Alleged Kidnapping and Unlawful Extradition of Guyanese Businessman Raises Serious Legal Concerns
By Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News.
Georgetown, Guyana – Serious constitutional and international legal concerns are being raised following the alleged kidnapping and unlawful extradition of Guyanese businessman Raymond David by members of the Guyana Police Force.
At a press conference held on Thursday, attorneys representing David said he was taken into custody on June 18, 2025, and subsequently handed over to Surinamese authorities on June 19, without due process.
Attorney-at-law Dr. Dexter Todd stated that David was initially taken to the Springlands Police Station before being removed by Surinamese officers and transported by boat to Suriname, where he remains in custody. However, lawyers representing David in Suriname have confirmed that he is not under investigation for any murder in that country.
“This is not an extradition — this is a kidnapping,” Dr. Todd asserted.
Legal consultant Eden Corbin explained that extradition in Guyana is governed by the Fugitive Offenders Act, which outlines specific procedures, including formal requests submitted through the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, along with supporting documentation. None of these procedures were followed in David’s case, he said.
Attorney Dexter Smartt announced plans to file an urgent constitutional application seeking declarations that David’s arrest, detention, and removal were unlawful and in breach of both Guyana’s constitution and the Fugitive Offenders Act.
The pending legal action will name the State, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Commissioner of Police, and specific officers involved.
David’s sister, Agiesha Alder, expressed outrage over the incident.
“Our family feels violated in many ways,” she said. “We were born here in Guyana. What is the motive for this? We have no idea.”
This case could have far-reaching implications for regional cooperation, cross-border law enforcement, and human rights protections in the Caribbean.
