…Guyana Chronicle issued ‘cease and desist’ letter

SOCIAL media activist, Melissa Atwell, was on Friday arrested by the police and charged with “defamatory libel” against the Balwant Singh Hospital, while the hospital, through its lawyer, Devindra Kissoon, of London House Chambers, on Thursday issued a “cease and desist” letter to the Guyana Chronicle demanding that it not publish any story on complaints about the hospital being shared on social media.

For the past few weeks, Atwell has been gaining much attention for sharing anonymous posts on her page making damning allegations against the hospital, which she claims are messages she received from patients. The Guyana Chronicle approached the Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, on the issue, where she called on complaining persons to make official reports and not just anonymous statements, so that the matter could be properly investigated. Following a telephone conversation on Thursday with Dr. Madhu Singh, who was cited in many of the complaints, the Guyana Chronicle Editor and Reporter, Tamica Garnett, were moments later issued the “cease and desist” letter from London Chambers, threatening the newspaper that it would be sued for no less than $100 million.

“We… write to request that you immediately cease and desist from making any publication failing which we shall have no choice but to commence suit against you for the significant injury that the Hospital and Dr. Madhu Singh will suffer, in an amount to be determined at trial, but not less that G$100,000,000,” the letter read.

The letter said the contents of the posts being shared was “untrue and have caused the hospital significant financial harm”. “These defamatory posts impugn the goodwill and basic integrity of our client, and constitute actionable libel per se,” the letter warned.

Atwell was subsequently arrested early Friday morning, and detained for approximately 12 hours. She says the arrest will not dampen her spirit to being a voice for others. “To be honest I feel violated, I feel as if my freedom of speech has been ripped away, and thrown to the dogs but this vile act of oppression will not dampen my rage, this will not silence me. This experience has provided me with just the right amount of exposure to show how easy it is for these giant corporations to abuse their power and reach to silence the average man,” she commented.

“Even though I felt violated, I’m happy that it has gained the attention of the public. A voice was given to the voiceless. I will continue my work as an advocate for injustice and my focus is now shifted towards another issue faced by so many women as it relates to women health.”

Many of the posts against the hospital were allegedly from women, some claiming to have been former employees of the institution. Atwell was initially denied bail. She said she was told that it was on the instructions of the Crime Chief, Lyndon Alves, that she be detained without bail for the offence.

“An officer contacted me via Facebook since Monday and said a complaint was made by Balwant Singh Hospital and I need to come into the station. I explained that I wasn’t in the country at the moment but as soon as I get in I will contact my lawyer and come in and deal with the matter. I got in late Thursday night, I was asleep Friday morning when three officers showed up at my home. I said I only got in last night y’all didn’t even give me a chance to come in to the station. I asked am I under arrest? They said no. I said am I being charged? They said no,” Atwell said.

She noted it wasn’t until sometime later while at the Criminal Investigation Unit (CID) Headquarters that she was told that she was being arrested and charged, then the investigating officer demanded her cell phone and all electronic devices at her home. “No warrant, or nothing they didn’t have. He just said it’s either you bring the computer or we seize everything. They wanted access to all my private messages on Facebook, they wanted to download all my messages from the past 10 years. I deal with a lot of abused women I couldn’t give them access to my phone. I said I will go through the messages and give you the ones that are related to the Balwant Singh story,” Atwell explained of the ordeal.

After being taken to the East La Penitence lock ups, Atwell eventually posted $200,000 bail late Friday evening. Atwell said it the experience is disheartening. “It clearly shows how these big corporations could use their influence. We’re at a point where you can’t even voice a complaint about service you were dissatisfied with,” she posited.