by tyrannical visits?
The Jagdeo/Ramotar cabals directed their morbid nastiness towards one of the world’s most innocent and harmless persons – my wife. My wife was literally hounded out of her job at GO-Invest. While Jagdeo’s relatives and Ramotar’s children appeared in high-paying jobs, my wife was victimized. The Jagdeo/Ramotar cabals brought into their frame my innocent daughter. They posted fictional and awfully sordid things about her on social media.
When my contract was terminated, UG was funding my daughter’s undergraduate studies because of my long years as a staff member. But that was stopped and I had to find money to continue her education I was physically assaulted twice by life-threatening violence. The GRA hounded me down. Imagine, a poor church mouse like me, the GRA went after. Donald Ramotar’s son knocked down my nephew in front of his gate on Pike Street, Kitty. His right leg was a year in Plaster of Paris because of his advanced age. There was no police investigation.
Let’s quote from the gentleman’s communication again; “I am aware of your grievances with the former PPP/C administration and some of its leaders. I cannot do anything about that.” But he can. Not by asking them to apologize to me, but him apologizing on behalf of them. So this gentleman is telling me to let’s work for the good of Guyana, but he is also working in the PPP with the very people who did these things to me and my family. My question to him is, does he feel that these leaders he is currently working with were wrong to do those things to me.
I met the then GRA head, Khurshid Sattaur about a year ago. He lives a block away from my mechanic in Bel Air village. He boldly asserted to me that he was pressured to go after me. He is still to publicize that information and name names. Contrary to Sattaur’s silence, Anil Nandlall told me that he did ask then President Jagdeo not to go ahead with his libel against me. I published that information before and I am doing so again right here, right now.
There is a value in human society called redemption. You did wrong, seek redemption, and it doesn’t have to involve any extensive action. A simple apology puts you a long way on the road to redemption. I want this importantly placed person in the PPP to know that it would not be emotionally, philosophically and morally right for me to have any contact, however distant, with these people that harmed me and are still in the PPP’s leadership and that he is quite happy to work with and quite happy not to ask them to at least offer a public apology to me.
I want to be honest to those who read this column and over the decades have shown some appreciation for. Even if those in the PPP that hurt me and my family should apologize, I cannot accept those same leaders administering my country again. Morally, though, they should apologize to me.

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