Georgetown: Controversial Columnist and Lecturer at the University of Guyana, Fredrick Kissoon, confirmed earlier today that he has been fired from the University of Guyana with immediate effect. Well known for his column in the Kaieteur News Newspaper (Freddie Kissoon Column), Kissoon has been attached to the tertiary institution for more than two decades. Kissoon, 61, has been attached to the academic institution on a contractual basis. He was on a three-year contract which was set to come to an end in August. He has also been barred from seeking re-employment with the University. However, he has been told he would be paid up until the end of April.
There are reports that the University decided to sever ties with the lecturer because of an unsatisfactory academic profile inclusive of the fact that he has not, over the past few years, been undertaking research. He has however retorted that the termination of his contract followed a pattern of vindictiveness by the Government against him. He said the decision to terminate his contract was led by the group of Government elitists who sit on the University’s Council. The lecturer believes that the termination of his contract has to do with the fact that he has been a fierce critic of the Government and has had to suffer as a result. He said that he was informed of the termination of his contract by the Dean of the Social Science Faculty, O’Neil Grace.
He said he was informed that the decision was taken at a meeting of the University Council last Wednesday. Kissoon sits on the University Council as a representative of the University’s workers, but he said he did not know a meeting was called. He said too that those who pushed for the decision were Presidential Advisor on Governance, Gail Teixeira, Parliamentarians, for the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic, Bibi Shadick and Indra Chandarpal, Pro Chancellor and Head of the President’s Public Information Office, Dr. Prem Misir, and Finance Secretary, Nirmal Rekha.
Four members of the University Council, including Vice Chancellor, Lawrence Carrington, were not in favour of the decision, Kissoon stated. Some of the Council’s members reportedly argued for Kissoon to stay on until his contract expire in August. He said the decision to terminate his contract immediately reflects the “barefacedness” of the Government members of the council.
Kissoon has since contacted his lawyers for their advice, given that he held a binding contract.
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