The APNU+AFC Opposition today condemned a move by the Guyana Police Force to dispatch one of its officers to New York, to serve a Court summons on US-based, Guyanese political activist Rickford Burke, for him to appear in Court in Guyana on cyber crime charges.

During a press conference today, Opposition Member of Parliament and PNC Chairman Shurwayne Holder, accused the governing People’s Progressive Party of being intolerant to criticism from opposing voices.

“So, we are not surprised but we must condemn it and I want to put on record that we are condemning this kind of action from this government, this is another indication of the creeping dictatorial behavior of this government, we have to stamp that out.” He said. 

He said people who are speaking out against discrimination and other forms of social ills in Guyana should not be persecuted. He said the concerns should be examined and addressed.

“But somehow because of his criticism of the government of the day, they decided that they have to target him. On almost every Press conference his name is being mentioned by Bharrat Jagdeo (Vice President). But that is the way of the People’s Progressive Party, they target you, there is no freedom of expression,” Holder stated.

The Opposition MP also said the targeting of Burke is a political move.

“This is how they operate; they went to the Parliament recently to facilitate these kinds of actions. They came with the legislation under the guise that they are bringing it up to other Caribbean countries etc, but understand what they were attempting to do, they want to reach across into other countries and silence those people,” he said. 

He recalled, that during the coalition tenure in office, freedom of speech and expression were guaranteed. Those gains he said, have already been reversed. 

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Guyana Police Force “serves” Guyana Court summons on Rickford Burke in New York Guyana Police Force issues Wanted Bulletin for NY-based political activist Rickford Burke Rickford Burke accuses Government of using Police Force to silence critics Government dismisses Jagdeo’s criticism of Budget as “rants of an individual”