Dear Editor,
You can hate the PNC and PPP how much you want, it should not clutter and pollute our minds into becoming anti-democratic since this country has suffered too much when the opposing side did not get their right to free speech in the past. Both under the PNC and now under the PPP, free speech is always in the line of sight of those who want to institute a dictatorship of “yes men” in Guyana. Remember what the PNC did to the Mirror Newspapers?
In this regard, I write to categorically reject the recent column by “Freddie Kissoon” in the state-owned newspapers that is owned by all the people of Guyana, the Guyana Chronicle. He sought to disparage the launch of Kiskadee Watch before it has even published a single edition. The author’s screed was not journalism; it was a partisan hit-piece that reads like a government press release from North Korea that is dressed up as balanced media criticism.
Freddie claims that the new outlet and its editors are “one-sided” and “anti-government.” If this is true, so what? Before Freddie can cast aspersions, he must first examine himself carefully. His own column is the very definition of one-sidedness—demanding that only pro-government sentiments see the light of day. That is not democracy; that is the blueprint for a dictatorship. A free society does not require its press to be a cheerleader for those in power. It requires journalists who ask tough questions, scrutinize authority, and hold leaders accountable—regardless of which party is in office.
The arrival of Kiskadee Watch is therefore a welcome development for Guyana. The only thing wrong with the new news outlet is the name, it is comical. What about Ruimveldt News or North Road News or something that represents the place of its operations? It is very difficult to wrap one’s head around the word “Kiskadee”, but it is what it is, it is not a major flaw.
Our media landscape is healthier when it includes diverse voices, even those that make the government uncomfortable. If President Irfaan Ali and the PPP are governing well, they have nothing to fear from a free press. Criticism is not persecution; it is the oxygen of democracy.
Freddie’s criticisms of the editor Mr. Anand Persaud, are ad hominem attacks, not substantive critiques. To accuse Mr. Anand Persaud of bias simply because he did not see “eye-to-eye” is downright petty and infantile on the part of Freddie. Dismissing Mr. Anand Persaud based on past associations is an attempt to silence him through character assassination rather than engage with the substance and real content.
As for the allegations of foreign funding and secret donors, these are serious claims—but they are presented with no evidence, only innuendo and hearsay (“a certain well-known name,” “a certain embassy”). If Freddie has proof, let him present it to the relevant authorities. Otherwise, these are baseless smears designed to poison the well before the newspaper even launches.
I welcome Kiskadee Watch to our media family. I will judge it not by the desperate attacks of its detractors, but by the quality, accuracy, and fairness of its reporting. Guyanese deserve nothing less than a free, fearless, and independent press. Let the legacy of Stabroek News blossom with the quality work being put forward by Mr. Anand Persaud and his Team.
Good luck to Mr. Anand Persaud and his Team. Go strong, be truthful and speak your truth loudly. Let the corrupt cabal shiver.
Yours faithfully,
Surujdai Juglall
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