High Court Asked to Void Summons and Defamation Charges Against New York Opposition Activist

Rickford Burke, a New York-based opposition figure, is asking the Guyana High Court to dismiss a summons and defamation charges served to him in Brooklyn, citing legal overreach and political motives, as per legal documents.

Burke’s legal team, led by Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, contests the validity of the Guyana Magistrates court summons delivered by Guyanese Criminal Investigation officer Rodwell Sarabo in New York, arguing it exceeds jurisdiction and legal bounds.

The court filing insists that Guyanese law enforcement lacks authority to serve a defendant’s summons outside the country’s jurisdiction, highlighting a breach of legal protocol.

Moreover, Burke challenges the constitutionality of defamation laws in Guyana, asserting they infringe upon freedom of expression guaranteed by the nation’s constitution.

Burke, who heads the US-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy, claims the charges are politically driven and baseless, aiming to discredit his vocal opposition to the Guyanese government.

In a detailed account, Burke describes an alarming incident outside his Brooklyn home involving unidentified individuals attempting to deliver documents, further raising concerns about the case’s legitimacy.

The legal action seeks to invalidate the charges against Burke and uphold fundamental rights to freedom of expression, setting a precedent for legal boundaries and protecting individuals from politically motivated persecution.