Dear Editor,
On the afternoon of May 13th it came to our attention that Akola Thompson, a customer at our store, left a public review on our Facebook page claiming she was racially profiled at our business on May 9th. As we do not take racism or bad customer service lightly, our Facebook team immediately reached out to her in a private message to hear about her experience, she is yet to communicate with us.
Subsequently, on the morning of May 14th, Stabroek News published a letter written by Thompson to the Editor, claiming that she was targeted in our store because she is Afro Guyanese, claiming that other customers were being served before her and her bill was scrutinized before the purchased items were released to her, simply because she is an Afro Guyanese. Most customers in our store have their bills scrutinized at this point of the transaction to make sure no mistakes are being made on our part, we can say without a shadow of a doubt that the race of a customer is never taken into consideration during this process. Throughout her letter, Ms. Thompson never once provided evidence of racism. Thompson also claimed she was racially profiled by our cashier, who happens to be Afro Guyanese and is also the supervisor of the store! During the transaction, Ms. Thompson did not voice any complaints and was then given and accepted complimentary products as a token of our appreciation for her business. A whole 5 days after her purchase she decided to label Kissoon’s Furniture a racist Indian business in the media. Although Ms. Thompson perceives we are an Indian business because of our name, we are not. We are a Guyanese Business for all Guyanese people.
The Kissoon’s Furniture business has been in existence for over half a century. Throughout that time we have prided ourselves on being a multiracial and multicultural establishment, from our diverse management and staff to the thousands of Guyanese we serve.
Yours faithfully,
Nicholas Roberts
Co-CEO Kissoon’s Furniture
