THIS week, we saw that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) travelled to the United States to summon Social and Political Commentator, if that is what he is, Rickford Burke back to this country to answer several serious charges before the local courts.

The force made sure that it was following the Foreign Judgements (Reciprocal Enforcement) Amendment Act, which is now law. It allows for judgments and court orders passed in Guyana to be enforceable in as many as 60 foreign countries. It is now widely reported that Burke, at his house while being served with the summons by a local senior officer, in the presence of a US officer, admitted that he had read and fully understood the documents.

After being served, Burke went on a rampage accusing the government of all kinds of things not limited to trying to muzzle him, breaching his constitutional right of free speech, and victimisation. He continued for several days to outright and unduly criticise the government on social media and in all sorts of opposition-dominated press encounters.

Finally, he has been allegedly begging the APNU+AFC to put out a statement condemning the entire episode. When the Opposition Leader Aubery Norton finally agreed, the statement was put out in the public sphere.

Firstly, this is a first victory for the GPF against people who hide behind the safety of a keyboard and criticise other Guyanese and government agencies of corruption, a lack of transparency and accountability and good governance with seeming impunity.

This now means that the local police are not handicapped by the location of a person of interest, since they are empowered by the law to execute the summons and other legal documentation to allow them to secure justice for the wronged parties. Burke is educated enough to know that governments and security agencies are developing ways of bringing to justice people who commit these kinds of crimes and flee the penalty of being prosecuted in which they have to defend themselves locally.

The days of making people suffer because of lies, untruths, and misinformation that one publishes or utters or causes to be published or uttered about them politically, personally, or as a group are slowly coming to an end.

So, the police force is on the path of modernisation in its crime-fighting tactics and must be commended by all right-thinking Guyanese for the organisation of this operation to summon Burke and hopefully others to the local jurisdiction where they allegedly commit their crimes without any proof, facts and wholesome information. This is a laudable step in the right direction of legality and justice and it must never be confused or heaped into the same basket as political victimisation, discrimination and such like practices of any government that is not democratically elected or dictatorial in nature and form.

Secondly, we hope that Burke would stop his rantings like a madman and arm himself with the basic evidence to somehow prove that he is innocent of all the charges brought against him. If he does that, he will no doubt be vindicated and be a free man with a spotless reputation as he professes. We think that Burke understands the burden of proof and no doubt will retain the best possible legal representation for himself.

It will only get nasty, sticky and become a problem if he cannot prove the things he and his organisation have been saying and doing. It would be an atrocity for Burke to cower under the pressure or weight of the case.

If either party proves that he was being malicious and untruthfully spreading lies about personalities, business people, and government entities for clicks, viewership, and the likes, then he is in for big trouble with the law.

Thirdly, the statement that Congress Place or APNU+AFC sent out to the media is utterly preposterous and wickedly insane. To link the present government to the summons or Burke’s undue criticisms of them is wild, disingenuous, and much more than a stretch. We think the government has better things it is focusing on than to run after Burke.

Though he unduly criticises the government, they are quite capable of debunking the narratives that he is putting out there with facts and the truth. We have to think that the framers of the statement would like us to have sympathy and empathy with Burke and his situation that he has found himself in, but we think it would be foolhardy and pre-emptive to do so.

Also, one must think of the pain and damage that Burke has caused a majority of Guyanese whom he cusses and berates daily because they either donate to his CIDG, Burke, or support in any financial way the view or tone of the opposition.

Afterall, no disdain for the constitutional rights of citizens was shown by this government. No politicisation of the GPF is occurring in this matter. The government, it would appear, is not interested in silencing any critics. Much of the opposite has occurred with Burke and other personalities who use free speech to cause various citizens pain, political agony and moral distress. It is in poor political taste and almost criminal to come to his defence in the manner that the opposition has done.

Finally, we think as any reasonable Guyanese, let the chips fall where they will. Let Burke bring the evidence to Guyana and be allowed to defend himself. The government too should stay clear of any clandestine involvement during the ordeal. It is a matter for Burke and the police. They must duel it out. Burke has no political value in or out of Guyana. He is a spent force moving forward and giving him any attention will not be in the government’s best interest. Let the opposition continue to make that mistake. They will pay for their foolishness and madness closer to elections in 2025.

A blessed Christmas to all.