by Nicole Telford
In a fiery exchange on Sherod Duncan’s *IN THE RING* program, Rickford Burke, President of the Caribbean Institute on Democracy (CIDG), vehemently contested statements made by Guyana’s Vice President, Bharat Jagdeo. During a recent press conference, Jagdeo remarked that if Guyana operated as a democracy akin to the United States, several political figures, including David Granger, Cathy Hughes, Ramjattan, and Patterson Harmon, might have faced legal consequences. “Bharat Jagdeo is actually lucky that Guyana is not a Democracy like that of the United States or he would have gotten the death penalty, or sent to jail for life,” that was a retort shared by the President of the Caribbean Institute on Democracy Rickford Burke.
Burke, acknowledged that Jagdeo’s weekly press conferences were bringing significant attention to his work advocating for equity for African Guyanese across various sectors of the nation’s economy, and did not mince words. He criticized the Guyana PPP/C Government, labeling it as racist and apartheid-like towards African Guyanese.
Addressing Jagdeo’s comment about potential legal repercussions, Burke launched a scathing critique, asserting, “He ‘Jagdeo’ and his government, at his directive, allegedly killed over 1,400 young black men, formed death squads, tortured individuals, and committed extrajudicial murders, including political assassinations.” Burke went on to argue that Bharat Jagdeo, due to his alleged involvement in forming death squads that carried out murders, should not hold office or even have a platform to speak. He pointed out that the Bush administration had previously condemned Jagdeo for these actions.
Expressing his dismay, Burke questioned Jagdeo’s ethics in using a press conference to discuss a former president’s health (David Granger) while ignoring pertinent matters. He inquired about Jagdeo’s travel expenses when he was the Opposition Leader, particularly a flight to Miami, and whether the government covered those costs. Jagdeo on more than one occasion mentioned that the PPP/C Government was funding former President David Granger’s medical bills. Burke then raised questions about the former East Indian Heads of State and inquired whether Guyana covered their medical expenses as well. He criticized Jagdeo’s alleged hypocrisy, particularly in his treatment of black leaders in the country.
Reflecting on Jagdeo’s vile behavior, Burke expressed astonishment at the tolerance exhibited by the media and the people of Guyana, towards what he characterized as a megalomaniac figure who frequently engaged in divisive rhetoric at his Thursday press conferences, describing them as “ridiculous” and filled with derogatory remarks aimed at African Guyanese.
Burke called on Guyanese leaders to address the Vice President’s behavior, characterizing Jagdeo as a “tin cup dictator” and leveling various uncomplimentary epithets at him. Burke questioned who was expected to bear the costs of former Presidents’ medical bills and criticized Jagdeo’s continued presence in public office.
Burke further introspected, “I wonder if his East Indian cult members don’t get tired of this megalomaniac sitting down with a red G-String draws every Thursday as though he is doing a skin out in front of Stabroek Market cussing out black people. It is the most ridiculous sight every Thursday!”
Burke further slammed Guyanese leaders for not addressing the Vice president’s Thursday cuss-out. “I don’t know why Guyanese leaders are allowing this tin cup dictator, this crecketeh–‘gutter or trench fish or sea clams’. I don’t know Sherod I am perplexed that the people of Guyana tolerate this megalomanic, this reprobate, this despicable human being.” Burke said. In closing, Burke left the public with a pressing question, “Why isn’t Bharat Jagdeo in Jail?” He attributed Jagdeo’s continued freedom to the absence of a true democracy in Guyana.
