Dear Editor,
I sent this response to the Guyana Chronicle to a letter attacking me. Since it was not published, I send it for your consideration.
This is in response to R.Khan’s attack on me in a letter captioned “Dismayed by two regular writers in the newspapers” (08.02.11). Khan went after me on a number of issues and it is almost impossible to respond to generalities. But I shall still make a response since he challenges me to confirm my participation in anti-dictatorial activities.
Khan describes me as “a self-appointed pollster”. I will greatly appreciate if he can explain what that means and if he can tell readers how someone becomes a pollster and whether I have met that requirement. There is no standardized written exam to qualify someone as a pollster as there are tests for other professions. I did not take any tests as I did in becoming a licensed educational administrator.
Khan writes that he wants Bisram to confirm which protests he led when and where against the Burnham dictatorship. My years of activism against the Guyanese dictatorship are long but I will mention a few which older readers may remember. I was a leader of the student rebellion on the Corentyne in October 1976 and again in January/February 1977. I was a spokesman for the students and was interviewed by reporters from the Chronicle, Mirror, and the radio stations. The Burnham regime sent soldiers, para-military troops and police after the students. I escaped arrest. My leadership role can be confirmed by Khemraj Ramjattan who was seated next to me at Form 5A at Corentyne High School and who also served as a Prefect with me under Rohan Chandisingh’s guidance.
In NY, it is well known that I organised dozens of protests against officials of the Guyanese dictatorship. This can be confirmed by Vishnu Bandhu, Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, Chuck Mohan, Arjune Karshan, and other activists who made important contributions in the anti-dictatorial struggle. One incident that is etched in my mind was when a guard of Ptolemy Reid pulled out his gun (Chuck, Ramharack, Ramracha and a couple of others were with us) in front of a church where Reid was speaking. Even Prem Misir, who was not an activist in NY, can confirm my role in the anti-dictatorial struggle.
In addition, I was a regular attendee at and at times organised demonstrations or events relating to Guyana from 1977 to now. This can be confirmed by activists from the ACG of NY.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
