Contrary to media reports and claim by some, Rickford Burke or the United States-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) which he leads, deny calling for a boycott of Hills Restaurant
According to Burke “despite government propaganda, neither Burke nor CGID called for a boycott of Hills.”
At same time Burke said CGID supports the right of persons in determining where they want to spend their money or not, or for or against a boycott.
He told Village Voice News for anyone to follow the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and President Irfaan Ali, and name and shame persons who choose to not support those businesses, is an attack of individual rights, and freedom of choice, which are antithetical to American democratic values and equal protection under the law.
According to Burke “the PPP has no moral authority to criticise anyone who call for a boycott, when Jagdeo called for a boycott of Washington Conference and businesses that sponsored the conference.” The Conference was held last September. “They’re unrestrained and shameless hypocrites and CGID does not subscribe to their ethnic supremacy agenda, and no Guyanese should either.”
The call to boycott arises from some Guyanese businesses hosting President Irfaan Ali during a walkabout in the New York borough on April 19, 2024. The visit was coordinated by the Guyana Consulate in New York.
During the walkabout Ali also visited a nearby city hospital, King’s County, where many Guyanese are employed.
The call for boycott is informed by reaction of some that these businesses, should not have entertained the president. However, among the businesses which hosted Ali, the Hills Restaurant is the only one being targeted for boycott.
The reason given for her being singled out by the boycott protagonists is that she must offer an “apology.”
The day after hosting Ali, reacting to outcries these businesses should not have welcomed him given his administration’s discriminatory record, the Hills’ owner spoke out.
Taking to her social media (Facebook) platform, addressing the issue for more than two hours, the businesswoman made said she was sorry if her accommodation of the president caused disquiet in the Brooklyn and Guyanese communities.
She told this publication her desire is to pursue love among her Guyanese people and stop the division. Similar sentiments were expressed to the president when he stopped by her place.