Dear Editor,
Re: Ravi Dev’s article (KN, August 23), I have stated before that I (along with many others) also know that pollster Vishnu Bisram is a teacher (and where he teaches et al) but Freddie Kissoon chooses to conclude that Bisram is not a teacher based partly on his own ‘sources’ which he has never disclosed and partly on a logic that says that since Bisram refuses to tell Freddie where he teaches and what colleges he attended, Bisram cannot be a teacher. I also know that Bisram possesses several masters degrees and that as a teacher of over twenty years experience he is among the highest paid teachers in New York. In fact any teacher who has been teaching for more than twenty years, automatically falls into the highest paid bracket – one of my colleagues (name and address of school given so Freddie cannot conclude that I’m not a teacher) at Middle School 206, 2280 Aqueduct Avenue, Bronx, NY 10468) falls into this bracket.
I also know that until the financial crisis kicked in last year, many Guyanese (and others) invested in real estate while holding down nine to five jobs.
On Sunday, for example, I met a Guyanese lady from Brooklyn, who works with the city and who has extensive real estate holdings. I, myself, own a couple of buildings, but I don’t work in real estate.
Finally, I’ve stated in the past that I know of the existence of NACTA as that was one of the first organizations I gravitated towards when I came to New York in the early nineties. In addition to the three names that Ravi Dev mentioned I know of a number of others who are/were members.
Incidentally, since Bisram has repeatedly said that he attended City College and New York University, it is rather very easy for Freddie’s ‘sources’, especially the one who is in the media to verify or refute this. That same media source can also verify/refute the claim that Bisram is a teacher by using his/her investigative skills and, if needs, be, file a freedom of information claim. Media in the US routinely obtain all sorts of info by investigation and/or using the FOI. In fact, although we have never had cause to use the FOI, The Caribbean Voice has always been
able to ferret out information for the numerous investigative pieces published over the years, many of which led to redress.
Finally, regardless of what he thinks of Bisram as a pollster, Freddie should know that the only way Bisram’s findings can be disregarded is on the basis of his track record, not on mere speculation and certainly not because Bisram refuses to answer questions posed by Freddie Kissoon. And any analysis of Bisram’s polls over time will reveal that he has only been off target a couple of times. I know this because The Caribbean Voice has always been tracking Bisram’s polls. Now if Freddie can
prove that Bisram’s polls are generally inaccurate, then his call not to take Bisram seriously will have merit. Otherwise it is Freddie who will not be taken seriously.
Yours faithfully,
Annan Boodram
The Caribbean Voice
Annan, Forget Freddie! I have read Vishnu Bisram’s polls, letters and news stories out of New York, and while he was on target with some polls, he also was off with other polls. My problem with him is that as a pollster, he engages too much in matters that exposed his political and ethnic bias. He has exposed himself as partisan to Indians, but especially to the UNC in Trinidad and to the PPP Government in Guyana, of which Bharrat Jagdeo is President!
Look, you may know NACTA and Bisram, but most others don’t. I know Gallup! I know Marist! I know Quinnipiac! These are polling bodies that can be Googled, but where is NACTA located? Those polling bodies can tell you what American’s think of Obama and his handling of the economy, health care and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet the Bisram did a popularity poll that favored Jagdeo and Ramsaroop despite what is passing for governance in Guyana; he has not done a poll of people to determine what they want to see change, even though change is begging to happen!
Finally, Bisram said he is the highest paid teacher in New York an dthat is different from you saying he is ONE OF THE highest paid teachers! Unless boastful and egotistical Bisram accessed NY teachers payroll, he is just plain full of himself! Now he is becoming detestable each time I read his letters that rant more about him than about real issues. For a pollster, he is too mixed up in frivolity.
What is the website to NACTA? who are the board members? is Bisram officially sanctioned by NACTA? I doubt that very much.
Mr. Boodram ’s claim to Caribbean Voice’s credentials is just as tenuous as Mr. Bisram’s claims to his own accolades.
Where is this Caribbean Voice? C’mon Mr. Boodram show us a current copy of your publication. Where is your distribution? Give us some figures. Validate this Caribbean Voice.
Mr. Boodram, you ought to be careful how you blow your horns. You are falling into the same trap that Mr. Bisram created for himself. I wish you lots of luck!
I too know Mr. Bisram. I knew him back in the 80′-90’s when he was very concerned about Guyanese events. He was critical of both the PPP and the PNC. To my knowledge he still is. Also, He was and still is critical of the UNC in Trinidad. While he supports Lawerence Maraj in Trinidad he has consistently been critical of Panday and the Executive of the UNC.
What we know for certain is that Bisram’s polls- whether we like him or not- has always been on target.
Incidentally, Freddie is an intellectual neophyte when it comes to people like Bisram. Bisram is trained to support his cliams with proof. Freddie hides behind some absurd thinking that columnists do not have to qualify their rantings.
Truth, say what you want of Freddie, at the end of the day, he has a following much larger than Bisram, because everybody either quoting or attacking Freddie. That said, I want to correct you on the claim that Bisram has always been on target! That’s flat out wrong, and Bisram will confirm that, too.
….Bisram ,,, Freddie ,, an now Annan ! dem 3 mosquiteers gon soon tek ova de whole ah de propaganda machinery soon !
Annan, I’ve also consistently held the view that Vishnu Bisram the pollster should be judged on his track record; the rest is irrelevant — just rotting red herring. No single poll, even by the best pollster, is perfect. There’s always a margin of error, up to four or five percent permissible. Likewise, combining all Bisram’s polls, there is a permissible margin of error. Overall, I know that his polls have been on target; I’ve read his poll results over the years and witnessed how life confirmed his findings.
Freddie Kissoon works at UG which has a Sociology Department that is capable of conducting polls. After all his denunciations of Bisram’s polls, why hasn’t he asked his UG Sociology colleagues to conduct similar polls?
Raising nonsensical questions about Bisram’s academic qualifications, his profession,etc. only indicates sheer malice and mischief on the part of Kissoon and his foul-minded fawning followers. Time to ignore them all and get on with your life, Mr Bisram! Let them say what they want! Let them fume and foam! They don’t like the name NACTA? Well, then, go with NOKTA; they won’t be wiser. Good grief!
Again half truths and pure trash you have to write yasuman, no facts no substance. Thank goodness the OAS has finally handed down their opinions on Bisram and he is not credible per the OAS. So guess what unless Misrram is able to change the OAS stance on this he will stand in a corner of the room with zero credibility.
Apparently you and bisram been hitting up too much xm lately.
You have joined the letter writer in this piss poor excuse to try justifying for readers and bloggers about the legitimacy of this Bisram person. Frankly he is irrelevant but I will join readers and bloggers: WILL someone kindly DETAIL NACTA? ALL of you the ‘anointed apologists’ for the Bisram person have so far FAILED to divulge the legitimate existence of NACTA. Stop avoiding the questions and provide straight answers.
CREDIBILITY, CREDIBILITY IS COMES DOWN TO CREDIBILITY. ALLTHE QUESTIONS THAT BISRAM IS ASKED TO ANSWER IS ABOUT CREDIBILITY. AND SO FAR HIS FAILURE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS (S) CAUSES HIM TO LACK CREDIBILTY.
How come i can’t find anything about nacta on the website, i even googled nacta and can’t find anything concerning bisram’s polls.
Freddy should use his time doing something useful for the youths of his community instead of writing non-sense. The man polls are accurate most of the times and freddy has apersonal score with these guys to settle.
…. hey up ! amen ,,,,, welcome to de wurl of de livin ! but thanks anyway fuh yuh dilligence ,, dem man know fum fuss time dat bisram an ‘e ,,,,,, well in a pea-pod Bisram is a “farce” ,, an if yuh want something fuh do ,, den chek out de meaning of Bisram in waheva language Bisram come fum and an larn dat Bisram in dah language mean “farce” !…. amen…
Freddie dissent of the current ruling cabal and his columns is the greatest service he can give to Guyanese and his community Jimmy. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Organization of American States just voted to not recognize Bisram’s polls, wow this is gives Bisram quite a bit more credibility, NOT!
BS, that was a misleading headline in KN. If you follow these comments pages, you will know that I am no fan of Bisram. However, Mr. Kissoon is not much better. The peer group that got together are themselves very controversial in their own country. Google their names and you will see what I am talking about.
While I agree that NACTA does not exist, I don’t believe that OAS is in the business of telling people what polls to believe or not believe. Would they do that in Venezuela or Brasil? I think not. In fairness to Bisram, how canyou question his polling without giving the man a chance to defend himself.
The truth is we cannot trust any of these guys. Not the Bisrams and not the Kissoons.
Bisram has been give umpteen times to clear his name and tell us who his organization is who are the members etc.
I asked where is his website what are his polling standards any polling service usually has standards that are rigorous and methods that are clearly defined where are bisram’s? did he start doing this yesterday?
All that i see here is a set of people who wants to hear & read what they are in favour of.This Bisram & Kissoon are on two different sides & keep going at each other throats.The blabbers have there sides too & keep attacking each other.I keep amusing myself by reading what & how they keep up their GT traditions by ‘buseing out’each other.And by right,i have my side too:None of the present day ‘crop’of politians in GT are capable of uplifting the economy or ameliorating the poverty standard of living.
Reat ya self Danny DeAbru the fact of the matter is we can find F. Kissoon. We know where he lives and where he works. Ce can talk to him face to face. We can’t do of those things with Bisram. Call Kissoon what you want but I would rather a whole Guyana of Freddies than the one Bisram.
I trust Freddie over Bisram any day and the OAS has confirmed what we know all along. Freddie was right all along. Bye Bye Bisram.
Does Bisram meet the standard of a poll as laid out here? does he have as much published information about his polls and how they are conducted as the NY times poll has.
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/pollingstandards.pdf
Some may want to review before falling head over heels in love with Mr. Bisram.
I do not know. You find out. However, his poll is just about right.