PPP ‘Intellectual’ Defender attacks America, Supreme Court & Police; President Trump mustn’t take it lightly

Dec 28, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Calling himself an intellectual defender of the PPP government, Freddie Kissoon, no stranger to controversy, slammed the United States in a column in the government discredited mouthpiece, the Chronicle, on December 23, saying: America does not allow free speech like Guyana; the police arrest people for free speech; and the highly respected US Supreme Court is no better than the Caribbean Court of Justice. Really? Mr. Kissoon, a one-time critic and foe of PPP, is now a paid ally, a hired hand, who has been paid big bucks by government to defend it against criticism. The state-owned Chronicle is used by government to attack the political opposition and critics. It has been subjected to several defamation lawsuits. The paper also marginalizes Guyanese on account of race.

Assailing the judicial system and state of free speech in America, Kissoon wrote: “There were police mass arrests and prosecutions of people speaking out … in America”. He added: “Hundreds have been arrested and hundreds of students have been expelled from their respective universities for speaking out. (sic) Dozens of foreign students have been expelled from the US for denouncing Israel. (sic)”.

Kissoon failed to distinguish between “speaking out” in freedom of speech guarantees of the American constitution and breaking the law — such as engaging in violence and disruptions on the streets and on campuses, arson, looting, damaging properties, derailing classes on campus, and preventing instructions. The individuals disciplined were not for free speech but for criminal acts and contempt of authority.

A fact check on Kissoon’s allegations against American police revealed that those arrested had their say in court and charges were dropped for minor infractions. There was due process for all arrestees. No student was expelled from university or disciplined without an impartial hearing and no one was deported without a fair court hearing before a judge. Many students were pardoned. Charges against some were dropped. Matters are still pending before the courts for egregious crimes and violations.

President Trump announced that those immigrants including students who break American laws should be deported. He also stated that those who complete their studies should be allowed to reside in America. So Kissoon has misled readers with his unsubstantiated claims that America doesn’t guarantee free speech.

Continuing his denigration of America, Kissoon added: “The federal Supreme Court in the US is not of higher quality that (sic – than) the Caribbean Court of Justice”. Bull! The Supreme Court is some 250 years old whereas the CCJ is 20 years old. The rulings of USA Supreme Court provide sound scholarship and erudition that were often cited in matters before the CCJ.

The Supreme Court has nine judges, three of who were appointed by President Trump. Disrespecting the Supreme Court is tantamount to attacking President Trump. The President Elect would not take too kindly to the unverified claims of Kissoon who is an intellectual defender of the ruling PPP government.

The public needs to hear from the PPP government whether it endorses Kissoon’s insult of the Supreme Court and his claim that American police arrested protesters for free speech. The American Embassy is urged to take note of Kissoon’s attack on America and his close affiliation with PPP.

Yours truly,

Ms. L. Lewis

(PPP ‘Intellectual’ Defender attacks America, Supreme Court & Police; President Trump mustn’t take it lightly)

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America, criticism, Freddie Kissoon, US Supreme Court, violence

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