The passing of former parliamentarian and prominent businessman Alston Amin ‘Kim’ Kissoon has been described as a massive loss to Guyana’s forestry sector.
President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Clinton Williams told Stabroek News that Kissoon will be missed.
“It is a massive loss, particularly for the GMSA, where he was instrumental to substantial changes we have made. We will miss him dearly, particularly in the forestry sector. We will miss his usefulness in advancing the cause of added value in the forestry sector…he spearheaded that kind of initiative,” Williams said.
Kissoon, who was born to Lyla and Alston Kissoon on June 18th, 1952, died peacefully in the presence of his loved ones nine days short of his 67th birthday.
According to his son, Dax, he was an “uncannily intelligent” man, who deeply loved his country. “He loved cricket, Guyana, forestry, political commentary, economics, good company and a good joke,” he told this newspaper. Kissoon is credited with starting Guyana’s first plywood manufacturing company and being instrumental in Barama Company Limited ’s investment in Guyana.
During his life, he served as Chairperson of the Guyana Cooperative Agriculture and Industrial Development Bank (GAIBANK) and the Linden Mining Enterprise (LINMINE). He was also a founding member and Chairman of the Guyana Manufacturers Association, now the GMSA, and also served as the President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association.
A “lifetime adviser to the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Forest Products Association,” Kissoon also served as a member of the National Assembly for the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic government in the seventh and eight Parliaments.
At the time of his death, he was still active in the forestry sector with Kurunduni Logging and Investment Corporation, among other ventures.
Kissoon was married to Marilyn Yassin and had four children—Sasha, Ghia, Jared and Dax—as well as eight grandchildren—Talitha, Jenna, Elise, Kain, Rowan, Aisja, Ysanne and Isla.
His siblings include twin brother Anthony and younger siblings Anne, Tara, Christopher and Asha.
