NEW YORK, NY – Prominent Guyanese human rights activist Rickford Burke has publicly leveled explosive allegations against the government of Guyana, accusing it of orchestrating a campaign of transnational repression, illegal surveillance, and credible assassination plots against him on U.S. soil.
In a detailed statement supported by visual evidence, Burke alleges that agents of Guyana’s ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government have repeatedly violated U.S. sovereignty to target him and his family in Brooklyn, New York.
The allegations center on two specific operations. Burke states that in 2024, Guyana government officials Rodwell Sarabo and Mark Wesserman conducted multi-day surveillance of his New York home, photographing and filming his visitors. While the Guyanese government claimed they were there to serve court documents, Guyana’s Chief Justice Roxanne George ruled on June 20, 2025, that the operation was unconstitutional and that Sarabo violated Guyanese law.
“Although the government claimed they were sent to serve me court documents, I’m convinced, based on intelligence received, the real intent was to harm me,” Burke said.
He further alleges a more sinister plot involving Police Senior Superintendent Mitchell Caesar, who he claims traveled to New York and attempted to hire someone to assassinate him. “More information regarding Caesar’s attempt to frame and harm me have come to light,” Burke stated.
A new and potentially incendiary claim ties the operations directly to private interests in Guyana. Burke asserts that travel expenses for both Sarabo and Caesar were paid by the owners of BM Soat, a major Guyanese conglomerate.
Drawing a direct parallel to authoritarian regimes, Burke condemned the operations: “They were meant to hurt me and my family in the US. It’s not different from what Russia or Iran do to their dissidents.”
While acknowledging that U.S. law enforcement investigated the incidents, Burke expressed sharp criticism of the Biden Administration’s diplomatic response. “What is perplexing to me is that… the Biden Administration did not hold the PPP government accountable for violating US sovereignty and US laws,” he said. He added a pointed political contrast, claiming, “I know for sure, the PPP would not attempt these transnational repression crimes… under President Trump.”
Despite what he describes as persistent threats, Burke vowed to continue his activism. “Nonetheless, I’m undaunted and unafraid and will continue to speak out even more forcefully,” he declared.
The activist released videos and photos purporting to show the individuals surveilling his home, challenging authorities: “Just like they were watching me, I was watching them. Let them deny this evidence!”
Requests for comment have been sent to the Embassy of Guyana in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Department of State. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Rickford Burke’s Complete Statement
I have been the victim of transnational repression crimes and credible plots to kill me.
The PPP government sent Rodwell Sarabo and his accomplice, Mark Wesserman, to my home in New York. For days they conducted surveillance of my home and sent videos and photos of my friends and relatives who visited me, back to Bharrat Jagdeo and the Police Commissioner.
Although the government claimed that they were sent to serve me court documents, I’m convinced, based on intelligence received, the real intent was to harm me. I sued the Guyana government over this issue, and on June 20, 2025, Chief Justice Roxanne George ruled that the entire operation was unconstitutional, and that Sarabo violated the laws of Guyana.
I maintain that Sarabo and Wasserman committed serious crimes in the US and should be prosecuted.
The Guyana government also sent Police Senior Superintendent Mitchell Ceasar to track me down in New York. While in New York, Ceasar tried to hire someone to kill me. More information regarding Ceasar’s attempt to frame and harm me have come to light.
It has no come to light, that both Sarabo and Ceasar’s travel expenses were paid by the owners of BM Soat.
The PPP government paid other operatives to follow me in the US. These PPP operations were not meant to be a protocol committee. They were meant to hurt me and my family in the US. Its not different from what Russia or Iran do to their dissents.
What is perplexing to me is that while I’m aware that both federal and local law enforcement did their best to address this situation the Biden Administration did not hold the PPP government accountable violating US sovereignty and US laws.
I know for sure, the PPP would not attempt these transnational repression crimes that violate US law and sovereignty under President Trump.
That being said, based on new information I have received recently, I continue to feel unsafe as the threats to my life from the PPP government of Guyana presists.
Nonetheless, I’m undaunted and unafraid of racists and will continue to speak out even more forcefully.
The videos and photos below constitute some of the evidence that shows the extent of the PPP government operations at my Brooklyn home. Just like they were watching me, I was watching them.
Let them deny this evidence!
