Opposition protests Trump administration over Melly Mel’s arrest, but later denies actions

Members of the parliamentary opposition – particularly the Peoples National Congress/A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change – on Tuesday joined a protest in Georgetown that was staged to show solidarity with controversial social media personality Melissa Ann Atwell, popularly known as “Melly Mel,” who has been arrested by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since last week.

Despite participating in the protest which criticised Atwell’s arrest and called for her to be freed, the Opposition is denying that it has an issue with the policies of the Trump administration.

Tuesday’s small vigil at the Square of the Revolution was attended by party leaders including Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and Opposition Members of Parliament Coretta McDonald, Sherod Duncan and Cathy Hughes.

They were criticising Atwell’s arrest, chanting, among other things, “free Melly Mel”.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, the PNCR-led APNU denied that it was protesting the Trump Administration’s immigration policy.

According to the Opposition: “At no time during their presentations did Opposition Leader Aubrey C. Norton or any other PNCR/APNU speaker even mention, let allow, criticize the US President or his administration.”

The opposition party noted that the focus during the vigil was on the “likely role” the PPP Government played in Atwell’s arrest.

However, the Guyana Government has since explained that the United States cannot be influenced by the Guyana Government.

In fact, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for pubic affairs Kwame McCoy has asserted that “Melly Mell’s detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has no connection to the Government of Guyana. The case is being handled by Judge Richard C. Jacobs, an official appointed specifically for immigration matters. There is no evidence to support the opposition’s claims, yet they continue to push a false narrative for political mileage.”