THE Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines the word ‘pompous’ as: “having or showing the attitude of people who speak and behave in a very formal and serious way because they believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people.”According to Google, ‘pompous’ means affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important – “a pompous ass who pretends he knows everything.”

It is very likely that the origin of this word must have come from studying the rantings of the likes of Freddie Kissoon.
Judging from several of his recent columns, and most recently in a letter, ‘The schools Priya Manickchand belongs to’ (Kaieteur News, April 20), it appears that Kissoon has found a new “whipping boy” in the person of the most respected Minister of Education. It is most disturbing to me that a newspaper that prides itself of being the conscience of the nation; one that stands by the integrity of the articles published; and one that lives by the creed of holding the government accountable to the people, would allow a pompous, despicable character like Freddie Kissoon to destroy the credibility and objectivity of the Kaieteur News. Of course, Freddie is being emboldened by the editor/s who allow him to besmirch the impeccable character of a decent, hard-working woman without censorship or consequence.

I had written two previous letters in defence of the Hon. Priya Manickchand, in response to attacks from Freddie Kissoon, and they were both unpublished by Kaieteur News. I was told by the editor that he “did not feel comfortable” with my letter. As such, I expect this letter to suffer the same fate.
Referring to a quote from another publication, Kissoon accuses the Education Minister of “Vulgarity.” He added, “I have long written on the politics of Manickchand after I saw her performance in Parliament when she was made a Minister by Mr. Jagdeo. It was clear to me that her postures, gesticulations, vocabulary and facial expressions indicated that she was not going to be a debater who would abstain from unbecoming language.”
Then, to give credence to the theory that ‘birds of a feather flock together’, Kissoon felt “disgusted” and turned away when Minister Manickchand “sought to upbraid Mark Benschop over an unflattering piece on her on Benschop’s web page.” Benschop of course, is another despicable character who slanders our President and ministers of the Government on his internet “hate” radio on a regular basis. He knows that he is protected by the non-existent of laws governing slander on the internet, but Kaieteur News must be ever cognisant and vigilant of Kissoon’s abrasive and contentious style that rubs people the wrong way.
Kissoon is a classic liar who shamelessly tries to turn things around to save face. He admitted to calling Minister Manickchand after misinformation he had published in July 2013 entitled, ‘In the Ministry of Education, an evil injustice goes on’ was brought to the attention of the publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall. But what he failed to admit to his readers, is the fact that he called the Hon. Minister, not out of concern for her children, but to apologise after he was informed that legal action would be considered if his intellectual dishonesty persisted.
Kissoon was again caught in a barefaced lie when he referred to Minister Manickchand as a “practising Hindu” (Kaieteur News, April 15).
Those who truly know Minister Priya Manickchand would testify that although she has tolerance and respect for all religions, she is a strong believer in God and Christian theology.
On April 3, Kissoon was quick to chastise the Education Minister for remarks she made in Parliament, insisting that she was referring to former APNU Parliamentarian Jaipaul Sharma. He even joined Opposition picket lines calling for her to apologise. Then on April 15, he cunningly shifted away from Jaipaul Sharma being the victim of the Minister’s innocuous comment, to her intended target, the accused rapist CN Sharma. He wrote in his column, “In claiming that she could not apologise to Sharma because of her sympathy with rape victims, Manickchand was hoping to bend and shape public opinion in her favour away from the fact that Mr. CN Sharma is not convicted of rape.”

Freddie Kissoon has a history of trying to besmirch the character of this lady, and Kaieteur News is well aware of this. On March 31, 2010, the following – ‘Freddie Kissoon apologises to Priya Manickchand’ was published in Kaieteur News: “Minister of Human Services and Social Security Priya Manickchand has blasted columnist and University of Guyana lecturer Frederick Kissoon who in an article (March 29), written by him, erroneously attributed comments to her during the recent debate on the Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill.
Kissoon in his article had suggested that Manickchand had made comments on the bill as it relates to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a quest for more power. Manickchand supplied this newspaper with the Hansard (verbatim record) of her presentation which makes no reference to what Freddie Kissoon made mention of. When confronted with the evidence by this newspaper, Kissoon accepted that he had made a mistake and sincerely sought to have an apology publicly issued to the Minister. Kissoon insisted no harm was intended by the statements he made and attributed to the Minister.”
The 19th century Prussian and German statesman, Otto von Bismarch is credited with saying, “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”
It would appear that Frederick Kissoon has not yet learnt from his mistakes, and I fear he is determined to take Kaieteur News down with him.

HARRY GILL