PROMINENT businessman Ameir Ahmad, who is the Managing Director of the Sherriff Group of Companies, has issued a formal demand for a public retraction and apology from New York-based political commentator Rickford Burke.

The legal demand stemmed from two Facebook posts made by Burke, which Ahmad claimed are defamatory and damaging to his reputation.

In a letter dated October 16, 2024, Ahmad’s legal team from Whitworth Chambers, led by Attorneys Sanjeev Datadin and Khalif Gobin, outlined their client’s grievances regarding Burke’s posts.

According to the letter, the first post, published on October 14, 2024, alleged that Guyana’s Police Commissioner had accepted $8.5M from the owner of a company under investigation by U.S. law enforcement. The second post, dated October 16, 2024, claimed that Guyana’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) had recommended criminal charges against Ahmad, Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus, among others, in relation to various police scandals. Ahmad’s attorneys contended that these allegations, which imply involvement in terrorism and financial crimes, are baseless and untrue.

The legal letter stated that the posts falsely suggested that Ahmad is under investigation by U.S. authorities and that charges have been recommended against him by Guyana’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as part of a money laundering probe.

“The publications and remarks mentioned above in relation to my client is wholly false and defamatory,” the businessman’s attorneys said.

The letter, addressed directly to Burke and posted to his New York residence as well as on Facebook, demands that Burke immediately retract the defamatory statements and issue an unqualified public apology. The terms of the apology, the letter noted, must be pre-approved by Ahmad and his legal team before publication.
Additionally, the letter warned that Ahmad is entitled to seek substantial damages for the harm done to his reputation and for legal costs incurred.

Should Burke fail to comply with these demands, the businessman has indicated that he will move forward with a defamation lawsuit against him.
The letter also noted that any response from Burke will be presented to the court if the matter goes to trial.