The voices of women should never be suppressed or silenced. Women have the right to express their opinions, to influence change and to be an integral part of decision making in any society. The empowerment of women is the empowerment of society and when there are efforts to silence women, the security of the society is at risk. The International Women’s Day theme this year is “For ALL women and girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment.”
Some believe that free speech in Guyana is constantly under threat. Free speech is a fundamental right. While it is not encouraged that free speech be abused for defamation, hate speech or the incitement of violence we must be wary about any society that seeks to silence its members when their opinions do not align with the narratives of those who hold influence and control governance. When one person is silenced, the voices of all are under threat.
These were some of my thoughts last week when news broke that popular social media influencer Melissa Atwell Holder was detained by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Of course, I have no facts on whether her detention has anything to do with her using her voice to highlight ills in our society, but like many others I could not help but wonder. Although Atwell and a few others who are outspoken about malfeasance in public office reside overseas, efforts have been made by government officials to have them face consequences in Guyana for what has been described as defamation. It was in November of last year that the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall filed a more than $100 million lawsuit for alleged defamatory posts by Atwell.
Therefore, it is no surprise that Atwell’s detention has sparked conversations about why she was detained and who could possibly be responsible. There are those who believe that the government is furious because of Atwell’s activism and exposure of alleged corruption. There are Atwell’s supporters as well as some opposition members who have accused the government of conspiring with United States officials to target Atwell. On the other hand, there are others who have dismissed the matter as simply just an immigration issue even though there is also information that indicates that Atwell did not have any immigration violations. Others have viciously accused Atwell of crimes even though there are no charges, and she was never prosecuted. Whatever the truth about Atwell’s detention it has once again highlighted the divides that exist among the population, and we have seen the vitriol especially from those who do not support her.
Atwell has a large Facebook following of almost 150000 people. She has been a thorn in the side of many in this society who have been accused of misconduct and crimes. There are those who have accused her of unfairly targeting them or their loved ones. While there are those who might not always agree with how information is released on her page or her conduct is not to their liking, her value as an activist at this time in Guyana’s history cannot be diminished or dismissed.
Stories about the poverty many Guyanese are experiencing have been highlighted on Atwell’s page. Though Guyana is resource rich the stark reality is that a large section of the population has limited financial resources and cannot meet their basic needs.
Stories about physical, psychological and sexual violence have also been exposed on Atwell’s page. The most heartbreaking are the crimes against our children. One of the recent stories alleged that a seven-year-old was raped twice by two adult men. Heartbreaking. These are incidences that should infuriate the population and there should be calls for more stringent punishments for such crimes, but there are those who would rather crucify the messenger than call for the degenerates to be punished.
Atwell’s page has also highlighted incidences about poor healthcare in Guyana. Whether it is the substandard quality of care, inadequate access or insufficient resources to address the people’s health needs that should not exist in an oil rich nation, we saw stories on Atwell’s page. We saw images and videos of the poor conditions in some hospitals and heard the cries of those who have suffered.
Some of the most damning allegations on Atwell’s page were about government corruption. We saw allegations about bribery, embezzlement, fraud, nepotism, kickbacks, money laundering, extortion and the misuse of power which shocked many of us into silence and disbelief.
The plethora of information that was released on Atwell’s page would anger any population, inspire protests and calls for accountability, but not in Guyana. Instead, the people read, express outrage and shock in the comments, share and move on to the next topic. Perhaps people are desensitised or are afraid that if they took a stand they would be victimised. What is more important to those who detest Atwell is seeing her downfall rather than seeing her value in exposing corruption in Guyana.
Spreading like a malignant tumor, the vitriol permeates social media as those who wish to see Atwell silenced and jailed rejoice over her detention. There are more efforts to shoot the messenger of some of the most damning allegations that have been made about corruption in Guyana than to seek answers and accountability from those alleged to be involved.
On Tuesday there was a rally held in support for Atwell at the Square of the Revolution. With songs, drumming and passionate speeches those brave enough to stand pledged to continue their support. Many are still adamant that somehow the government is culpable in her detention even though government officials have denied this. Whatever the truth, we all can agree that this is a critical time in Guyana, and we need to stand for our country. If allegations about corruption are unaddressed and there are no consequences, what will become of us? If those who wish to continue sitting in the seats of power are allowed to continue to act according to their desires and greed, what will be the future for our children? How will Guyana survive if most of the wealth is squandered or in the hands of a few?
If one of our voices is silenced, we are all under threat. It is time for us to stand.
