Dear Editor,
RICKFORD Burke, arguably the most prominent Caribbean member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the USA, has tarnished his faith with divisive and inflammatory rhetoric. His dangerous outbursts — steeped in racism, lies, and insinuations — stoke hatred among Guyana’s ethnic groups. Rather than fostering dialogue or seeking justice, Burke weaponises race, sowing discord in an already delicate multiracial society.

Burke’s remarks, especially in response to two African Guyanese, Shaquawn Gill and James Bond, expressing support for President Ali, aim not to unite but to deepen divisions. His baseless accusations and incendiary language erode trust, destabilise society, and threaten Guyana’s progress toward social harmony. That platforms like Facebook have yet to curb his hate-filled posts is both baffling and troubling. (Readers should bring this matter to Facebook!).
Even more concerning is the silence of Christian leaders, both within and beyond Guyana, who have failed to denounce Burke’s unchristian conduct.
Their refusal to address his behaviour emboldens him and undermines the credibility of their faith. What message does this inaction send to believers and non-believers alike? Such passivity is unbecoming and dangerous, weakening the church’s moral authority.
Burke’s actions flagrantly contradict the principles of the Christian faith and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Bible commands love, unity, and respect for all (Matthew 22:39; Galatians 3:28), warns against stirring conflict (Proverbs 6:16-19), and calls for believers to foster peace (Matthew 5:9). His divisive rhetoric betrays these teachings, damaging the reputation of the Seventh-day Adventist faith he claims to represent.
A faithful Christian witness seeks to build bridges and promote reconciliation. By remaining silent, church leaders risk complicity in the harm Burke causes.
Silence in the face of such behaviour is not neutrality, it is a betrayal of Christ’s teachings and a failure to uphold the gospel’s call for love and unity. Worse still, it projects a poor witness to the faithful and those outside the Christian faith.
Yours truly,
Dr. Devanand Bhagwan