Dear Editor
The way in which Freddie Kissoon is allowed to attack, denigrate and mispresnet issues pertaining to the African community without impunity has the appearance of support of bigger powers. Freddie’s continued behaviour if not stop will have to be dealt with using legal means. Something must give in this society so that truth and time-honoured principles can be upheld, and public lies and mischief are not given prominence in mainstream media.
Reference is made to Kissoon’s article “Oh man, that 2020 election again!” (KN 9th March 2021) where he continues to spread malicious lies and propaganda, misleading the nation about statements made by me in a letter published in Stabroek News (7th March). Even though this letter (‘The president must engage with the leader of the opposition as mandated by the constitution”) is in the public domain, Kissoon ignores it and continues to mislead the public about the contents of my public pronouncement.
Below is the expert specifically dealing with election and claims of rigged elections as published in SN:-
“The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) declared the 2020 election and based on that declaration it was determined who sat where. That is sufficient to move the process of governing forward until the court, constitutional provision or term limit determines otherwise.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in 2015 made the claim that they did not recognise the A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government and that that election was rigged. They were marching up and down the streets for days shouting, “rigged elections” and even petitioned the court to have the election overturned. That did not prevent the call by sections in society, including yours truly and the Guyana Trades Union Congress, for engagement between the political forces to move Guyana forward.
In fact, the APNU+AFC early in their term established a team to engage the Opposition PPP/C on governance. This had its fits and starts with the then Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo refusing to participate because then Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo was the leader of the government team. Then former President David Granger acquiesced to the frivolous excuse and assumed the leadership of the government team.
The fact of the matter is, whereas the PPP/C is recognised as officially forming the government they are also recognised as a government that did not win a free and fair election, but a government installed by fraudulent means given the “grave irregularities” as reported by GECOM Chair as discovered during the recount process and which includes the discovery of 47 ballot boxes in the PPP/C area (lower East Coast Demerara) with no officials documents, and through engineered hostile responses of an international community misled by their orchestrated propaganda.
The Leader of the Opposition must demand engagement with the President in moving this country forward. There must be an adult in the room. Simultaneously, if Ali continues to refuse engagement Harmon must internationalise the anti-democratic behaviour and assault on constitutional expectations. He must also mobilise the Guyanese constituency (across the various divides) in recognising that the tactic employed by the PPP/C is putting this country on a pathway of conflict, destruction and grief. ”
The audacity or presumptuousness of the man to misrepresent what I said! This is a big agenda where lies have become so bold faced in society. There is not even a subtlety to mislead. Freddie will misrepresent what anyone says and present it as gospel. These acts are akin to the Trumpian style lies and denial and most recent post reporting on the 6th January siege on the USA Capitol where some argued what took place, for everyone to see, did not take place and denied who were involved, for everyone to see, were not involved, seeking to shift the blame on others.
What would it take for society to put an end to tolerance to such lies, such acts and personalities that drive Kissoon? America is confronting their challenge; Guyana is yet to confront this social rot.
Regards
Lincoln Lewis
