Mr. FREDDIE Kissoon comes across as an angry man in most of his columns. He gets very angry when prominent people don’t support his position on issues or respond to his requests to support him in unsubstantiated attacks against the government. The latest is an attack on Sister Andaiye, Elder Eusi Kwayana and Prof. Nigel Westmaas (KN April 27). I recall sometime ago he was furious at the editors of Kaieteur News and Stabroek News for not executing his requests to investigate where Vishnu Bisram works and his academic qualifications. He also attacked Rafael Trotman and Robert Corbin for not listening to him in carrying out an investigation on his claims that Bisram is not a teacher or pollster. Kissoon said his research all over the world shows I do not teach anywhere in the world although Khemraj Ramjattan and dozens of others were telling him Bisram has been teaching for over 25 years in NY. Now Kissoon is upset with Andaiye, Kwayana and Westmaas because they would not follow him in his irrational attacks on all he disagrees with. Kissoon also claimed that Bisram never travelled to Grenada to conduct polls and that Bisram was the subject of an OAS sponsored conference at Miami University.  The OAS denied Kissoon’s claims and anyone who lives in Grenada would confirm I was on several TV and radio stations in Grenada in 2008.
Virtually no one can provide a rational explanation why Freddie chastised Kwayana and Dr. Westmaas and human rights activist and social worker Andaiye. Just because they do not support Kissoon’s views on events does not mean they are evil people. Just because they do not express solidarity with Kissoon on social issues means they have abandoned the struggle to improve people’s lives.
I do not know Andaiye well, except what I read about her and also what people say about her resolve in fighting for oppressed people. But I do know Kwayana and Westmaas well. I interacted with both, as well as other WPA stalwarts, on every trip to Guyana (annually from around 1987) during the 1980s and 1990s visiting Rodney House when it was at Croal Street. They are fascinating political figures who gave their life to the struggle against the dictatorship.
Anyone who is familiar with the abuses, harassments, and intimidations, the above suffered at the hands of the dictators would have only praises for them. Freddie owes them an apology for criticising them. Freddie needs to stop telling others what to say or write. They are not little children. They can distinguish right from wrong. Kwayana is not one who is afraid to speak his mind. Andaiye not only pens her views but also helps people. Westmaas is an accomplished academic who worked his way up in Guyana to earn a scholarship for a well deserved PhD and he is still focused on issues relating to Guyana. In my book, they are all heroes worthy of emulation not attacks. Freddie, stop your anger!