WHEN you are a public figure after long years in social activism, academia and journalism, many details of your life become known. It is because of these dimensions, you encounter all types of humans. Two traits become customary.
One is, people gladly welcome you and they want to be nice to you. Conversely, there are those whose family members or relatives or friends you may have written something negative about and you become an object of their permanent dislike.

I have learnt to live with this negative aspect of the human mentality. Because of how rough I grew up, these unnecessarily unpleasant episodes have never had any effect, whatsoever on me. They never did and at my age, they never will.
I have endured these negative encounters because of my politics and since I am less active politically with onset of old age, they have deceased. But they never stop and I don’t think they will.

My relative came into the country and I went to visit him, and immediately on seeing me, the reception’s visage took on an uninviting impression. She knew me by calling my name when I asked for the room number. She was just brazenly rude.
In July this year, I had an experience that is unforgettable at the wedding of the editor-in-chief of the Guyana Chronicle. I spent a long time chatting with the Managing Editor, Rabindra Rooplall that I knew way back during our Kaieteur News days. We proceeded to the buffet table.
A man was in front of me, then, I was next in line, then another guest, then Rabindra. You take your plate and the cutlery to the server. She attended to the gentleman in front of me, then rudely skipped me and began to serve people at the back of me.
She just had a vexed look on her face when she looked at me, and just bypassed me. People in the line objected to her behaviour including Rabindra.

I did not want an incident at the wedding so I simply laid down my plate and cutlery and left the dining area. Rabindra and another guest with his wife objected and told her she was wrong.
Rabindra decided to bring dinner for me but I declined. It was the story of my life. It brought back similar memories of experiences in my country which I would like to share. The notes that follow are autobiographical snippets.
I was at the wake for the son of Adam Harris with AFC stalwart, Dennis Atwell. There were four of us as a group on the parapet chatting. Adam’s relative came out with a large waiter with about six plates of food.
She handed one to Dennis, skipped me, then, she shared to the other two. Dennis was livid, and approached her. I held him back but he was so indignant, he decided we should leave.

Then two years ago, there was an incident involving the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr. Paloma Mohamed. We live in the same compound. My neighbour asked me to take care of her pet for a few days.
One day, I could not find the cat and decided I would check the entire compound. While my search took me to the Vice-Chancellor’s yard, her vehicle drove up right next to me but she did not come out or wind down the window
The next day, the Vice Chancellor went on the email string that links the residents of the compound and enquired “why Freddie Kissoon was looking into my yard.”
Haji Roshan Khan very forcefully defended me but I chose not to respond. Sunday Chronicle columnist, Maureen Rampertab explained to Dr. Mohamed that I was looking for a lost cat.

Dr. Mohamed knows me well and in the long years we know each other there was never an unpleasant word between us. I have never written anything negative about her tenure since she became Vice Chancellor of UG. I believe from President to Cabinet Minister to judge to police officer to army officer that know me would have asked what the problem was.

Those are just samples in addition to my experience at the wedding reception of the danger one faces when one is a public figure. I have been active for 58 years in politics and 36 years in journalism.
You can’t keep track of all the people you have had reason to criticise. But many out there have perceptions of the activist/columnist that may have caused them to become hateful. The University’s Vice-Chancellor could and should have acted differently. Adam Harris’s relative certainly sees me in a certain light. I guess it comes with the territory. But I will forever remain unmoved.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.