A United States delegation of elected officials will arrive in Georgetown, Guyana, on Monday, November 13, 2023, on a fact-finding mission. This is according to the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID).
The team will comprise State Assembly members and Senators from Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, as well as leading education, legal and civil rights experts.
The delegation will investigate allegations of extrajudicial killings and racial discrimination against African Guyanese and other citizens who do not support Guyana’s ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, the CGID said. This CGID group is headed by Political Activist and Social Media Commentator, Rickford Burke. The missive from the CGID did not say whether Burke will be accompanying the delegation. He is wanted by police in Guyana for questioning in an ongoing extortion case in which two reporters have already been charged.
Nevertheless, Burke was instrumental in organizing meetings between US and Guyanese legislators earlier this year, where the allegations were officially raised. This fact-finding mission is a result of those meetings.
The delegation issued a statement Friday saying the mission is to “Promote Bilateral Relations and Address Concerns of Discrimination.” The mission is from November 13 to November 19, 2023. The team said it hopes to “engage in constructive dialogue with various leaders, community groups, business owners and Guyanese citizens.”
The delegation will include: Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler President/CEO of the Organization of World Leaders and Former Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus; John Richard Christopher King from the South Carolina House of Representatives and Former Chair, SC Legislative Black Caucus; Dr. Amber M. Baker of the North Carolina General Assembly Member, Appropriations & Commerce Committees; and Debra Bazemore of the Georgia House of Representatives Minority Caucus Chief Deputy Whip.
