Opposition expresses concern over detention of ‘Melly Mel’

Mar 15, 2025 News

---

Kaieteur News- Guyana’s political opposition on Friday expressed grave concern over the detention of social media activist, Melissa ‘Melly Mel’ Atwell.

In a statement to the media, the AFC said that Atwell’s detention will have a serious impact on national efforts to expose corruption and unlawful conduct in Guyana.

“Like most Guyanese, we have serious reservations on whether Ms. Atwell would get anything like a fair trial if she was ever to return to Guyana. Ms. Atwell is viewed by the present regime as an enemy of the State,” the AFC said.

The party believes that Atwell’s current circumstances may not be unconnected to efforts by the government to humiliate her and bring her back to Guyana as a message to other persons who are critical of them.

Under her social media handle “Melly Mel” has unveiled the corruption of government officials. Often corroborated with evidence, Atwell’s social media posts expose how members of the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) have reportedly been siphoning off money to their friends, families and favourites, the party said.

Furthermore, the AFC is of the belief that, “Melly Mel’s activism on social media for a better Guyana made her a target for the PPP despots. However, despite all their threats and attacks, she continued to bravely expose the PPP’s corruption, discrimination and negligence, placing her high up on the PPP list of persons targeted for victimisation and suppression.”

The party argued that rather than producing the evidence to refute Atwell’s claims, the current administration has instead resorted to silencing her by making false accusations.

The AFC has described the government’s action as “a relentless attack” that oftentimes “utilising resources of the State funded by taxpayers to silence a Guyanese woman using her own resources to fight for a better Guyana. The battle for independent thought and legitimate resistance must be defended and protected.”

The party warned that failure to identify sinister actions that are specifically designed to silence the citizens in the struggle to make Guyana a better place, will lead to being without one’s brothers and sisters in the collective struggle for a fairer and better Guyana.

In this regard, the AFC said it will pay keen attention to the developments in relation to Atwell and “is prepared to sound the bell and stop efforts which are designed to silence all critics of the present regime.”

The party further stated that they have seen “the acts of the PPP fascist regime bent on subverting the rights of the people including our fundamental right of Free Speech. The PPP is well advised that no amount of intimidation will silence the thousands prepared to continue the fight through the ballot.”

Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in a statement said that they have noted reports on social media regarding the detention of Atwell by U.S. authorities.

“There are speculations that her detention is linked to complaints made by the Government of Guyana. In the interest of transparency, the PNCR calls on the PPP Government to provide clarity on whether it formally requested U.S. government action against Ms. Atwell, and if so, on what basis,” the PNC/R said.

Atwell has been openly critical of government as well as several ministers. The PNC/R said that it also acknowledges that “threatening comments made about her by a very senior PPP official and the civil legal action filed against her by at least one PPP minister.”

As such, the party remains firm in its commitment to the fundamental principles of democracy including the right to free speech. Even though Atwell has been openly critical of the government and opposition, the PNC/R believes that all Guyanese, no matter their political stance, should be able to freely express their views without fear of undue persecution.

“As such, we urge the government to be transparent about its role in this case, if any, and to reassure the public of its commitment to upholding democratic freedoms. The PNCR will continue to advocate for the rights of all Guyanese to speak freely, even when their views differ from ours,” the party said.

On March 14, Kaieteur News reported that Atwell was reportedly taken into custody by Homeland Security in the United States of America and is fully cooperating with the authorities.

According to reports, she is allegedly being questioned in relation to her activities on social media and complaints against her made by the Government of Guyana.

At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was asked to comment on the said arrest and if the government is concerned.

Downplaying Atwell’s significance, he said that the government is not concerned about that. “In terms of Melissa Atwell so we’re not, we’re not concerned about that in terms of Melissa Atwell, I don’t know if any government agency has been notified. It wouldn’t come to me, if that has happened, it will go to the law enforcement agencies,” he said. He admitted that while he saw the story, he does not know if it is true, as there have been many rumours in this regard and his political party has been repeatedly blamed for it.

(Opposition expresses concern over detention of ‘Melly Mel’)

---

• Activist, AFC, detained, Government, Melly Mell

---