WHAT a shame it is when there is little to separate a media entity from one of its ‘columnist.’ It evokes an old adage, almost trite and clichйd, but because of the man’s shameless notoriety, it is elevated (this clichй) and re-invigorated with sententiousness. The man is Freddie Kissoon, and by now (as the title reveals) the entity is the Kaieteur News. Why am I penning this response? It is because the KN chooses almost daily to allow him leverage to do his puerile, dirty and superficial work, which he calls ‘commentary.’ However, when he is woefully exposed and debunked (which is almost always), the concomitant attention is not afforded his worthwhile gainsayers (and as expected, it engenders my ire). I start with language and a suggestion.
Freddie has stopped now, but there was a time when he used to write (he says) in “evanescently clear language.” I called on KN to ask the ‘pitiful dunce’ to explain. And nothing was done. Freddie is here showing that he has a language challenge. He does not even know (and would not check) on the actual meaning of lexical entries in a dictionary. This may very well explain why his stories can never be ascertained. They are always ‘some one told me’ or ‘I heard from a friend’ or ‘I was given a….’ Only recently, Mr. Bhagwan and Mr. Bisram put him to shame. I guess Freddie has never approached a Mr. Hosein nor a Dr. Jonas for help in the meanings and proper usage of words, within English Grammar. (Maybe it will tarnish these good people’s image to help him too).
I bring to mind his chiding a person for saying ‘dee-port-ment’ as Freddie pontificated it should have been ‘dee-port-a-mau’ (that is according to French phonotactics) Freddie must be schooled. the word in French is dйportement, and is pronounced (close to) day-port-mau (since the accent aigu makes the initai ‘e’ a long ‘a’ and the second ‘e’ has been muted (see a linguist to explain aphersis/syncopation/elision), and of course in French, when there is no end vowel, the final consonants (in this case (n and t) are not sounded-got it?).
Let me now list the synonyms for ‘evanescent’ – brief, deciduous, ephemeral, momentary, flash, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, impermanent, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory. The word is a good one to describe the rainbow, but only for users who are skilful in improvisation and word play, so that the beauty of the rainbow is captured, and not its ‘evanescent nature. (Got it Freddie? Please do).
Now look at his ‘primary schoolish work’ which he deems an ‘essay’ or an ‘analysis.’ He takes time and uses space to call Mr. Clement Rohee all kinds of names, and designates the man as a fool. See, Freddie is topic-less, and KN uses him. Freddie comes over as a school boy who likes ‘jeering’ contests, like ‘if you skin yuh teeth on me, ah gon skin back mee teeth on you.” So he writes: “Here are some more assininities from Rohee: “It is from the pages of certain dailies that they are given safe haven to launch their diatribes towards the PPP.” What the quack did was to embarrass himself again, and so I repeat-Get help-talk to one of your peers, for currently you are letting them down.
‘Diatribe’ can take both prepositions ‘towards’ and ‘against.’ Especially in the English Language, one single preposition can govern more than one noun. For example, one can start ‘at’ a time or ‘a’ place in a sentence such as “The show starts ‘at’ 18:00 hrs. (time) or ‘at’ Umana Yana (place). Freddie needs a lesson in English Syntax. So who is a fool? Or do you want to pontificate on this. Some languages have a clear disambiguation when it comes to prepositional use, and sometimes it is so in English, but your choice of a peccadillo shows your nature. You are petty and pesky. This is my point then.
KN wants recognition. It is known for the fanciful and bizarre. But can it at least employ a qualified proof reader, and pay him/her. In all seriousness, Freddie Kissoonn should be psychologically, mentally and academically examined by a board of professionals. There is something ‘miasmically wrong (his word again) with him, and it is a tragic commentary on the KN. I hope the forces and authorities that be really act quickly.