GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Guyana has formally asked the United States for assistance in implementing a series of charges against New York-based Guyanese political activist Rickford Burke.
“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 to ensure that justice is done by law,” according to a five-page statement released by the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.
It said that Burke’s move to request assistance from Washington follows his decision to file a complaint with the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) alleging that he was being persecuted by the Irfaan Ali-led administration.
However, on July 27, 2024, the statement said it lodged a “comprehensive report” against Burke with several 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 rejected his claim and presented details of his alleged involvement in at least one extortion case.
Guyana said it has since formally rejected his claim in a letter to the Desk Officer for Guyana, which was copied to the FBI, several functionaries within the US Department of State and 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 traveled to the US and obtained the services of a licensed process server, who served the summons on Burke. In contrast, the officer stood more than 100 feet away and video-recorded the process.
Regarding 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 to pursue legal action 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, and I am an outstanding, exemplary citizen of this country,” he said, specifically referring to the Guyana government’s complaint, denying 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.
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