MR. CHRIS PERSAUD is the brother of the editor of the Stabroek News. I never met the gentleman. Never saw him. I know absolutely nothing about Mr. Chris Persaud. But I assume as a rich man who runs a successful hardware business, he must know what is Google and how to use Google.
As a businessman, Mr. Persaud has to use Google. Using Google has become commonsense in today’s world. Mr. Persaud has reacted to one of my columns. His attitude was carried in a letter in Stabroek News of August 16, 2023 titled: “For historical accuracy.”

I quote from his publication: “Correction to Frederick Kissoon’s Column on August 9, 2023, in Guyana Chronicle. Mr. Kissoon stated that Khemraj Ramjattan was the Chairperson of the Gandhi Youth Organization, please note this is incorrect. Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan was once President of the Gandhi Youth Cricket Club which operates separately from the temple (parent body) normally referred to as the Gandhi Youth Organization or the Mahatma Gandhi Organization. However, Khemraj Ramjattan’s uncle Naubat Ramjattan once served as President of the Gandhi Youth Organization.”

If Mr. Persaud had used Google he would have seen that Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan was elected President of the GYO in April 2008 at the GYO’s annual meeting. Elected as Mr. Ramjattan’s deputy was Mr. Michael Goolsarran. Now where did I get this information from? The very newspaper that carried Mr. Persaud’s missive that sought to correct me. The date is April 7, 2008.

Now here is the interesting part. Mr. Persaud signed his correspondence indicating his status at GYO – former senior Vice –President. So, if he did not want to use Google, couldn’t Persaud call one of his past colleagues and inquire if Ramjattan was ever president of GYO?

But there is more strangeness about how the mind of Mr. Persaud works. Apparently he did his research and found out that Ramjattan’s uncle once served as President of GYO.
This causes one to question how Mr. Persaud goes about pursuing research. He knows Ramjattan’s uncle was once GYO’s president but not Ramjattan himself. What do you make of what Mr. Persaud did? Before we answer that; one thing is absolutely clear. Mr. Persaud who set about to achieve historical accuracy as boldly stated in his headline, ended up planting historical inaccuracy.

So what do you make of what Mr. Persaud did? I can only think of one thing. Mr. Persaud simply wanted to say something about me. I have been in the public eye decades now. I know what comes with the territory. I can tell Red Thread that they are chasing publicity by claiming twice they have been threatened.

I have been threatened literally dozens and dozens of times in my public, political life. Never once have I alerted the public to even one action. You just know that there are clowns, jokers and wasted minds out there and you just don’t bother with them. So, I know what comes with the territory.

You have to expect these things. But Mr. Persaud’s letter on me, seeking to correct me, is odd and maybe irrational. He read a column of mine and just decided that Kissoon is wrong. Just like that! What went through his mind to say Kissoon is wrong and I will correct him? It is now obvious from the April 7, 2008, publication of the Stabroek News that I was right and Persaud is wrong.

No hard feelings on my part. I thank Mr. Persaud for reading my columns. I hope he continues to do so. I would welcome his thoughts on the myriad things that I write that interest him both as a Guyanese and a Hindu.

As a Hindu, I don’t know how he feels about Prime Minister Modi of India. I believe Modi has gone in an authoritarian direction which I feel India will reject. I believe Modi has subterranean anti-Muslim feelings.

I never liked Modi after I read what he did when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. Reports are, he let those Hindu rioters massacre large numbers of Muslims before he called in the security forces. What do you say to that Mr. Persaud? Feel free to criticise me but do it with logic, rationality and research.