‘Ban on writing on Ramotar’

Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter in Monday’s edition (Oct 24) of SN signed by four persons (all of whom are good friends). Titled, ‘Why is Kissoon not writing on Ramotar?’ the missive requests an explanation. I suspect that these four friends were not content with a private answer and wanted a public response from me and Glen Lall. Well here is mine. The answer lies in the fact that the Kaieteur News has refused to print the letter itself.
The answer lies in the fact that a UGWU press release stating that Mr Ramotar has declined a presidential debate at UG was carried in SN but not by KN. I am at a loss about this type of thinking by KN management. Such news cannot hide.
For example, when I was in Justice Ramlal’s court on Monday morning to answer contempt of court charges brought against me by Juan Edghill, lawyers and other people were asking me if and when I will reply.
They put the same question to me at my workplace, UG. Since then I have had to respond to the identical query wherever I go. Citizens read the letter in SN. The same with the press release. All Guyana knows that Mr Ramotar refused to debate his presidential contenders at UG. They read it in the SN. I simply cannot understand why KN’s management did not print the letter.
Shall I go on to answer the question when the answer is there? I do not think that Glenn Lall is the first or will be the last owner of a media house to have a protective shield over certain persons in society, business and politics. This happens in the media business the world over. This doesn’t mean it is right. It is not, and society should not accept it. This of course does not exonerate me from a public statement on the restriction placed upon me not to write critically of Donald Ramotar. I believe my four friends want such an open attitude on the issue from me. Here it is.
I concede that my acceptance by the KN management of the restriction against criticism of Mr Ramotar can be cited as a fault in my character. I will not try to defend that weakness of mine. I admit that. I apologize to those who think it has damaged my long-standing independence of mind. But there are redemptive dimensions which at the end of this correspondence, I hope the readers and by extension the Guyanese people understand.
I cherish my independence of thought. I took it from my dad. But my dad was a semi-literate groundsman who had no alternatives when he talked back to people and employers who insulted him. His life ended up tragically because he didn’t have options. I vowed that I would plug that loophole in my life. I was the only one of seven siblings that went beyond primary school. I pledged to myself that if I followed in my dad’s footsteps, I would need an education.
I went right up to the doctoral programme at the University of Toronto. When I came home, I chose an academic job that gave me scope to pursue my independent thought. I refused the second position at the local UNDP office that Mr Yesu Persaud had negotiated with the then head, Juan Larraburre. I didn’t want restrictions on my right to be a human rights activist. The UN job would have done just that. So yes, I admit the Ramotar ban has upset me given what I have just written about my evolution.
Against this background, I can understand how my four friends feel about me being unable to criticize Mr Ramotar as a columnist in the newspaper I write for Jason Benjamin, one of the signatories, must be particularly peeved at me. When he was a young student leader at UG I instilled in him the need to be critically independent.
Here now are the redemptive aspects that I alluded to above. It is not my choice not to analyse the politics of Donald Ramotar. That is a restriction placed on me by KN so that context must be understood. I would gladly assess Ramotar. He is certainly not the right choice for Guyana and if elected would be expected to continue on the destructive path of Mr Jagdeo. I find Mr Ramotar an irredeemable politician.
Secondly, why should I feel guilty about the ban and therefore stop my columns? I know there is a valid criticism of me, but what about the higher purpose of my commentary? I have talked with close friends, relatives and people that I admire immensely about this Donald Ramotar edict of Mr Lall after the public spat between me and Glenn Lall in April this year. I swear on my parents’ grave there wasn’t a dissenter.
All the advice was that I should continue to do what I do because there is a need for my columns in Guyana. All those that I consulted told me it would be foolish to walk away from the columns because of the Ramotar restriction. I honestly cannot see how people can ask me to stop writing when I know in my heart that there is a vast need for my analyses out there.
Though my acceptance of the imposition placed on me can be used to criticize me (and I think that is what my four friends are doing in a principled way), I believe and sincerely do feel that the other purpose of my continuation with the Kaieteur News should be taken into consideration. This then is my response to the four persons that I have a lot of respect for. It is left to Mr Lall to respond to them.
Frederick Kissoon


Publisher’s note: It has not escaped notice that Freddie Kissoon has been hounding the PPP with a vengeance and his writings clearly show this.
Obviously, his motive, both expressed and inferred is to seek the defeat of the Jagdeo administration.
It is not the policy of this newspaper to seek the defeat of any administration. It is also not the policy of this paper to have a columnist carp daily to remove a government.
In Kaieteur News, Kissoon was given a lot of leverage, perhaps too much. At the end of the day the buck stops at the desk of the owner and publisher of Kaieteur News.
This newspaper cannot care less about Kissoon’s four friends and what they want.
The owner and publisher must protect and maintain this newspaper that he and the staff built to become the leading newspaper in Guyana today. This meant that their judgement and decisions all these years could not be wrong.
The query by Kissoon’s four friends begs further queries. Why only Donald Ramotar?
Why have they not asked Freddie to write about Granger or Ramjattan or Trotman? Surely, they have axes to grind.
They themselves can write about any subject they choose. They are all academics and the letter pages are always available. Instead, they want Kissoon to wield their axes.
And there is one cold, hard fact. The final decision rests with the publisher and not with Freddie Kissoon or anyone else

For the first time I do feel some empathy for Freddie Kissoon. Then again why would an academic/ journalist allow himself to be so muzzled by any one? Personally, one of the early lessons I have learned in life is, anytime a door is unjustifiably slammed in your face, soon or later a better and more welcoming one is always open. I call it the law of Karma. Now, this begs the question: Can you & I and the general the public really place our trust and confidence on our so called independent media for unbiased & honest information/ coverage?

Writers, authors, etc, to newspapers should be allowed to publish thier views on issues relative to established guidelines.

Our agreement/disagreement with their writings is a separate matter.

quote:

MARA: For the first time I do feel some empathy for Freddie Kissoon. Then again why would an academic/ journalist allow himself to be so muzzled by any one? Personally, one of the early lessons I have learned in life is, anytime a door is unjustifiably slammed in your face, soon or later a better and more welcoming one is always open. I call it the law of Karma. Now, this begs the question: Can you & I and the general the public really place our trust and confidence on our so called independent media for unbiased & honest information/ coverage?

Mr Mara Guyana is a terrible place today for an independent intellectual at UG. It is worse than Burnham's days because at least even Forbes respected intelligence. Remember Freddie won the President's medal and he was invited to meet Burnham which he refused. The problems at UG has two sides. As I said some time ago PPP burnt sugar cane fields to punish PNC. Today the PNC folks are using UG to make PPP look bad. Nevertheless there is an evil force - of darkness, ignorance and misinformation - forming over Guyana. They are planning to close down the Faculty of Social Sciences after the election. Hundreds will be out of jobs. And these are some of the best jobs in Guyana in spite of the problems and low pay. The fact is the best social and political critics are in Social Sciences compared with the Natural Sciences or engineering. Freddie and hundreds will not have a job after this election. Then you have Glen Lall endorsing the Putin-like surrogate. It is yet to be seen if Freddie's personality can survive in Jagdeo=Ramotar's Guyana. Years ago Freddie said he will be the last man to remain in Guyana to turn off the light when everyone leaves. We shall see. Ramotar=Jagdeo don't send goons to beat you up as in the old days. They take away your bread and roti - that is why Mr Nagamootoo said fear is greater now in Guyana than Burnham's days.

But thankfully the AFC is on the rise and I know it will bring the evil plans of Jagdeo and Misir to an end.

In a free country people should be allowed to write freely. There are alot of things that I don't agree with is kisson's writings but the man should be allowed to write freely. For example; it was he who obtained information for the public about who was behind the killing in Buxton.

Donald is not no chicken politician who gets upset when anyone attacks him. I suspect Kaiteur news is afraid of the wrath of Jagdeo. At the end of the day even Janet Jagan had a soft spot for Freddy. I remember her giving him a nice kiss and a hug when he won the President's medal.

But Freddy has got to do his job. In any free society there needs to be people like him to be critical of the system or else all you will end up with is a bunch of yes men shouting "Brezhnev is a handsome guy" like what happened in the Soviet Union.

Maybe the KN is tired of being the "National Enquirer" of Guyana.

quote:

Originally posted by Henry:
Maybe the KN is tired of being the "National Enquirer" of Guyana.

The fact is Glenn Lall is buddies with Ramotar. Don't forget Glenn Lall was buddies with Jagdeo before their relationship went sour. Glenn Lall is a complete ignorant Joker!

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DG: Writers, authors, etc, to newspapers should be allowed to publish thier views on issues relative to established guidelines.

Yes like how I sent SIX letters to Chronicle recently and none was published.

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Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:
Writers, authors, etc, to newspapers should be allowed to publish thier views on issues relative to established guidelines.

Our agreement/disagreement with their writings is a separate matter.

Ditto

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Originally posted by Chief:

quote:

Originally posted by Demerara_Guy:
Writers, authors, etc, to newspapers should be allowed to publish thier views on issues relative to established guidelines.

Our agreement/disagreement with their writings is a separate matter.

Ditto

If only I can sincerely say DG meant what he wrote.

quote:

Originally posted by TK_REDUX:
. . . there is an evil force - of darkness, ignorance and misinformation - forming over Guyana.

That the Jagdeo regime was allowed to maintain its radio monopoly, and quietly limit (through quasi legal instruments and unrelenting economic pressure) the effectiveness and reach of those TV broadcasters the PPP did not control must be the single greatest failure of the opposition these past dozen years. [Nigel Hughes has been driving home this point lately]

The spectacular success of Jagdeo’s broadcast chokehold strategy made a move to neuter the 2 independent newspapers inevitable. The economic pressure deployed with such devastating impact against Vieira/VCT and CN Sharma was not as effective when transported to the print arena, . . . as Stabroek News moved (successfully, it appears) to diversify its revenue sources. Unfortunately, Kaieteur News (and its enigmatic publisher Glen Lall) seems to have made a strategic decision to do a deal with the devil . . . I suspect Freddie Kissoon was demanded as the sacrifice.

Mr Lall is now revealed as a cynical, opportunistic newspaper owner with no real commitment to free speech and open debate. His most recent, confused, flailing and foolish publisher’s note regarding Freddie Kissoon indicates a troubling ignorance of the difference between the News and Editorial/Commentary pages of a newspaper. . . . more’s the pity.

The BIG question: Can Kaieteur News survive with credibility (and circulation) intact if/when Glen Lall fires FK on orders of Jagdeo/Ramotar??!

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Originally posted by Guyanese Patriot:
Glenn Lall is a complete ignorant Joker!

After all, he did hire Freddie Buffoon.

quote:

Mr Lall is now revealed as a cynical, opportunistic newspaper owner with no real commitment to free speech and open debate. His most recent, confused, flailing and foolish publisher’s note regarding Freddie Kissoon indicates a troubling ignorance of the difference between the News and Editorial/Commentary pages of a newspaper. . . . more’s the pity.

The BIG question: Can Kaieteur News survive with credibility (and circulation) intact if/when Glen Lall fires FK on orders of Jagdeo/Ramotar??!

This is indeed the essence of my point! How truly independent and unbiased is our so called independent media? What has just been exposed above, is everyone does have a price and Freddie or any intelligent person would have known that the adherence to such edict by their paymaster would cost them valuable currency and credibility.

quote:

Originally posted by Mara:

quote:

Mr Lall is now revealed as a cynical, opportunistic newspaper owner with no real commitment to free speech and open debate. His most recent, confused, flailing and foolish publisher’s note regarding Freddie Kissoon indicates a troubling ignorance of the difference between the News and Editorial/Commentary pages of a newspaper. . . . more’s the pity.

The BIG question: Can Kaieteur News survive with credibility (and circulation) intact if/when Glen Lall fires FK on orders of Jagdeo/Ramotar??!

This is indeed the essence of my point! How truly independent and unbiased is our so called independent media? What has just been exposed above, is everyone does have a price and Freddie or any intelligent person would have known that the adherence to such edict by their paymaster would cost them valuable currency and credibility.

I support Freddie’s tactical decision to continue his column in Kaieteur News in spite of the unconscionable ban re Ramotar (Guyana has only 2 'independent' newspapers, after all). I prefer that Freddie continues to reach his readers with as much as he can for as long as he can.

In all this, it is important to note the critical distinction between serving up fake encomiums to the PPP presidential candidate and writing nothing at all.

There is a game of chicken going on: If Freddie quits, Glen Lall is off the hook, and may, perhaps, spin it to his advantage. If, however, KN fires Kissoon, it will be widely perceived as doing so on orders of the regime . . . difficult for them to recover from that.

Of course, all bets are off the table, post elections . . .

Guyanese people are an ungrateful lot. When Freddie was posting anti PPP articles, he had a huge following.
Now, it appears the man will be abandoned to the wayside with no job and no media. The WPA abandoned him and ran to the PNC. Now, it appears Glenn running over to the PPP.
The AFC also abandoned the man. What will the man do?

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Originally posted by TI:
The AFC also abandoned the man. What will the man do?

Are you a lunatic . . . what are you babbling about??

quote:

Originally posted by Mara:

quote:

Mr Lall is now revealed as a cynical, opportunistic newspaper owner with no real commitment to free speech and open debate. His most recent, confused, flailing and foolish publisher’s note regarding Freddie Kissoon indicates a troubling ignorance of the difference between the News and Editorial/Commentary pages of a newspaper. . . . more’s the pity.

The BIG question: Can Kaieteur News survive with credibility (and circulation) intact if/when Glen Lall fires FK on orders of Jagdeo/Ramotar??!

This is indeed the essence of my point! How truly independent and unbiased is our so called independent media? What has just been exposed above, is everyone does have a price and Freddie or any intelligent person would have known that the adherence to such edict by their paymaster would cost them valuable currency and credibility.

Mara I can give you personal life examples. When I officially joined the AFC Anand Persaud, Stabroek editor, told me I cannot use my columns to promote AFC. The SN is a decent paper and the closest you will get to the truth. Not that I was planning to use my columns for politics. I can't because I have senior people in the Caribbean, US and around the world to hold me accountable. I stand by every word I wrote in those columns as academically sound, fair and balanced. Now I have sent several letters to Chronicle in the past few months and not a single one was published.

quote:

Originally posted by redux:

quote:

Originally posted by TI:
The AFC also abandoned the man. What will the man do?

Are you a lunatic . . . what are you babbling about??

Is the man on the AFC ballot box?

quote:

Originally posted by TI:

quote:

Originally posted by redux:

quote:

Originally posted by TI:
The AFC also abandoned the man. What will the man do?

Are you a lunatic . . . what are you babbling about??

Is the man on the AFC ballot box?

I have no idea . . .! What's your point?

AFC abandoned the man.

quote:

Originally posted by TI:
AFC abandoned the man.

I see . . . you just braying for effect

quote:

Originally posted by redux:

quote:

Originally posted by Mara:

quote:

Mr Lall is now revealed as a cynical, opportunistic newspaper owner with no real commitment to free speech and open debate. His most recent, confused, flailing and foolish publisher’s note regarding Freddie Kissoon indicates a troubling ignorance of the difference between the News and Editorial/Commentary pages of a newspaper. . . . more’s the pity.

The BIG question: Can Kaieteur News survive with credibility (and circulation) intact if/when Glen Lall fires FK on orders of Jagdeo/Ramotar??!

This is indeed the essence of my point! How truly independent and unbiased is our so called independent media? What has just been exposed above, is everyone does have a price and Freddie or any intelligent person would have known that the adherence to such edict by their paymaster would cost them valuable currency and credibility.

I support Freddie’s tactical decision to continue his column in Kaieteur News in spite of the unconscionable ban re Ramotar (Guyana has only 2 'independent' newspapers, after all). I prefer that Freddie continues to reach his readers with as much as he can for as long as he can.

In all this, it is important to note the critical distinction between serving up fake encomiums to the PPP presidential candidate and writing nothing at all.

There is a game of chicken going on: If Freddie quits, Glen Lall is off the hook, and may, perhaps, spin it to his advantage. If, however, KN fires Kissoon, it will be widely perceived as doing so on orders of the regime . . . difficult for them to recover from that.

Of course, all bets are off the table, post elections . . .

Redux,

You may call it tactical, but I see it as hypocrisy and/ or cowardice or some other character deficiency. Considering his self created public persona of the unrelenting, fearless, independent bastion of truth and righteousness who has doggedly chastised, vilified and maligned those he deem to be against him, I am surprised and disappointed that such fearless and vocal voice that roared against Presidents & dictators can so easily be squelched by a two bit publisher. Isn't Freddie one who likes to chastise others for staying silent because of the hands that feed?

quote:

Originally posted by Mara:

quote:

Originally posted by redux:

quote:

Originally posted by Mara:

quote:

Mr Lall is now revealed as a cynical, opportunistic newspaper owner with no real commitment to free speech and open debate. His most recent, confused, flailing and foolish publisher’s note regarding Freddie Kissoon indicates a troubling ignorance of the difference between the News and Editorial/Commentary pages of a newspaper. . . . more’s the pity.

The BIG question: Can Kaieteur News survive with credibility (and circulation) intact if/when Glen Lall fires FK on orders of Jagdeo/Ramotar??!

This is indeed the essence of my point! How truly independent and unbiased is our so called independent media? What has just been exposed above, is everyone does have a price and Freddie or any intelligent person would have known that the adherence to such edict by their paymaster would cost them valuable currency and credibility.

I support Freddie’s tactical decision to continue his column in Kaieteur News in spite of the unconscionable ban re Ramotar (Guyana has only 2 'independent' newspapers, after all). I prefer that Freddie continues to reach his readers with as much as he can for as long as he can.

In all this, it is important to note the critical distinction between serving up fake encomiums to the PPP presidential candidate and writing nothing at all.

There is a game of chicken going on: If Freddie quits, Glen Lall is off the hook, and may, perhaps, spin it to his advantage. If, however, KN fires Kissoon, it will be widely perceived as doing so on orders of the regime . . . difficult for them to recover from that.

Of course, all bets are off the table, post elections . . .

Redux,

You may call it tactical, but I see it as hypocrisy and/ or cowardice or some other character deficiency. Considering his self created public persona of the [b] unrelenting, fearless, independent bastion of truth and righteousness who has doggedly chastised, vilified and maligned those he deem to be against him, I am surprised and disappointed that such fearless and vocal voice that roared against Presidents & dictators can so easily be squelched by a two bit publisher. Isn't Freddie one who likes to chastise others for staying silent because of the hands that feed?

freddie is a wise man,and a brave man.if freddie get kick out of KN he will not get to publish nothing,which is good for the ppp but at least he is writing something, which is better than nothing.dont count freddie out yet,the man have a knock to bounce back

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Originally posted by TK_REDUX:

quote:

Originally posted by Mara:

quote:

Mr Lall is now revealed as a cynical, opportunistic newspaper owner with no real commitment to free speech and open debate. His most recent, confused, flailing and foolish publisher’s note regarding Freddie Kissoon indicates a troubling ignorance of the difference between the News and Editorial/Commentary pages of a newspaper. . . . more’s the pity.

The BIG question: Can Kaieteur News survive with credibility (and circulation) intact if/when Glen Lall fires FK on orders of Jagdeo/Ramotar??!

This is indeed the essence of my point! How truly independent and unbiased is our so called independent media? What has just been exposed above, is everyone does have a price and Freddie or any intelligent person would have known that the adherence to such edict by their paymaster would cost them valuable currency and credibility.

Mara I can give you personal life examples. When I officially joined the AFC Anand Persaud, Stabroek editor, told me I cannot use my columns to promote AFC. The SN is a decent paper and the closest you will get to the truth. Not that I was planning to use my columns for politics. I can't because I have senior people in the Caribbean, US and around the world to hold me accountable. I stand by every word I wrote in those columns as academically sound, fair and balanced. Now I have sent several letters to Chronicle in the past few months and not a single one was published.

and I believe Mr. Persaud was standing on solid grounds when he so cautioned you. Having gone to school only in August months, I think I am woefully unqualified to objectively comment on your highflunited economic thesis on Dankey Cart Economy. I believe by now it is well established that Independent thinking and constructive criticism are alien concepts for the Desecrated house gang.

In Guyana, freedom of press is not always freedom of speech. One must examine what 'free speech' really is... sometimes very much propaganda.

In some corners, it is freedom of run (rum) shop.

Uncle Mara...the dankey cart economy is a well defined concept.

http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....donkey-cart-economy/

quote:

Originally posted by Catherine:
In Guyana, freedom of press is not always freedom of speech. One must examine what 'free speech' really is... sometimes very much propaganda.

In some corners, it is freedom of run (rum) shop.

You need a class in constitutional law or read a book on the matter. Freedom of speech is only limited by the law. As you are allowed to write a lot of bunk so are others to say as they please for propagandist reasons or not.

Not true... 'allowed to write a lot of bunk', maybe on the internet. We were talking about Kaieteur News here - Editors do control 'freedom of speech'.

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Originally posted by Catherine:
Not true... 'allowed to write a lot of bunk', maybe on the internet. We were talking about Kaieteur News here - Editors do control 'freedom of speech'.

Lady, there is a case here witht the Washington post where the editorial writer writes lots of pure unadulterated garbage and it hurts many professionally but she is still allowed to write.

Newspapers are not from the hands of god. They have agendas and is the reason they may be classified as liberal or conservative or middle of the road. The news is not gospel. It is filtered by these views and only on the reputations for good standards are we to judge them not on some arbitrary policing of freedom of speech by some official or quasi official source.

Internet blogs as sources are also to be taken with a heavy dose of salt. Unless it is from academia it is most certainly agenda based

the key position here is 'editorial writer' not the 'publisher' or 'editor in charge' - get it?

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Originally posted by Catherine:
the key position here is 'editorial writer' not the 'publisher' or 'editor in charge' - get it?

Editorial writers have the greatest latitude to make shi.t up. They are not obliged to follow the reporters imperative for triple sourcing. Theirs is the exclusive domain of opinion making and so are a take it or leave it as it is proposition. Unfortunately, the public do not know this and so often take it to be the news

quote:

Originally posted by Mara:
Redux,
You may call it tactical, but I see it as hypocrisy and/ or cowardice or some other character deficiency. Considering his self created public persona of the unrelenting, fearless, independent bastion of truth and righteousness who has doggedly chastised, vilified and maligned those he deem to be against him, I am surprised and disappointed that such fearless and vocal voice that roared against Presidents & dictators can so easily be squelched by a two bit publisher. Isn't Freddie one who likes to chastise others for staying silent because of the hands that feed?

Mara, couldn’t disagree more.
Freddie is not squelched, and he is no coward. He has been playing (for a long time now) a very poor hand with intelligence and cunning beyond the obvious.

The man challenges Glen Lall in Lall’s own newspaper!! . . . and produces regular beat downs of the incumbent tyrants such as Vulture to Carrion Crow: keep looking at them man and Jagdeo's Volte Face: the Reasons . . . I can’t imagine how you see no benefit in this!

You commit the error of making this all about Freddie Kissoon, and it shouldn’t be. With the shrinking of space for dissenting opinion in mass media a high priority for the thuggish PPP regime, political common sense requires that the perfect not be the enemy of the good.

quote:

Originally posted by D2:
Editorial writers have the greatest latitude to make shi.t up. They are not obliged to follow the reporters imperative for triple sourcing. Theirs is the exclusive domain of opinion making and so are a take it or leave it as it is proposition. Unfortunately, the public do not know this and so often take it to be the news

Surprisingly, I find myself in agreement with D2 on this.