Latest update November 8th, 2024 1:00 AM
Aug 17, 2012 Features / Columnists, Freddie Kissoon
I take extreme measures with my security. I definitely do not drive late. I do not park my car in dark, lonely spots. I am very careful when strangers try to befriend me. I honestly believe, and I am most sincere in my mind about this feeling, that my life has been in danger for the past five years. I honestly feel that physical attacks are a distinct possibility. For this reason, I take extreme measures not to give dangerous people a chance to harm me.
I would never leave my soda or food unattended when I am in public places. Last Wednesday night, a terrible security lapse almost cost me my life. At 6 pm on Wednesday, I drove into an area where thousands of persons pass each day. I was a featured speaker at a WPA public meeting at the Stabroek Market Square. I parked directly opposite Parliament Building, but on the northern side of Brickdam, which is commonly referred to as Demico parking. This is in front of the church next to Demico on Brickdam, right opposite Parliament.
At 9 pm, the WPA meeting concluded. Together with a number of well-known WPA and AFC activists, we joined the Red Thread vigil in support of Linden. This was right outside Parliament, but on the eastern side of High Street where a public park was recently built. At 11pm, I told myself that my car was just alone in the dark for over four hours and I should move it and bring it in close physical proximity to the vigil. Three times I told myself it was time to do so. But each time I got sidetracked by conversations. I also knew that Dr. David Hinds’ car was near to mine. His vehicle was directly opposite mine, but on the southern parapet in front of Parliament.
I knew I should not have left my car unattended. I am meticulous in this attitude after I discovered burnt newspaper under my vehicle a few years ago. I wrote about this at the time. I was told by my mechanic that where the newspapers were found, there could not have been burnt out parts of the newspaper. It appears the paper was stuffed under my car then lit, but it burnt itself out.
On the stroke of midnight, I decided to leave the vigil for home. Dr. David Hinds and Michael Carrington of the AFC made the same decision. David’s daughter went ahead of us. Carrington and I walked together and David was a little bit at the back. David’s daughter was already reversing her car when Carrington moved ahead of me in search of a minibus that was going on the Linden highway.
As David’s daughter drew away from me and I stepped on the parapet outside Parliament to go to the other side of the road, this figure appeared in front of me. He threw a cuff in the direction of my face and I moved aside and it struck my head He repeated that direction again and again as I put my face out of the way. By this time I was screaming very loudly so Michael Carrington had to hear.
As I fell on the parapet, I heard the voice of Carrington screaming vociferously and coming towards my attacker. From the High Street end of Brickdam, Dr. David Hinds, Fitz Ralph of the AFC and the Red Thread women were running toward me. Carrington pursued my attacker and so did Fitz Ralph and two other males at the vigil.
My attacker raced with lightning speed east on Brickdam and headed straight into a brand new, black SUV. That vehicle was passing the vigil the entire night and it parked on High Street, a block away from the vigil. This was a second terrible security lapse on my part. Once the vigil-keepers made note of that black SUV, I should have collected my car and left at 11pm.
I thank Michael Carrington most sincerely for coming to my rescue. He saved my life and also Fitz Ralph for pursuing my attacker. My appreciation goes out to Dr. David Hinds and the Red Thread contingent who helped to scare away my assailant. If they were not there I don’t know if that guy would have killed me.
So what explanation do I have? I was asked by one media house to explain why I think it happened. Here now is what I deeply feel about the constant oppression against me – someone very high in the power establishment has an obsession with me out of their mistaken belief that I am probably the greatest threat to the Government. How do you deal with such an obsession?
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