Dear Editor,
I once said that young people should take a page from Frederick Kissoon’s book, especially young journalists. If nothing else, they should emulate his bold and fearless stand in highlighting and exposing stories, events, people etc. He dares to tackle all and sundry exposing them for what in his estimation is wrong, unjust, oppressive, unprincipled etc; of what affects this country and its people. He functions like a watchdog. I still hold that opinion regardless of what others might think, for God knows, we need such a pen, and would be poorer if not. There are too many journalists/reporters who are dead scared; the fear of losing one’s job is not imaginable, it is real, and many have chosen to be servile in order to remain secure. I do not endorse stealing even though I’m comfortable with stories told about Robin Hood and his band of men. That apart, I stand in support of Malcolm Harripaul’s letter `Frederick Kissoon is worthy of emulation by all children’, Sunday Stabroek Oct 18th. His anecdote on Kissoon that he shared with us was for me an emotional one, for anyone who grew up in an impoverished environment, who has experienced suffering and struggles, the empathy, was automatic. I’ve never seen `Slumdog Millionaire’, but I once saw a movie where two boys stole from a store, and while making their escape were pursued by cops, who opened fire and shot one dead. It was later discovered that it was bread they had stolen. These are the conditions which give rise to revolution, these are the conditions which gave to us the Che Guevaras, the Gandhis, the Mandellas and of course Jesus Christ. But whatever might have been Kissoon’s misdemeanor as a radical youth certainly cannot stand in the way of who he is today and his daring contribution as a journalist. “He who is without sin let him/her cast the first stone”.
This bold stand that Kissoon has taken has created many enemies for him, but moreso even greater admirers; say what you want Kissoon does enjoy a wide readership; in fact he is the most popular columnist in our midst. His writings have endeared many to him; he is mostly referred to as Freddie. I’ve heard many folks saying that they buy the Kaieteur News to read Freddie, my ears have become accustomed hearing such remarks as: “yuh read yuh boy Freddie today”, “ah going home and read meh boy Freddie“, “hey, one thing ah like me boy Freddie fuh, he don’t mek joke/he don’t k”. As a journalist, a political analyst the Nation’s watchdog, Kissoon has made an impression on this society. More than that, he has unwittingly in some areas provided an invaluable service by causing a rapidly spreading number of young to take interest in issues, consuming his writings and indulging in serious discussions. Also, he has caused some intellectuals who had stopped writing to scurry back to their desks, and some who had not done so before to start.
How he manages what he does -his prolific journalist contribution which people look out for daily for various reasons- along with his teaching assignments is a wonder. And though we do fall short from time to time – since none of us is infallible, I do share the view that, there is indeed quite something that young people can learn from this controversial character.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
like him or not, he’s been telling us younger ones about ‘corruption’ in Guyana even before we understood the concept
keep writing Freddie
Really ? Kissoon is not a journalist. His columns are in the main –some are interesting–outrageous personal opinion junk, uncreative lazy variations on a theme of “PPP Govt bad” which people read for comedy. I heard someone say that Sharma was the most popular TV personality in Guyana. But does anyone take him seriously ?.
“Boy steal bread…conditions which give rise to revolution”.Which movie and which country ? Mr.Fyffe, get real.Guyana is progressing .Very real achievements. Let someone rob your family (if in Guyana) tommorrow and see what tune you will sing…
Reddy, how much do you get paid to daily and constantly spit out such tripe? The GoG would get better return on their money if they were to create the conditions for people to want to stay in Guyana. You and the PPP/Jagdeo government you shill for are shameless and without equal in this part of the world. You have never once said anything mildly negative about this administration because you’re paid based on the amount of garbage you spew; any wrong move is done deh done wid yuh in Bim and back in the hell hole to suffer just like the ordinary folks.
While Freddie doesn’t need me or any one else to defend him, at least he has a skill that he can earn a living independent of sucking up to this cabal for his existence…wuh yuh gan do when de PPP ain’t in power nuh mo and deh kick yuh out a Barbados?
Prove me wrong and condemn the torture of the 15 year old child.
IF Guyana really progressing why are you not at home
Reddy: ““Boy steal bread…conditions which give rise to revolution”.Which movie and which country ? Mr.Fyffe, get real.Guyana is progressing .Very real achievements. Let someone rob your family (if in Guyana) tommorrow and see what tune you will sing…”
Reddy,the movie about the boy stealing bread and getting shot might be ‘Cornbread, Earl and Me’, and your warped concept of progress surprises no one. By your standard, if Guyana is progressing, then Barbados is a developed and industrialzed country in the Caribbean. No wonder Sir Shridath and Rickey Singh call Barbados home rather than Guyana. Jagdeop has a few months left, you have to hurry and push for a cabinet appointment for all the licking and sipping you are doing.
Stokes, thanks for replying but concentrate on the reality I wrote about –not your subjective opinion about any indvidual person or the (illogiccal arguemtn) that you have to be at home to offer contributions……peace…
red rover have you ever read Maureen Dowd’s columns in the New York times? if not check them out it will enlighten you a bit to the roles of columnists.
http://www.nytimes.com its free use your spare time which you seem to have a lot of.
Any columnist that can get Reddy talking like that about them has got to be good!
Hi Samaroo, she is the best. And check out Frank Rich too.
Reddy ! I admire the way he adores his wife of whom he frequently mentions in his columns. Now, that’s class !
Rich is a master, these chaps like Reddy love to spew trash and engage in fear and smear campaign with Freddie the man is not always right but for god sakes he is just a columnist he is not the leader of any political party in Guyana.
Red rover and the PPP needs to realize that these folks like freddie etc. I am sure read Maureen Dowd and Frank Rich’s articles online and they do employ a lot of similar techniques.
They love to accuse him of getting personal. Tell me which Maureen dowd article doesn’t get personal?
Reddy(Norman)what would you call Randy Persaud in the chronicle?What sector in Guyana is progressing?Perhaps the “Torture Sector”
Freddie has been the target of so many Fredom House Ghosts(Sandra Edwards,Elizabeth Daly,…just to name a few)
who he has outlived and proved the government 2 be so unable to defend their incompetence with the Propaganda they Publish on NCN and the Chronicle.Talk about opinion junk..read the ghosts
“I’ve heard many folks saying that they buy the Kaieteur News to read Freddie….”
COMMENT: What kind of folks? Uneducated folks? Gullible folks? Anti-government folks? Freddie appeals to the baser instincts in those folks . They should join the library and read good books to uplift themselves instead of wallowing in the squalid outpourings of that man.
Yasuman, like Reddy, you are full of BS. Which uneducated person you know can read Freddie’s articles and grasp what are the ‘plain truth’ about Guyana and this ruling cabal? I am really tired of the hypocrisies coming from your kind. Get real, in any other country this cabal would be history!
I cannot stand this ‘blind’ loyalty crap that leaves you guys in permanent denial! As someone who served my country via law enforcement; I really don’t understand why learnt men like Greene & Best continue to take orders from a cabal that uses them to destroy their own countrymen & women.
Torturing a 15 year old and showing no remorse? What kind of human beings are they? And, don’t reply by telling me about the law; I know the law, and this cabal has no respect for the law, period!
Making Morrison (a woman who serve loyally) a scapegoat would not alter anything until this cabal resign or be removed from office
guess you read Kn online yasu….seems as if you are describing yourself….love him or hate him, Freddie is a much better human being than the whole bollylot of you PPP apologists….hiding overseas instead of being in Guyana sucking the salt you PPP dishing out.
educate yourself Yasu read the columns in the washington post and the New York times and tell me how different they are from Frederick Kissoon’s columns?
You are trying to malign the man because he writes articles exposing the political apparatus in Guyana, he offers the same criticisms of the PNC and the AFC when he sees it so whats your beef?
Try being honest for a change. Mr. Half truth.
Kisson a journalist????
ehehehehehehehe
hahahahahahaha
laff till me belly hutin suh bad….
hahahahahahaha
hahahahahahaha
Frankie Frankie Frankie…..
duh man {journalist} does talk wid dead pepol…
eheheheheehehehehehe….
duh banas tried every political paaaaty in ah guyana…
is wen dem find out how smaaat e is dem does kick e out….
ehehehehehehhehehehe…..
YO:::Yuh meck meh day::::come back tamarraw wid anda joke yea….
ehehehehehehehehe
lafin too mch….young journalis and book????
come again ehehehehehehehehehehee
book is de key word hey….
eheheheheheheheheheh
cack eye who is a journalist in your eyes? misir? randy persaud? hahhahahhahaha The joke is on you man.
CACK EYE SAMAROOOO TOO TOO…
I WILL TELL YOU WHO IS NOT:::
YOU ARE NOT::::FREDDIE IS NOT:::
TROTMAN IS NOT::::
RAMJATTAN IS NAT:::FUH SURE::::
HAVE A GREAT DAY MR CACK EYE SAMAROO:::
More blah blah blah out of you cack eye you need to change your game and start writing with some kind of intelligence behind your crooked sentences.
It seems that Kissoon has a personal vendetta with the PPP/C gov’t.
The good book says, ” why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”
Most people love to read comics these days. Freddie has to enjoy his freedom of speech too. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit.
Matt.4:5,6…. “Even the devil can quote scriptures”…
DD, when you read the scriptures you wonder if some of it wasn’t written by the devil.
Uncle Freddie is not only the most courageous and best read writer- he is most prolific. Compared to the Prem Misirs and Vishnu Bisrams, he stands like giant amongst ants.
What is wrong with you. You compare like things,Freddie is a human being.
reddy & yasu – u guys only write this garbage from abroad go back to guyana and try to do what freddie does !
guyana is progressing how – blackouts,water shortage, children torture,president spending more time abroad begging,bribery,corruption,nepotism,cronyism,etc.etc.etc.
at least freddie has the testicular fortitude to write and demonstarte for fairness and equity
both of u have not done a fraction of what freddie did in the past
freddie like anyone else is not perfect – how perfect is either of u
Are people who writes opinion pieces journalist.
cunnu-munnu, on the contrary Freddie did not do a fraction of what I did in the past. I used to write against the PNC, picket the PNC ministries, chair and speak at public meetings against the PNC, etc. And I was reliably informed at that time Burnham himself was curious about me. As for the “testicular fortitude” you say Freddie has, when I was growing up we called it “goady.”
So what happened with your conscience Yasu? you wrote against the PNC and did so much to expose the PNC and now the PPP has usurped the role of the PNC and you write in support of the PPP?
Does this not negate all that you did to write against the PNC and exposing their ills?
Or has their been a shift in what is right and wrong?
Freddy is the best.
Frank Fyffe.Blowing a fife.Your own. I see. I did not vote.This Freddie you mentioned is not in my midst.He is not popular. Neither is he a columnist.He actually only appears to be able to write a number of paragraphs like anyone else.I, among others, who are more in a position to judge,are unsure of how you came up with your vote.One wonders if you threw a pair of dice to arrive at your miscalculated conclusions.
Caesar – I think you take yourself too seriously; maybe you should change your first name. So tell us, what qualifies you as the final arbiter on whether Freddie is a columnist? Go to KN and look for him and you’ll find him under, you ready… columnist. His employer gave him that title and the readers must like him because he’s still employed as such. Perhaps you can fill us in on some of your finer masterpieces you’ve penned. Over to you!!
another useless statement from brutus. Keep at it brutus you will strike oil one day.