Businessman Randy Jagdeo on $350K bail for inciting treason 

Businessman – 39-year-old Randy Jagdeo of Alexander Village – has been charged with inciting persons to commit treason, following a controversial Facebook post and inflammatory signage at his retail business. The charge stems from an alleged violation under Section 314 of the Criminal Law Offences Act, Chapter 8:01.

Jagdeo was arrested on Wednesday by detectives and brought before the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court this morning, where he faced Magistrate Bess. The court heard that Jagdeo’s actions, both online and in physical signage, were considered by authorities to have potentially seditious implications, particularly relating to the sensitive territorial issue of the Essequibo region.

During the hearing, the Prosecutor strongly objected to bail, citing the gravity of the charge and the broader implications for national security. However, the Magistrate granted Jagdeo bail in the sum of $350,000, imposing strict conditions: he must report to the head of the Police Cyber Crimes Unit at Eve Leary on the third Friday of every month, refrain from any activity on social media platforms, and lodge his passport with the court. The case has been adjourned until June 16.

Jagdeo has faced intense backlash from the public following a Facebook comment in which he declared that Essequibo belongs to Venezuela—a highly provocative and factually incorrect statement, given that the region is internationally recognised as part of Guyana. Public outrage intensified after it was revealed that his business, the ‘Thousand Dollar Store’ located on the East Bank of Demerara, had displayed signage featuring the official ‘One Guyana’ logo paired with a map that conspicuously excluded the Essequibo region.