– protests misdirected, rejects PPP/C Government’s involvement in ‘Melly Mel’ arrest
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, criticised the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNCR) and Alliance for Change (AFC) for organising a protest supporting social media activist Melissa ‘Melly Mell’ Atwell, asserting that the protest targeted the wrong government.
Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and AFC Leader Nigel Hughes along with their supporters convened for a protest in Georgetown in support of United States (US) detainee Melissa Atwell.
Atwell has been detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
It is important to note that ICE enforces federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration, and not freedom of speech infringements.
“I see the opposition forces, the leader of the opposition, the PNC and the Alliance for Change have joined the protest. Well, I want to make it very clear, that it cannot be that they are protesting the Government of Guyana. They have to be protesting the Government of the United States of America,” Minister Nandlall said in response during his ‘Issues in the News’ programme Tuesday night.
The attorney general strongly rebutted allegations that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration was responsible for her arrest since they were her main target.
He noted that Atwell on several occasions attacked the government, their families and partners in the vilest ways, without any consequences. In one instance, the AG instituted legal proceedings against her for libellous posts made on her Facebook page, which he said were merely false and fabricated.
“The fact that this person was allowed, was not allowed, attacked our government for three or four years every single hour inside out without interference is a testimony of our government’s demonstrable commitment to freedom of expression and freedom of speech,” he stressed.
Minister Nandlall reemphasised that the US ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and not freedom of speech issues.
“There are several publications in the social media concerning reports made of fraudulent conduct against this person. Perhaps, those are matters that she is being investigated for… But certainly, it has nothing to do with freedom of expression,” the AG said.
Based on reports, Atwell/Holder has been detained at an ICE facility in Louisiana in the US. She is set to appear before a federal judge in June for a master hearing.
