Dear Editor,
I write in relation to the firing of Freddie Kissoon from the University of Guyana. In my view, this is a foolish act that can only serve to embarrass the PPP and the newly elected President of Guyana, Mr Donald Ramotar, both at home and abroad, and undermine the leadership of the university. Irrespective of the recent statement by the PPP members of the UG Council, this action is seen as having been orchestrated by them and, very often in Guyana, perception is reality. Many of a certain age will recall the story of another UG gold medal winner, Mr Mohamed Insanally, a member of the first batch of UG graduates. He went on to gain a Master’s degree, becoming a UG lecturer in the 1970s and a fierce critic of the PNC government at the time. He had a similar experience at the hands of the then PNC dominated council and during the convocation ceremony that year, dramatically tore and discarded his UG certificate. Later, the PNC dominated council would gain greater infamy for not approving the hiring of Dr Walter Rodney. In those years, the PPP, in opposition, vociferously denounced the action of the then UG Council. Now that the reverse is true, the PPP dominated council members cannot deflect responsibility. Their action in this matter is puerile and short-sighted. It is impossible to understand the thinking behind this decision for it has only served to elevate Freddie Kissoon from the status of ardent PPP critic to living martyr. The leadership of the PPP should now be asking how is the adverse publicity of seemingly political interference in the administration of the UG, and the reaction of UG’s staff and students, benefiting their party and the government.
This action has placed President Ramotar in an untenable position. As President of Guyana, he has been asked to intervene to get Mr Kissoon reinstated. While this may be seen by some as the right thing to do, his intervention in overturning a decision of council would have serious long-term implications. And, on the other hand, as leader of his party he has to show support for his party members on the council. It would be interesting to see how this plays out in attempting to appease all parties involved. To me, it seems that the most likely option would be for a presidential inquiry to be set up to investigate and report while there is an interim stay of the council’s decision, enabling Mr Kissoon to continue to work to the expiry of his contract.
As a point of interest, I believe in the early 1990s the UG Guild of Graduates, Ontario (ie, Chapter of the UG Guild in Ontario, Canada) in an uninvited submission to the Presidential Commission that was set up by then President, Cheddi Jagan, to look into matters at the UG, had recommended that appointees to the UG Council should not be based on political affiliation but on their knowledge, experience and ability to make an effective contribution to the operation of University. The members of the commission included Dr Gobin Ganga of the Bank of Guyana and Dr Clive Thomas of the UG. As far as I am aware, the report of the commission was not given wide publicity, but I understand that this recommendation was not included.
Yours faithfully,
Harry Hergash
