Latest update May 13th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 04, 2014 Letters
Dear Editor,
Your report of the evidence given by Dr. Nigel Westmaas on July 1, 2014 at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry was captioned “Historian” Nigel Westmaas gives testimony”. It is unclear whether enclosing the word Historian in quotes was an error or an attempt to denigrate Dr. Westmaas’ qualifications or his professional integrity and competence. As the Counsel for the WPA of at this Inquiry, 1 reject any inference that Dr. Westmaas, a member of the WPA is not a historian and person worthy of the professional description.
For your respectful information, Dr. Westmaas obtained a B Sc. (Honours) in History from the University of Guyana, M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Binghamton New York and his doctorate (PHD) in Historical Sociology for which his thesis was the history of the media in Guyana from the 17th century to the end of the 191h century.
Dr. Westmaas has to his credit eight peer-reviewed full-length articles in academic journals. He is currently writing a history of the Working People’s Alliance.
I think that the ethics of journalism requires that if there is any concern about an individual’s qualifications, the journalist’s duty is to make enquiries before launching an implicit ad hominen attack on the person.
Christopher Ram
Counsel, Walter Rodney
Commission of Inquiry
Editor’s Note: No insult was intended to Dr. Westmaas and we apologise if the Historian felt offended.
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