In a letter published in today’s edition (see page 7), columnist Frederick Kissoon called on the Editor-in-Chief of Stabroek News Anand Persaud to release correspondence between them on the subject of a letter written by Hemraj Muniram.
Kissoon had said that he was aggrieved at the correspondence as Persaud had been “ragingly hostile” to him. Kissoon said he had unfortunately deleted his copies of the email correspondence. Kissoon also said that he would be taking up the matter with the Guyana Press Association.
Persaud said he had no difficulty releasing the correspondence for the public to judge. The correspondence follows.
—- On Fri, 10/9/09, Guyana Publications <stabroeknews@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Guyana Publications <stabroeknews@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: letter for comment
To: “Freddie Kissoon” <fredkissoon@yahoo.com>
Date: Friday, October 9, 2009, 9:17 AM
Dear Mr. Kissoon,
I enclose for your comment, a letter sent to us by Mr.
Hemraj Muniram.
Yours faithfully,
Anand Persaud
Editor-in-CHief
Frederick kissoon response to editor
RE: letter for comment
From: fred kissoon (fredkissoon@yahoo.com)
Sent: Fri 10/09/09 4:48 PM
To: Guyana Publications (stabroeknews@hotmail.com)
dear anand
this is the most libelous letter I have ever seen on me and i would sue the stabroek if it is published because it is dirty and nasty. I never stole 88 books from any library in any country in the world. my house was never searched. funny this is coming from the son-in-law of one of the PPP leading hierachical members. This is a libelous letter and I will leave it up to the editor to use his legal comonsense. I will sue the stabroek news and askl them to prove Mr. Muniram’s statements. thank you
——-Original Message——-
From: fred kissoon [mailto:fredkissoon@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 8:56 AM
To: stabroek news
Subject: more information on nmy book stealing
dear Mr. Persaud
an easy way of determining what Mr. Muniram has said about me is to check to see if there has ever been a lawyer by the name of Hemraj Bhagwandin. There has never been a lawyer by that name in guyana. you are free to check that up yourself He made it up using his own name Hemraj. I resent the use of my mother’s name. In 1974, I was at the University of Guyana as a student. In 1973 I was an active member of the Movement Against Oppression. I believe the use of the fictional lawyer is deliberate since he cannot use the name of a real lawyer which will expose him. Thank you. F. Kissoon
——-Original Message——-
From: Anand Persaud [mailto:editor@stabroeknews.com]
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 2:01 PM
To: ‘fred kissoon’
Subject: Muniram’s letter
Dear Mr Kissoon,
I’ve seen two comments by you so far on Mr Muniram’s letter including a threat to sue. The latter I find mind-boggling considering the nature of some of your own columns. Such threats have never dissuaded us from doing what has to be done.
The bottom line is you are in the best position to present your version of the events listed by Mr Muniram and that is what I am formally inviting you to do before publication.
Yours sincerely,
Anand Persaud
——-Original Message——-
From: fred kissoon [mailto:fredkissoon@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, October 09, 2009 10:25 AM
To: Anand Persaud
Subject: Re: Muniram’s letter
dear Mr. Persaud
you cannot be serious to say I have written the equivalent to what Muniram has said about me ever since I became a commentator. I never accused people of stealing and call their names and said what they stole. I never lied on people’s mother or brought their mother into the picture. If you cannot see how nasty Mr. Muniram’s letter is then I suggest you take it to the paper’s lawyers. I cannot stop you from publishing what it seems you are interested in publishing from your tone. You will do what you have to do. Likewise I will ask you to prove Mr. Muniram’s accusations. A better course of action for you is to go through the newspapers for 1973 and 1974 before you ask me for my defence since there is no defence to offer. I resent you openly asserting that I have written things about people similiar to what Muniram wrote of me. Obviously, and I am not stupid, you seem to put some credence on what Muniram wrote even though Miles Fitzpatrick can easily tell you if there was ever a lawyer in Guyana named Hemraj Bhagwandin. It is scientifically impossible for any borrower to steal 88 books. But I guess if one doesn’t like Freddie Kissoon they would believe anything about him. I would not be bothered. the trouble is so much has been written about me that Mr. Muniram’s letter is just another one. I doubt it would stop people from reading me or change Guyanese attitude to me. but why should I allow all types to say all kinds of things about me. why should i allow you to accuse me and my dead mother of nasty things and allow you to get away with it. persons have sued the Stabroek for less than what Hemraj Muniran wrote. I am glad you wrote me back with that particular tone. it only conforms what I have said so often about this country and its people since i became a commentator. I cannot understand why you wrote me in th first place given the Freudian underpinnings all over your letter and the glee in your words. In closing let me say you do what you want to do. It is not my intention to stop you. I will do what I have always done in my life – fight to protect my rights. Sincerely, F. Kissoon
Persaud said there was no further word from Kissoon after this and SN spoke to staff at the National Library about the incident for confirmation purposes. A decision was then taken to publish an edited version of the letter.