GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana has formally asked the United States for assistance in implementing a series of charges against New York-based Guyanese political activist, Rickford Burke.
Rickforde Burke (File PHoto)“These authorities have been invited to explore all mutual legal facilities available in ensuring that these allegations are fully investigated and the relevant criminal proceedings instituted in both jurisdictions in order to ensure that justice is done in accordance with law,” according to a five-page statement released by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.
It said that the move to request assistance from Washington follows Burke’s decision to file a complaint with the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) that he was being persecuted by the Irfaan Ali-led administration.
But the statement said that on July 27, 2024, it lodged a “comprehensive report” against . Burke with a number of US agencies including the Department of Justice, the State Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Georgetown alleges that Burke utters and publishes criminal incitements, excites racial hostilities and “widespread violence against different ethnic groups” of Guyana, domestic terrorism and wanton, malicious and defamatory attacks on the character and reputation of hundreds of outstanding Guyanese.
While it acknowledged that it has not seen or read Burke’s complaint to the US authorities, the government has nontheless rejected his claim and presented details of his alleged involvement in at least one case of extortion.
Guyana said it has since formally rejected his claim in a letter to the Desk Officer for Guyana and copied to the FBI, a number of functionaries within the US Department of State, the Department of Justice, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and the US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot.
The government is also denying Burke’s claim that the administration sent officers from the Guyana Police Force (GPF)) to his home in Brooklyn, New York to kidnap him.
In its five-page statement, the government said that a police officer travelled to the US, obtained the services of a licensed process server who served the summons on Burke while the officer stood more than 100 feet away and video recorded the process.
In terms of legal action against Burke, the government is asking the FBI to thoroughly investigate the “baseless, false and malicious complaint” and take the appropriate actions against him for filing such false and malicious reports.
The Guyana government said it viewed that matter very seriously and was seeking legal advice from US-based lawyers in order to seek legal address against Burke.
“The Government of Guyana responded to this report refuting the allegations of Mr. Burke as absolutely false and wholly unfounded and considers them to constitute a malicious attack on the integrity, reputation, good name and international standing of the Government of Guyana,” the statement said.
But Burke described the government statement as “mendacious” and challenged Attorney General Anil Nandlall to “keep trying” to extradite him.
“I live in America, I have free speech, I don’t break the law, I am an outstanding, exemplary citizen of this country,” he said with specific reference to the Guyana government’s complain, denying also that he is involved in extortion.
“I don’t extort anybody, they do.” He demanded Guyana’s Attorney General to “produce your evidence” to support his complaint that he had extorted people, and called for widespread violence.
