Region Three Chamber of Commerce condemns cybercrime charge of businessman 

Jan 13, 2026 News

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Kaieteur News – The Essequibo Islands – West Demerara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (R3CCI) has added its voice to the public condemnation over the widely reported arrest and cybercrime charge of Region Three businessman, Stanley Basdeo.

Basdeo’s arrest was made subsequent to the publication of a TikTok video in which he expressed frustration about delays in obtaining a firearm licence and referenced what he said he was told about bribery, without naming or identifying any specific official.

Public reports indicate that Basdeo was charged in relation to the video, granted bail, and was required to lodge his U.S. passport. The matter was adjourned to February 26, 2026.

Basdeo was charged with cybercrime in relation to the video where he expressed frustration over obtaining a gun licence and the prevalence of bribery in Guyana. He subsequently appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court last Friday and was released on $200,000 bail, with the requirement to lodge his US passport.

In a statement, the R3CCI noted that while it supports the rule of law and responsible public discourse, at the same time, the chamber is concerned about the chilling effect this type of enforcement action can have on entrepreneurs, investors, and ordinary citizens who raise concerns about public services and administrative processes.

The R3CCI noted “A modern business environment depends on trust, predictability, and the ability to critique systems without fear of criminal sanction, once that critique is not a threat, not incitement, and not a targeted attack on a private individual.”

To this end, the R3CCI noted that it requests public guidance from the attorney general and minister of legal affairs on a straightforward issue: Where, specifically, does Guyana’s cybercrime legislation outlaw general critique of public institutions, including the Guyana Police Force, when no human individual is identified, threatened, or incited against?

“We ask that the relevant provision, legal rationale, and enforcement threshold be clearly explained to the public so businesses and citizens understand the boundaries of lawful expression.  We note that the Government, through the Attorney General, gave public assurances that cybercrime reforms are not intended to suppress freedom of the press and freedom of expression,” the statement added.

R3CCI said it stands ready to engage constructively with the Ministry of Legal Affairs and relevant stakeholders to ensure Guyana maintains both public order and a climate where legitimate concerns can be raised responsibly, investigated properly, and addressed transparently.

The statement from the R3CCI comes days after a number of opposition parties including the Azruddin Mohamed led We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) accused the Guyana Government of violating basic United States (US) and Guyana laws on free speech by charging US-based businessman Stanley Basdeo with cybercrime, using the court to intimidate the public from speaking out against and exposing widespread corruption.

Representatives of other political parties -APNU parliamentary leader Terrence Campbell and leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) Amanza Walton-Desir – have also condemned the charge.

“Our party calls on the … Irfaan Ali administration to drop charges against the American businessman for expressing his right to freedom of speech as granted in the USA constitution under the first amendment and in the laws of Guyana,” WIN Member of Parliament Odessa Primus said in a statement.

“If allowed in the court, then it will be used against other Americans and Guyanese to silence them and control what they say about corruption and bad governance. Already the Ali government has censored local Guyanese from exposing corruption with newly passed (unconstitutional) cyber laws,” the statement continued, adding, “The draconian cyber laws are being used to restrict the free speech of Guyanese and Americans. Guyanese leaders are overreacting to criticisms of their involvement in corruption.”

Walton-Desir, too, shared that this case raises serious concerns about freedom of expression, proportionality, and consistency in governance. “Cybercrime legislation exists to address hacking, fraud, identity theft, and genuine digital harm,” she said. “It was never intended to criminalise speech or to punish individuals for raising complaints online.”

What makes this matter especially troubling, she noted, is the broader context in which the president has publicly declared zero tolerance for corruption and has urged Guyanese to return illegally obtained licences and benefits. “Yet when an allegation of bribery is made in a licensing process, the response appears not to be investigated or transparency, but criminal charges against the complainant. That contradiction cannot be ignored.”

She said treating speech as cybercrime creates a chilling effect on public discourse, weakens trust in institutions, and undermines the credibility of the commitment to fighting corruption. “This case therefore goes beyond one individual and speaks directly to the health of our democracy and the standards we apply when criticism is raised.”

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• businessman, citizens, firearm, Guyana, licence, West Demerara

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