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– The government flatly rejected Rickford Burke’s US complaint
– Details legal action, urges FBI to investigate ‘false’ allegations
The Government of Guyana has categorically refuted the allegations of wanted criminal Rickford Burke, a Guyanese national living in Brooklyn, New York, who claimed that the Government of Guyana is persecuting him and even trying to kidnap him.
In a statement released on Monday, the U.S. government called Burke’s complaint to the FBI “completely false and unfounded” and urged U.S. authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of the allegations and take appropriate action against Burke if his allegations are proven to be unfounded.
The Guyana government’s response was dated July 27, 2024, and was addressed to the U.S. State Department’s Guyana Affairs Officer and copied to the FBI, several U.S. State Department officials, the Department of Justice, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and the U.S. Ambassador to Guyana.
The letter refutes Burke’s allegations as a “malicious attack on the integrity, reputation, name and international standing of the Government of Guyana.”
Allegations and counterclaims
Burke, who has publicly criticized the Guyanese government, has reportedly filed a complaint with a unit of the FBI, accusing Guyanese authorities of orchestrating a campaign of persecution against him.
Burke’s complaint allegedly included claims that officers from the Guyana Police Force were sent to his home in Brooklyn to abduct him, an allegation strongly denied by local authorities.
In its detailed rebuttal, the Guyana government outlined the series of events that led to the current legal action against Burke.
According to the government, Burke has been using his social media platform to launch a series of defamatory attacks against various business entities in Guyana in the name of consumer protection.
The government claimed the attacks were part of a larger extortion scheme and that Burke privately offered to stop the public attacks in exchange for monetary compensation.
The government further revealed that one of the targeted business owners reported Burke’s alleged extortion racket to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), following which police conducted a sting operation and handed over the marked banknotes to one of Burke’s associates.
The operation resulted in two arrests, one of whom reportedly entered a written confession identifying Burke as the mastermind of the plot.
Legal Action and International Engagement
Burke and his accomplices were subsequently charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony under Guyana’s Criminal Law (Offences) Act.
The charges are currently being heard by the district magistrate where the crimes allegedly took place.
The main witness in this major racketeering and conspiracy case directly accused Burke, who was not only allegedly involved in the conspiracy, but is also the owner of the Guyana News Network (GNN), a platform notorious for publishing defamatory articles targeting opponents of the Alliance for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC).
A subpoena was issued by the District Court and served on Burke in Brooklyn by a licensed process server hired by GPF.
The service of the summons, which was videotaped remotely by the Guyana Police, was a crucial step in ensuring Burke was informed of the charges and given the opportunity to answer them in court.
While these legal proceedings are ongoing in Guyana, Burke has reportedly filed a civil lawsuit in the Guyanese courts in an effort to prevent the criminal charges from being heard.
The Guyana government interpreted the move as Burke’s attempt to evade legal sanctions by not appearing in court.
“From the above account, it is clear that the Government of Guyana played no role in the above extortion dispute. The Government of Guyana stated in its statement that he was simply a citizen of Guyana taking necessary and feasible legal measures under the laws and constitution of Guyana to protect himself and his business from the criminal conduct of Mr. Burke.”
Following Burke’s complaint to U.S. authorities, the Guyana government has formally requested the FBI to investigate the matter.
The government expressed confidence that a thorough investigation would reveal Burke’s allegations to be “baseless, false and malicious,” and urged the FBI to take appropriate action against him for filing such a report.
Impact on U.S.-Guyana Relations
The Guyana government has made it clear that it takes the matter very seriously and has begun consultations with U.S. legal experts to explore the possibility of taking legal action against Burke.
In addition, the government submitted a comprehensive report to the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. State Department, the FBI and other U.S. agencies detailing Burke’s alleged incitement to crime, racial hostility and defamatory attacks against prominent Guyanese citizens.
“We have invited these authorities to explore all available mutual legal means to ensure that these allegations are fully investigated and the relevant criminal prosecutions are brought in both jurisdictions to ensure that justice is done under the law,” the statement said.
The Government of Guyana reaffirms the independence and integrity of the country’s law enforcement and judicial systems.
The Government stressed that the legal action against Burke was initiated by a citizen seeking legal protection and that the Guyana Police Force, the Attorney General and the Judiciary acted in accordance with their constitutional and legal duties.
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