Dear Editor,
Mr Freddie Kissoon appears to relish participating in serials and soap operas. I do not. To me, this was always a simple, straightforward issue. My last word follows.
By his own hand, Mr Kissoon has admitted (and not quite willingly) to be the recipient of funding from friends. Since the Queen’s English is proving so difficult for him, I resort to Creolese, deep Creolese. What he has said is: “Ah dih tek some monee frum peeple fuh bill meh house.” Having confessed to such action, his next step is to demand of others: “Now yuh name dem.” This might be Jeopardy for him; it is not so for me. Also, this has to be the Guyanese version of a jest, with which I must become familiar. Then, on another level, the man might be seeking engagement to cultivate relevance….
For my part, I keep saying that such funding might be acceptable on the part of ordinary, regular citizens, in which group I include myself. On the other hand, Mr Kissoon’s particular situation, through his presence, voice, writings, and professional endeavours, places him in the public domain, where he did earn public trust. It behoves those sharing in the public domain to be open and transparent. It is part of the territory, and is what is being asked of Mr Kissoon right now. Nothing more, nothing less. Right now, not post retirement, or according to his own self-serving calendar.
It is the same standard to which he has rightly held individuals, including politicians and pollsters, among others. In fact, several years ago, when everyone wanted to know if GHK Lall was a phantom or a real person, Mr Kissoon was among those writing to question, and to seek clarity through identification. This was done, no questions asked. I say that he must do the same today regarding himself.
He must not only be clean; he must also appear to be clean. Nothing else will do. He knows that full well, and all the dissembling only exacerbates further the core issue, which is: Did he accept funds? Having answered “yes” he must now go the whole nine yards, and name the sources of such generosity. He must not be cute and clever on this score. It is his call as to what his course of action will be henceforth; if he, however, insists on sluggishness of comprehension, then honour is on the line, and comes under siege. Speaking for myself, I would have a serious problem.
I am done.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
