Dear Editor,
I write in reference to Robin Williams’s letter captioned “Mr Bisram does not acknowledge his political affiliation” (07.03.28). He is right about my not having any political affiliation but wrong about my having “any slant towards one side”. As a pollster and any kind of commentator, one should try to be as objective as possible and not belong to any political grouping. In this way, you can be above the fray and carry out your observations professionally.
I have been accused of being a PNC, PNM, UNC, PPP, URP, WPA, ROAR and everything else you can think of. I can’t be all of these things because they are all contradictory when related to one another. The nature of my polling activities and commentaries make me an enemy of almost everyone – certainly all political parties. No third world politician wants to be told the truth about their (lack of) popularity and weaknesses. They only want to be told about their strengths and how much people love them, even when they are reviled by their subjects.
I have related stories of being called a UNC-ite in Trinidad when my polls showed the UNC winning the 1995 and 2000 elections. Then I was called a PNM-ite when the polls showed the UNC losing in 2001. In between I was called all kinds of names. More recently, challengers praised me for polls showing the UNC under Panday can’t win an election. But during the party’s internal elections for control of the executive, when my poll showed the Panday faction winning, I was called a Panday-ite. Subsequently, when the polls showed the UNC walloping the COP for control of the opposition at the next election, I was dubbed a UNC activist. I expect soon to be called a PNM-ite again because the latest poll showed the PNM winning a three quarters majority at the coming elections.
In Guyana, a PPP activist referred to me as a ROAR supporter. And in N.Y, PPP activists frequently chide me for being anti-PPP. So no matter what I write and what position I take, people will perceive me as something different from what I really am. I can assure readers of this much – I call a spade a spade. I am not afraid to write the truth and to critique people when they are wrong.
I don’t agree with Williams that living in Queens automatically makes one biased. Where one lives (in my case, Queens) does not prevent one from being fair and objective. Only Sunday, someone came up to me and praised my objectivty and fairness in my writings. Also, praising Rickey Singh for his journalistic reputation does not make me a biased reporter or commentator. The man is respected throughout the Caribbean, particularly so by government leaders. That is a fact that can never be disputed. That is why he received an honorary doctorate from UWI.
Finally, unsuccesful attempts to piant me as being partial towards any group would not compromise by professionalism and integrity. I also want to thank Suresh Singh (SN Mar 27)for his support and encouargement in continuing to write about the Guyanese diaspora and other issues.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
