Dear Editor,
In his riposte titled ‘Cheddi Jagan withdrew the offer of a ministerial post to Clive Thomas’ (SN, Jun 22), Tacuma Ogunseye falsely attacked me. He subsequently lectured Mr Clairmont Lye claiming that he (Mr Ogunseye) does not engage in public polemics. But that was exactly what he did in his response to me. Mr Ogunseye knows that unlike him, who is employed by the coalition regime, I was never employed by government. Thus, I don’t have to worry about critiquing a regime. I feed myself.
Mr Ogunseye claimed that I have been an “unapologetic defender of the PPP/C regime during its 23 years in office”. To the best of my recollection, and I wrote thousands of articles since 1977, I have never defended the PPP except for its right to govern (not its policies and programmes) after winning free and fair elections. And I did so because there were individuals who threatened and/or actually used violence against the PPP government. Contrary to Mr Ogunseye’s “polemical attack” on my character, countless articles of mine critiqued the PPP administration, so much so that I was not welcome at Freedom House. It is not an exaggeration to say I critiqued the PPP far more than Mr Oguynseye or others ever did. I could not bring myself to defend the PPP regime because of numerous blunders made by its post-Jagan leadership and the neglect and abuse of its supporters. I always critiqued the PPP for its unwillingness to share power with the true (elected) representatives of the various ethnic groups. Has Mr Ogunseye missed the several pieces from Clement Rohee over the years rebuking my criticisms of the PPP?
As for the report to which Mr Ogunseye referred, it would help to clear up matters if he could present a copy of it. Since it was given to the WPA committee that met with Dr Luncheon, then the WPA file should have it and then we can verify the time period of the withdrawal of the offer to Dr Thomas. I agree with Mr Ogunseye that history needs to be set right.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
