Supporters rallied for Melissa Atwell-Holder, a political activist detained in the US, accusing the Guyanese government of instigating her arrest. Opposition leaders highlighted her exposure of government corruption as the cause of her detention. Calls were made for Guyanese in the US to lobby their political representatives for her release, emphasizing the broader implications for democracy and free speech.
A large gathering at the Square of the Revolution recently demonstrated their support for social and political activist Melissa Atwell-Holder, who remains detained in the United States. The participants vocalized their demands for her release, asserting that the Government of Guyana incited her arrest due to complaints over her criticisms against the administration.
Atwell-Holder was apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security at her home in New York, and subsequently transferred to a detention facility managed by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Aubrey Norton, the Leader of the Opposition, emphasized that Atwell-Holder’s only wrongdoing was revealing government corruption, which angered the current administration.
Norton called for an international campaign to secure Atwell-Holder’s release, urging Guyanese in the United States to engage their political representatives. He stated, “This fight is also in the United States…she committed no crime because all she was doing was exposing criminals.” He warned that if the government could detain her, anyone could be next.
Amanza Walton-Desir, an Opposition Member of Parliament, reiterated that attacks against Atwell-Holder represent broader threats to democracy. She criticized President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, asserting their direct involvement in her detention and emphasizing the necessity for collective resistance against such suppression of free speech.
Norris Witter, President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, quoted Martin Luther King Jr., underscoring that injustices anywhere affect justice everywhere. Odessa Primus, a close friend of Atwell-Holder, encouraged Guyanese to rise against injustices by the PPP/C Administration.
Atwell-Holder is scheduled to appear before a US Immigration Judge in June, with a bond hearing anticipated before then, as supporters contend that complaints from the Guyanese government initiated her detainment. The campaign for her release is set to continue with further rallies planned for the following week.
In summary, the rally for Melissa Atwell-Holder illustrates widespread concern over governmental actions perceived as punitive against dissent. Influential opposition figures, including Aubrey Norton and Amanza Walton-Desir, have publicly condemned the government’s role in her arrest and emphasized the need for a united front among Guyanese both locally and in the diaspora. The situation raises critical questions regarding free speech and democratic rights, warranting sustained advocacy for Atwell-Holder’s release.
Original Source: newssourcegy.com
