Fugitive Rickford Burke summoned for multiple charges 

Georgetown, Guyana: Fugitive Rickford Burke and Overseas-based Guyanese have been summoned to appear in court on March 28, 2024, to answer to a number of charges, including inciting racial hostility and extortion.

It is to be noted that Burke served two summonses at Maple Street, Brooklyn, in a New York home by Assistant Superintendent Rodwell Sarabo and Process Officer Mark Wasserman on December 16, 2023.

Last week, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo demonstrated that there is video evidence to show that the wanted man was properly served the summonses, and thereafter, he was seen running from the area.

However, the statement given by Bruke claimed that he had not received the summonses, and he found the pieces of paper on his doorstep. Jagdeo said that the trial could now be started as he has served as a political activist.

“So, I realized why he’s getting frantic and doing 100 lives per day. Because now the trial can proceed in absentia if he doesn’t come to Guyana”, Dr Jagdeo added.

In December 2021, the GPF issued wanted bulletins for Burke in relation to the offences of excitement hostility or ill-will on the grounds of Race under the Racial Hostility Act; sedition under the Cyber Crime Act; use of a computer system to coerce and intimidate a person, under the Cyber Crime Act; seditious libel contrary to common law; seditious libel under the peace under the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act and inciting public terror under the Criminal Law Offences Act.

Jagdeo further stated, “It is good [reminder] for those who believe that they are safely established in another country, and every day spread the vilest things about our country and try to divide our people along racial and other lines.”

Fugitive Burke, a hardliner in the APNU+AFC coalition, is a fierce critic of the ruling PPP government, using his platform to incite hatred on the basis of Race by accusing it of discrimination against Afro-Guyanese.

As soon as this news spread to the social media platforms, many people shared their points of view and opinions by commenting on the post.

One such comment, by a person named Keshana King, read, “How is he a fugitive, and he doesn’t live here? Is he a fugitive because he used to live here and started calling people out? Or is it that y’all want him here so that y’all can silence him. Freedom of speech and your own opinion is na option it either you take it or leave it, its giving petty.”

While reacting to the news, another person named Lou Lewis commented, “What’s the definition of a fugitive? Was he charged in Guyana and fled the jurisdiction? So how the hell is he a fugitive? He’s an American citizen, not an overseas based Guyanese; there’s a difference! This entire situation is based on vindictive BS, meanwhile critic cussing out whoever and using all sorts of profanity but it’s all good because he’s cool with the government.”