Guyana Observer News

An outspoken life has consequences

Monday, 30 March 2009

One of the things I will always remember Eusi Kwayana for, was a piece of advice he gave to me many, many moons ago. Eusi is a unique human being in this world. I read a cynical and vexed statement a long time ago by Dr. Makepeace Richmond (deceased) about Eusi’s eccentricities. Indeed he was eccentric. I say “was” because Eusi has migrated a long time ago so I don’t know if he still has those esoteric behavioural traits I knew him with. But even if he is full of personality oddities, that does not take away from the tremendous integrity that lines the character of this great, Guyanese hero.

One of his strange habits was that he would come in early to the WPA’s office and work there until dusk. Everyday you could have found Eusi at his desk. So one hot, lazy afternoon, in 1984, I engaged him in conversation. These are tremendous learning experiences I would advise people to go through with the older Guyanese folks.

One Friday afternoon, Martin Carter was alone in his UG office and I stepped in to have a chat with him. I will forever keep in my memory what he told me about his choice to join Burnham and leave the politics of Jagan behind him. Carter said that the two Jagans seemed the least likely to succeed in changing Guyana. He appeared wild and impractical.

Anyway, back to Eusi. I told Eusi people in the opposition were uncomfortable with my candour and outspokenness. I couldn’t understand why because we were fighting the hypocrisy of the Burnham regime so why should opposition figures not want to hear the truth.

Eusi gave me a scholarly lecture on the nature of the West Indian middle class. He opined that they were people who appreciated quiet speech, didn’t like a confrontational attitude and prefer you to be diplomatic rather than pointed in your accusations. Eusi was spot on. He was dead right. Sadly and unfortunately for me I didn’t internalize the Kwayana sermon. Brought up in a working class district without resort to diplomatic niceties, I would call a spade a spade, a tradition I took from my father.

My frankness got me into trouble so many times. It cost me my columnist position at the Stabroek News because I was not diplomatic with Miles Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick never forgave me for my outspokenness. When Dr. Hughley Hanoman sued the Stabroek News over one of my columns, Fitzpatrick declared to David De Caires, “I will defend the newspaper but not that boy.”

I had to get my own lawyer. I remember walking out of De Caires office dejected and despondent. Where was I going to find a lawyer to defend me pro bono. That was one of the defining moments in my life. I knew that if I had been more compliant with the Stabroek News leadership and observe the rules the middle class laid down for being in their company, I would not have been in the mess I found myself in with Fitzpatrick.

I have no regrets at the consequences I suffered for my outspokenness in my life and I believe people should speak their minds. Society can only be better for the knowledge that comes out of the frank views people express.

My two brothers were angry when I once wrote that the Kissoon family came from abject poverty in Wortmanville where we only had one meal – lunch. There was no breakfast and no dinner. Hunger was the order of the today. I wore patched up, second-hand clothes until I was 18 years old.

My brother “Lightweight” Kissoon was livid, really mad. He told me my revelation was an embarrassment to him. “Lightweight” moved in certain circles where he felt ashamed at my confession but he was ashamed of the truth. “Lightweight” couldn’t appreciate how an academic saw history; he wasn’t an academic.

That revelation of mine led to a big bust up between us and he never talked back to me. He died without doing so.

I could understand the outspoken comments of Kevin Pietersen about Shiv Chanderpaul. Even if he is wrong about the great West Indian cricketer, Pietersen’s candour should be respected. If that is the way Pietersen feels about Chanderpaul why should he be constrained in saying it? He plays for another country; he lives in another country. He didn’t cuss out Chanderpaul. He expressed his opinion on a cricketing trait of Chanderpaul.

Deep down, that is the way he feels. Society has nothing to gain and everything to lose if honest people are afraid to speak on the things they have inside their souls and minds.

Add comment

JComments

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

Our Staff

M.Benschop
Publisher
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

A. Reteymyer - Editor in Chief

Sharda Dasrat - Editor

Mission Statement

The Mark Benschop Foundation was officially launched in March 2008 by its founder and chairman Mark Benschop and other concerned Guyanese and well wishers in the United States of America. What started as a small operation geared toward helping those in need has grown so large that they were forced to move their offices to a whole building in East Street where the vast amount of people responding to their generosity could be accommodated.

Visitors Counter

You are visitor # 5935856 . Thank you!

Online Radio

Latest News

Contribute to our Website

Anyone wishing to contribute articles or letters to The Guyana Observer News, can email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Are you looking for the best prices in town, Realiable service and door to door pick up and delivery? Then contact Williams Caribbean Shipping today. Mention that you saw this ad on our website and receive a 10% discount!