The Opposition, A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) strongly condemns the recent serving of court summons by the PPP government on political commentator Rickford Burke in New York. So says the Opposition in a statement, noting “this action by the government is the latest in its long-continuing efforts to intimidate and silence Burke, who is a known critic of the PPP for its racial and political discrimination and executive lawlessness.”
The APNU+AFC says in serving the summons on Burke at his New York residence, the PPP government has shown the extent of its depravity and its disdain for the constitutional rights of citizens.”No Guyanese in is now safe from the PPP’s vindictiveness and dictatorial rule.”
In July 2023, the PPP enacted the Foreign Judgements (Reciprocal Enforcement) Amendment Act, which allows for judgements and court orders passed in Guyana to be enforceable in as many as sixty foreign countries, the Opposition claims. “The PPP’s intent is clear: silence its critics wherever they are.”
Given the prevailing situation, the Opposition says Guyanese locally and in the Diaspora must demand that the government ceases the harassment of Burke and respects his constitutional freedoms of expression and association.
The Opposition also wants Guyanese to demand that the PPP instead prosecute Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo against whom serious allegations of bribery and corruption have been levelled. “It must also prosecute its own ministers and cronies for corruption and other illegalities, inclusive of rape.”
Calling on all citizens to remain vigilant and united against the PPP attempts to destroy democracy and to impose dictatorship in Guyana, the Opposition also condemns the politicisation of the Guyana Police Force by the PPP regime.
And in demanding an end to the misuse of the Police to harass opponents, the Opposition highlights Burke’s case represents a continuation of trumped up charges by the PPP regime to silence its opponents. “There are many such trumped up charges against members of the Opposition while having no evidence of wrong doings.”
