Dear Editor,
I join in condemning the termination of Mr Freddie Kissoon’s contract by the University of Guyana. Mr Kissoon has served the university for 26 years and is regarded as one of the best lecturers at the institution. His political studies class is taught with the in-depth analysis of political theory that is on par with any political studies programme at universities in the United States.
Anyone who has taken Mr Kissoon’s political science class, as I have done, and has taken political studies at other universities will conclude as such.
It is therefore puzzling that the University Council would terminate the contract of one of its more intellectually adept lecturers, especially when the institution is woefully short on qualified professors and lecturers. The University Council must say what criteria it uses to assess its faculty members’ performances and how evenly the criteria are applied. Since it seems to rank research high in its performance evaluation, it must also say how much money it makes available for faculty members to conduct the necessary research. The charge that Mr Kissoon does not engage in research work seems dubious at best. Mr Kissoon’s daily publications as a columnist at Kaieteur News, are an invaluable contribution to socio-economic and political analysis in the society.
It is a sad day for the university and for Guyana when political vindictiveness is allowed to be used to unceremoniously remove Mr Kissoon from his position as a longstanding lecturer at the university. Since this termination seems without merit, it is reasonable to suspect that the PPP controlled Council has targeted Mr Kissoon because he is a relentless critic of the PPP administration’s policies of injustice and authoritarian methods of governance.
The PPP administration has demonstrated that it has little tolerance for freedom of expression. Its record of victimizing its critics is well known. Mr Kissoon has now become the latest victim.
It is particularly troubling for academia when members of the University Council, most of whom reportedly were in favour of this termination are known PPP supporters and would allow themselves to be used in a political vendetta. For too long this academic institution has been used by political operatives and political lackeys to undermine its proper function as an institution of higher learning. We still remember when the university was denied the service of a brilliant scholar and historian, Walter Rodney, because of political interference. The university has suffered as a result.
Mr Kissoon has stood against unfairness and injustice when many have cowered; he has spoken out against tyranny when many preferred to remain silent. His record of bravery and courage is to be celebrated not terminated. We cannot and must not allow this naked aggression and abuse of power to stand.
I call on all fair-minded Guyanese and academics in the region to let their voices be heard in condemning this gross miscarriage of decency and fairness.
Yours faithfully,
Dennis Wiggins
