AFTER many days of deliberations, I have decided to respond to Mr. Kissoon’s article of April 30, 2010 edition in Kaieteur News. Mr. Kissoon, I think is missing a number of marbles. I suggest that he immediately seek psychological help.
Since when a person’s ethnic identity does not matter?

Should Mr. Ron Fanfair, a former Guyana Chronicle freelance sports writer of African ethnicity, and now Canadian based, refuse the 28th Harry Jerome Awards that was bestowed on him here in Toronto last week?

Mr. Kissoon should know or must have read of the Harry Jerome Awards here in Canada. If not, I suggest that he google the name of this great Canadian of African ethnicity and who are the recipients of the yearly awards. You will undoubtedly find that most of the recipients are of African ethnicity who reside here in Canada.

Similar yearly awards are given to the various ethnicities by their ethnic and cultural organisations. Toronto, by itself, has over 184 different ethnicities and each year, most if not all honour their people, irrespective of the country of current residence.

We have Caribana here in Toronto that honours the Caribbean music in late July and early August. There are the Greek, Portuguese, Italian, Arab, Indian, Sikh, Kalsa etc celebrations just to mention a few. All these organisations honour their own people with awards.

We have Black Month in February here in Canada.

Even when one is arrested here in Toronto, the Police note their ethnicity.

Does this mean that people of a specific ethnicity must not accept any awards that may be bestowed on them, and that they must demand that they receive some specific Canadian award?

It sickens me to read such crap from a University Lecturer on a continuous basis and furthermore, I just cannot understand how Mr. Glen Lall, the owner of KN, an East Indian like you, Mr. Kissoon, can allow such articles to be published.

In Canada we have Hate Crime Laws, and despite the fact that Mr. Kissoon is of East Indian background, does not mean that he is not preaching hate.

I therefore call on Mr. Kissoon and Mr. Lall, to act responsibly and follow the rules of effective journalism.