Dear Editor,
It cannot be denied that in May 2008 the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport fell victim to a vicious terrorist attack. The two channa bombs and multiple AK-47 bullets left undeniable scars on the buildings and the minds of employees of the ministry.

When I read the despicable article written by Mr Freddie Kissoon in his Kaieteur News column on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, I was appalled and flabbergasted. Could Mr Kissoon possibly believe the utter drivel that he presented to the Guyanese people in this article?
Let me quote him.

“When the PNC announced its boycott of the Carifesta, there was a subsequent firebombing of the secretariat.  Apparently some ‘terrorists’ threw a channa bomb at the building.  This particular episode was comical.  I was told that the channa bomb hit the front fence, disturbed the sleep of some red ants, the type of which the security forces submerged an alleged drug suspect in a nest, and the ants went into the secretariat causing confusion in the washrooms.

No damage was done but the next day GINA screamed, ‘Terrorists will not derail Carifesta.’  The real intention of course was to get East Indians to feel that ‘De Blackman is at it again.’  These ‘terrorists’ should have been in the Mexican circus which is due for a visit to Guyana.  Some nasty men want to attack the Carifesta Secretariat and all they would have done is to throw a channa bomb which landed on an ants nest.”

Mr Kissoon is clearly trying to mislead the Guyanese people; he is barefacedly trying to hoodwink the public into believing that there was no attack on the head office of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. I will not allow him to deceive or confuse the public.

We at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport are inviting all Guyanese to visit the National Sports Commission offices and the office of Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, where bullet holes and scorch marks give evidence of the heinous attack.
The members of staff at our ministry were shaken; they were afraid to come to work. Further, the female staff members refused to enter their offices where a channa bomb was thrown. Our staff is fully cognizant of the fact that the attack was directed at the offices of Minister Frank Anthony and Director of Sport Neil Kumar.

Mr Kissoon calls this attack “comical” and says that he was told that the channa bomb hit the fence. I would like to invite him to visit our offices and see the damage done with his own eyes, after which I would expect him to recant his despicable lies and apologise to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Let the truth prevail!
Yours faithfully,
Neil Kumar