MY first response to Frederick Kissoon’s column, ‘The Man Who Disappeared in 2010’ published in the Kaieteur News, was to dismiss it with the contempt that it deserves. This is especially so, since, his piece was no more than a vacuous, scurrilous personal attack on those whom Kissoon disapproves. 
It is a disgrace to the institutions of academia and the media both of which Kissoon claims membership.   It should have no place in a reputable newspaper.
However, to ignore it might give readers reason to believe that there was some measure of truth to what he wrote.  Dr. Persaud can deal with the lies told about him in whatever way he deems fit. 
For my own part let me state categorically that Kissoon’s statement that there was a “huge quarrel” between Dr. Persaud and me is an outright lie. It is also not true that Dr. Persaud “remonstrated” with me, telling me that it was foolish of me to mention that he was teaching at the American University in Washington, DC.  Why it would be foolish to do so when Dr. Persaud’s teaching position at the American University is public knowledge, only Kissoon can explain. 
Kissoon also refers to the academic conference that was held at the Public Library last year in which both he and Dr. Persaud participated.  When asked what was academic about the one page paper he presented, he responded that it was merely a summary of a paper that he had prepared. It has been nearly a year since the conference was held. Could the eminent academic state when the paper will be published?