Attorney General Anil Nandlall has made it clear
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Attorney General Anil Nandlall has made it clear that the arrest and detention of Melissa Atwell in the United States of America was largely due to immigration issues and has nothing to do with the Government of Guyana.
Speaking during his weekly commentary on Tuesday night, Nandlall firmly stated that U.S. authorities, not the Guyanese government, are responsible for Atwell’s detention.
“It has nothing to do with the Government of Guyana,” Nandlall said, clarifying that the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is enforcing laws against individuals who violate U.S. immigration regulations.
“This is a matter of U.S. law enforcement handling immigration violations, not anything related to Guyana’s government,” he explained.
Atwell, who also goes by the name Melissa Holder following her marriage, has been detained in Louisiana by ICE. Reports suggest that her arrest is linked to her legal status in the U.S., as well as complaints about fraudulent transactions tied to her name.
Despite her claims on social media, it appears Atwell’s legal status may not align with her assertions, including that she is a U.S. citizen, which is now in question following her arrest.
The arrest saw a protest in Guyana on Tuesday at the Square of the Revolution, where a group of demonstrators called for her release. Opposition leaders, including Aubrey Norton and Nigel Hughes of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and Alliance for Change (AFC), were present at the rally, showing solidarity with Atwell.
However, Nandlall made it clear that those protesting in Guyana should be directing their frustrations towards the United States government, not the Guyana Government.
“It’s the U.S. government enforcing their immigration laws, not us. They should be protesting the U.S. government, not us,” Nandlall stated.
He added that the arrest was part of the broader U.S. effort to crack down on immigration violations, a policy vigorously pursued since President Donald Trump’s return to office.
Nandlall further addressed the issue of Atwell’s online activities, including accusations and false claims she had made about various individuals, including himself. He recalled being a victim of her defamatory posts, describing her allegations as “fabricated” and “vulgar.”
“I have never met her, communicated with her, or interacted with her in any way. Yet she posted about me, making false claims about what I supposedly said about my colleagues in government,” Nandlall recalled.
He pointed out that while he had taken legal action against Atwell for defamation, it was not to stifle her right to free speech, but to seek redress for the damage to his reputation.
“It is not about freedom of speech, but rather about protecting individuals from lies, defamation, and personal attacks,” Nandlall said, emphasising that while he respects the right to free speech, there is a limit when it comes to false and damaging allegations.
Since Atwell’s arrest, a GoFundMe page was set up to raise legal funds for her case. The fund’s success suggested that some of her supporters believe her arrest is linked to her outspoken activism against the Guyanese government. However, as Nandlall pointed out, ICE’s role in law enforcement is unrelated to political activism or free speech.
“ICE is responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws, not policing individuals’ political opinions,” he stressed.
