Guyana Police Force Pursues Extradition of Political Activist Rickford Burke on Extortion Charges

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana Police Force (GPF) says it is prepared to bring extortion charges against New York-based Guyanese political activist Rickford Burke and begin extradition proceedings so he can face the court here.

Rickford Burke. (Photo: Rickford Burke Facebook page)But Burke, president of the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), has denied the latest allegation, describing it as a “fabrication”.

In a brief statement on Saturday, the GPF said it has “cogent, compelling, and irrefutable evidence” that Burke extorted money from a local businessman.

“The matter is under review and the police is awaiting further legal advice in relation to the institution of fresh charges,” it said.

The announcement on Saturday came just days after Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire ruled that the State’s use of criminal defamation laws to prosecute CGID president Burke was unconstitutional, violated freedom of expression under Article 146 of the Guyana Constitution, and constituted government overreach.

A wanted bulletin was issued for Burke in 2021, and criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit libel, were filed in 2023. Burke, who has lived in the US for nearly three decades, never appeared in court. The judge found that the police’s attempt to serve court summonses outside the jurisdiction, specifically in New York, was unlawful and invalid.

In its statement on Saturday, the GPF said that since Burke remains outside Guyana’s jurisdiction, “extradition proceedings will be pursued under the Fugitive Offenders Act in keeping with the ruling of the Chief Justice.”

The CGID, in response to the police statement, accused Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken of acting at the behest of Guyana’s current administration.

It insisted that the GPF’s statement about extortion by Burke was “grossly false”.

“This is as absurd and obscene as it is laughable. Mr Burke resolutely denies this fabrication. He rejects it as a blatant, desperate lie,” said CGID’s Director of Communications Richard Millington.

“CGID challenges the Police Commissioner to immediately release his so-called ‘cogent and irrefutable evidence’ to the public,” he added.