I DON’T know if Mr. Freddie Kissoon’s column will be continued. While I endorse freedom of speech, as has been institutionalised in our country under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration, I think Mr. Kissoon has crossed the line in balanced and objective journalism when he penned that squatters would be evicted and the information was not verified.

While I subscribe to the tenets of free speech and defend his right to pen them, this, however, does not include the right to pen lies and innuendoes which characterise most of Freddie’s writings.

The views expressed or espoused by Kissoon are called advocacy journalism. He engages in anti-government ranting and panting.  Kissoon seems to suffer from fatigue as would anyone who writes a daily column and, in a haste to meet deadlines, information is likely to be inaccurate.

A weekly column, like that of Ravi Dev or Adam Harris or Stella (all of whose writings are intellectually sound), would be far better for Freddie.

The public is aware that Freddie and I have had a running battle and we have had many disagreements.  But that does not mean I despise him or wish to see his column terminated.  However, when a person errs, there must be consequences.

In the US, quick action follows journalistic blunders – columnists or reporters are suspended or even fired. Freddie has been proven wrong again and again.  But he refuses to apologise for proven errors. He invents news and facts to support unjustified claims and assertions – many were made against me that were preposterous. He also made up things against Joey Jagan, Ravi Dev, Dr. Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Henry Jeffrey, and so many others.
If Mr. Kissoon stays professional and don’t manufacture information, his writings will come across as credible and readers will take him seriously.

Mr. Kissoon is often rude, arrogant, abrasive, pugnacious, aggressive, haughty, distrustful, irrational, illogical, intolerant, narcissistic, irritating, overbearing, and insistent on having his own way even when it is the wrong way. Those are not the qualities of good journalism. One learns with experience as a writer to become  better and to be objective, fair, accurate and balanced. Freddie has not. During the 33 years since I have been writing in NY, I have learnt from mistakes to improve my skills.  A writer must strive for truth and avoid a hubristic attitude.  We all err as writers and when we do we should quickly apologise and move on. That is the trait of a good writer.
In sum, I think Freddie should reduce his workload to a column a week.  There will be less fulminations and more substance bolstering the credibility of the paper.