Wanted bulletin is retaliation for suing Jagdeo – Burke

US-Based Guyanese Social Commentator and activist Rickford Burke feels that the recently issued wanted bulletin issued by the Guyana Police Force for him is linked to his move to sue Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. 

In a statement Burke said that his lawyers served with notice that he instructed them to sue him for GUY $100 million for libel.

“In retaliation, the PPP regime directed the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to issue an unlawful Wanted Bulletin for my arrest,” Burke claimed in his statement.

The bulletin which was issued on Friday night said Burke is wanted for questioning for alleged sedition, inciting racial hostilities and inciting public terror. Burke had appeared on “In the Ring”, a popular social media programme hosted by Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan.

Burke said he met with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and US government officials on this matter.

“I will meet with the New York Attorney General as well. The FBI has deemed the GPF Bulletin “retaliatory,” he said in his statement.

“I reject the PPP regime and the GPF’s claim that I violated Guyana’s Cybercrime Act. Moreover, the Act has no extraterritorial application”.

Burke maintains he has “a right to free speech”, to which he said is protected by the First Amendment of the United States constitution.

“I reject the PPP and GPF’s barefaced attempt to infringe on my constitutionally protected rights, through misguided, self-imposed extraterritorial powers that have no basis in law.  This is an attack on the United States, which must be condemned by all”.