I am writing to register my dismay at the inclusion of Freddie Kissoon at the Guyana Institute of Historical Research conference on Saturday. Most of the other participants on the panels are recognised in their field of work. Many have done real research. Most have been published by impressive peer-reviewed sources. Kissoon on the other hand has never published a single such academic article in his nearly 36 years at the University of Guyana.
Kissoon’s greatest claim to fame to date is his association with missing books from the University of Guyana. If Kissoon had written one page of research a year he would have had at least one academic article to his name. This is the guy who hides behind academic and press freedom, but who has contributed nothing in three decades to the research. He has given students at UG a raw deal for three decades, something for which he should never be forgiven.
If the Guyana Institute of Historical Research wants to save its integrity it should avoid having unqualified people such as Kissoon at its official conferences. Kissoon will no doubt go there tomorrow and spin his usual nonsense. I bet you that in his assessment of Bharrat Jagdeo he will not find space to acknowledge that this president has a distinguished record of accomplishments that has been recognised the world over.