The detention of controversial social media personality Melissa Ann Atwell, popularly known as “Melly Mel,” by the United States (US) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has seen Guyana’s Opposition parties insinuating that the decision was influenced by Guyana’s Government.
However, concerns have intensified over whether Guyana’s Opposition may have overstepped in its display of solidarity with Atwell. In a striking development, two statements issued on Friday by the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R)–A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) suggested that the US Government, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, may have infringed upon Atwell’s human rights, allegedly at the request of the Government of Guyana.
The AFC was the first to issue a press statement on Friday, alleging, without providing substantive evidence, that Atwell’s arrest by US authorities may be linked to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s broader efforts to intimidate dissenting voices and silence its critics.
The opposition party went on to allege that Atwell was a target for victimisation and alleged that if she is returned to Guyana, she may not get a fair trial. As a matter of fact, AFC alleged that Atwell has been branded as “an enemy of the state.”
The PNC/R–APNU later released its own statement, echoing the AFC’s insinuations that the PPP/C may have played a role in Atwell’s arrest. This assertion was made despite the fact that Atwell was detained by US authorities on American soil, and no official information has been released regarding the circumstances of her detention.
“There are speculations that her detention is linked to complaints made by the Government of Guyana. In the interest of transparency, the PNC/R calls on the PPP Government to provide clarity on whether it formally requested US Government action against Miss Atwell, and if so, on what basis,” PNC/R stated.
The PNC/R noted that Atwell was openly critical of the PPP/C Government and also acknowledged that she has also been critical of PNC/R and its leaders. The party went on to request that the PPP/C Government address these unsubstantiated allegations.
Atwell’s arrest was already addressed by the Government with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday when asked about it at his weekly press conference said that he had no official information on the matter, and that no Government agency in Guyana had been formally notified. Dismissing allegations that the ruling PPP/C had played any role in Atwell’s situation, the Vice President has said “somehow, you know the PPP is to be blamed for this. So we have made it known where we stand on this matter. But we don’t every day obsess over Miss Atwell.”
