THE KAIETEUR News’ Editorial of March 13 titled ‘Discarding Our History’ is laughable. The editorial calls for greater appreciation of Guyanese history when, in fact, it is the same newspaper that day in day out distorts the historical record of this country. The newspaper also allows personal attacks against President Jagdeo, something it must stop with immediate effect.
Here is a line from the editorial: “A people need to be aware of the history of their country if they are to develop any pride.” No patriot will argue with that position. But such a call coming from a newspaper that is the major source of mischievous historiography is a form of intellectual bullying.
Writers in this newspaper (columnists and letter-writers) have a free-for-all where the most sordid twisting of facts is a matter of routine. In the Kaieteur News writings dictators are presented as democrats and those who hold office through legitimate constitutional processes are deemed semi-fascists.
One daily columnist in Kaieteur News is so bent on distorting the historical record that he not even pretends to use reasonable arguments to get his points across. He, that is, Frederick Kissoon, now openly peddles a daily dose of half-truths, all of it laced with the most incendiary language. I challenge the Editor of Kaieteur News to show Guyanese any other mainstream newspaper that subjects its readership to this kind of daily abuse.
If readers think that I am stretching the facts, they should read Kissoon’s article, ‘Will you still need me …?’ where he disgracefully speculates on the mental and physical fitness of President Jagdeo (KN, March 13).
Despite many declarations by President Jagdeo to the contrary, Kissoon also implies that the President will run for a third term. Astoundingly, the Kaieteur News’ Editor allowed these personal attacks on the President to go into print.
Writers in Kaieteur News are no longer satisfied with distorting the facts. They have now gone one step further — they are manufacturing lies, lies for the historical record.