Vishnu Bisram’s role in NACTA

Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to queries by Messrs. Freddie Kissoon and Anand Daljeet published in Kaieteur News about NACTA and the occupation of Mr. Bisram.
Bisram is a licensed teacher in NYC. In order to obtain a teacher’s licence, one needs to pass a series of exams and have at a minimum a Masters Degrees in the licensed area. Bisram is the recipient of several Masters Degrees and also did doctoral studies in various disciplines at different universities. Bisram will be in a better position to expand on his education and occupation.
The acronym NACTA stands for North American Caribbean Teachers Association. NACTA is the brain child of Dr. Latchman Narain and myself among other educators and it was formally launched in the mid 1990s organising lectures, tutouring sessions, and providing general assistance to Caribbean people in North America and the Caribbean.
NACTA was not founded by Bisram, although he gave a donation for its launching. The organisation is involved in general educational, humanitarian, socio-politico and charitable activities. The organisation has provided considerable assistance to groups in Guyana, Trinidad, NY and other societies and organised lectures in NY.
Contrary to what Kissoon and Daljeet believe, there is no requirement for organisations to have websites or to have an office or a full time paid staff. Our members are volunteers and spend their own funds on the activities of the organisation.
NACTA’s polling is an offshoot (a continuation) of the polling of Turkeyn Research and Polling Institute founded by Dr. Baytoram Ramharack, author of several books including “Against the Grain: Biography of Balram Singh Rai”.
Polling was not the main trust of the organisation’s mission as that was done by TRPI. NACTA became involved in polling after TRPI Director, Dr. Ramharack, was unable to continue his polling. NACTA’s members were approached by interested Trinidadians to conduct a poll in Trinidad relating to the 1995 elections.
Dr. Ramharack signaled his unavailability and Bisram, who assisted TRPI with its polling in Guyana, conducted a poll in November 1995.
NACTA requested Bisram to conduct and publish the Trinidad poll under the NACTA brand to give the newly launched organisation publicity. Hence, the start of NACTA poll. Prior to NACTA, there were the Ramharack or TRPI Polls and the Bisram Polls as were conducted in Guyana.
On the 1995 Trinidad poll, I recall distinctly that NACTA projected a 17-17-2 tied election while another poll, conducted by Prof. Selyn Ryan of UWI, projected a landslide for the incumbent PNM. Analysts and commentators ridiculed Bisram’s NACTA poll saying it was not practical.
I recall Dr. Tara Singh, former lecturer at UG, commenting in NY that he thought the NACTA findings of a tied election were not practical given the racial polarization of voting. Even the UNC did not feel it would “win” the election. The actual outcome vindicated Bisram mirroring exactly what he predicted.
Right after the Trinidad poll, Dr. Ramharack signaled his intention to become politically active in Guyana’s politics and withdrew from polling. Thus, the NACTA Polling Institute was established and Bisram was requested to become its Director. He accepted the position and members of the NACTA often accompany him in his polling assignments at their own expense.
Almost all of the NACTA brand polls are funded by Vishnu and the members whenever they accompany him in much the same way that Dr. Ramharack funded the TRPI polls.
NACTA is thankful that Bisram has graciously allowed it “to ride” on the popularity of his name attributed to his polls, writings in various publications, organising skills, and NYC community advocacy. Bisram has been one of the most prolific Caribbean writers in NY and stood forefront in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana from the 1970s through the 1990s and to uplift the lives of Guyanese in America.
Let the record show that I and other teachers accompanied Bisram for many of his polls. We were with him “in the fields”. He hired students from UG and UWI as well as teachers and retired educators and others as interviewers. I met with many of them at UG and at St, Augustine. During my travels with Bisram in the polling fields, I never observed any unprofessional acts in the conduct of the polls. Almost all of Bisram’s polls, like Dr. Ramharack’s, reflected the outcome of elections.
Last year June in Kaieteur News, Kissoon accused Bisram of “producing polls to create swings” for parties. NACTA asked Kissoon for evidence so it can mount an investigation and take disciplinary measures. Kissoon came up empty handed.
Now Kissoon charges, without evidence, that Bisram did not conduct polls in Grenada and that he manufactures polls.
We urge Kissoon, Sheila Holder, and anyone else who have evidence that Bisram is involved in manufacturing polls to turn over the evidence to the media and to NACTA for swift actions. It is only fair that if Kissoon and Holder cannot produce verifiable proof to uphold their allegations that they tender an unconditional apology. Let me note that when TRPI conducted polls in Guyana, the organisation ran advertisements for poll interviewers in SN.
There were several responses and we met and trained the poll takers at UG near the library.
Kissoon showed up, condemned the questionnaire, and ridiculed us without pointing out any defects – an attack for attack sake.
When the findings were published in SN, Kissoon in a letter in SN attacked the poll saying his speculation had a much larger percentage of support for the WPA than the poll projected (I think it was 3%). Kissoon contended that the WPA would beat the PNC and he asserted the PPP would not win a majority. Later, Kissoon accused Dr. Ramharack “of manufacturing the poll in his basement apartment in the Bronx”, similar to his renewed charges against NACTA.
From 1992 to now, Kissoon’s speculations about electoral outcomes have been wrong.
It is time for Kissoon to apologise for all of his unsubstantiated allegations against Dr. Ramharack and Bisram.
Also, since Kissoon has been making allegations without evidence and has been proved wrong again and again, it is only fair that he stops writing.
NACTA has asked Bisram and he has agreed to take Kissoon with him in “the fields” to teach him the ropes of polling next summer.
In this way, Kissoon can acquire the skills to conduct his own polls since he always disagreed with the NACTA and TRPI polls. Kissoon will have to bear his own costs as we do.
Also, if Kissoon can spare $3,000, NACTA will match it to send six of its members to meet Kissoon.
This should hopefully clear up any issues Kissoon may have on the polls and on NACTA.
Vassan Ramracha