Dear Editor,
I applaud Jerome Khan for being objective, fair and balanced in his letter supportive of Shri Prakash Gossai’s appointment as special assistant to President Jagdeo captioned “Mr Kwayana’s criticism of Pandit Gossai is spiteful” (07.03.07). I do not agree with his view of Brother Eusi Kwayana outliving his usefulness or that Kwayana is spiteful but like Khan, I do believe that Kwayana is wrong about Gossai. I must confess that the letter is one of the most well written essays I have read from Khan. His points in response to Kwayana are well argued and have merit. I am not the least troubled by his insult describing me as “a pot salt mischief maker” and of characterizing my writings as “diatribes”. I do not think I write diatribes or take partisan positions. Many people told me that my work is useful especially in reporting on activities about or on Guyanese in the diaspora. I don’t see how these can be mischief making.
It is understandable why Khan has attacked my writings. We had a few exchanges in the press and I was particularly harsh on him. Khan took offence at a piece I wrote about a decade ago, in which I analyzed how the late Eric Williams divided Hindus and Muslims in Trinidad to win elections and how Burnham, because of his racism, failed to employ a similar strategy to win elections; as we all know, Burnham preferred to rig elections to hold on to office. And several years later, Khan again attacked me for publishing results of polls I conducted showing the PPP/C winning elections. Khan felt poll results should not have been published weeks or days before the elections because they would hurt his party. I disagree with him. In America and other countries, polls are published up to the day before or even on the day of elections.
On the Gossai issue, I am pleased to read Khan has risen above partisanship to write such an excellent well substantiated letter. As an opponent of the PPP/C government, Khan is well known for his partisan views. So it is heartening to read such a lovely letter from an opponent. I believe that not every piece of writing should be of an attacking mode. Where necessary, one should offer praise for positions that benefit the country. And if Khan has an open mind on my writings or reports, he would find that I am not a mischief maker.
On the playing of the words “followers” and “supporters”, no mischief was intended on my part. Gossai has a lot of followers as well as supporters and many “chailas” (those who utilize his service or expertise for their poojas or kathas). I do not understand the distinction made by Bro. Kwayana and its relevance to the appointment of Gossai as a special assistant to the President. Also, I fail to understand why Gossai’s appointment as an assistant to the President still remains a contention when the President has indicated Gossai will not be an ethnic or religious advisor.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
