Dear Editor,

PLEASE allow me space in your newspaper for me to comment on a very important and topical matter, that is, the situation with social media influencer Melissa Atwell Holder, popularly known as “Melly Mel.”

Before I offer my views, please allow me to refer to an article by noted columnist, Freddie Kissoon, “Melly Mel,’ GHRA and AFC: This is Guyana Today.” (Guyana Chronicle, 2025-03-17). In the above article, Kissoon makes reference to how reckless and injudicious Mrs. Holder has used social media. The former notes how Holder has used social media, “Social media influencer, ‘Melly Mel’ [MM], has used social media in the most dangerous, libellous, extremist, gutter-like manner that underscores the traditional story of a cutlass. It can [be] used] to rid your yard of weed, but it can also be used to kill someone.” This is a very powerful and correct analysis of the dual nature of social media by Mr Kissoon. “Melly Mel” or Mrs Holder, is intelligent enough to understand the above statement. She must also be cognisant of the untold damage she has caused to the reputations of many by her controversial comments.

The big question is ,’what recourse is there for the many who have had their reputations damaged by comments which are untrue or which cannot be verified? There are many gullible people out there who believe these stories, even though they are just allegations.

Recently, Mrs holder {MM}, was held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) and , in her court hearing, it was revealed that her arrest was a result of her overstaying her visitor’s visa.

Yet we have demonstrations by many, including the opposition in Guyana who feel that the government was behind her arrest. This demonstrates clearly that the agenda of many is not to foster racial harmony and togetherness, but to incite hatred, bitterness and mistrust among the Guyanese here and abroad and also to paint the government as vindictive and callous.

Rickford Burke, president of the New York-based Caribbean-Guyana Institute for Democracy, on his facebook page noted the following,” ..’Melly Mel’ lives in Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s Congressional District and the Congresswoman spoke on the matter. As I said in my video update two weeks ago, everyone who needed to address this matter was engaged. Take that to the bank and go figure what that means.”

What Burke is implying here is that influential people such as congressional representative Clarke are in the corner of “Melly Mel.” One wonders if the esteemed congressional representative has ever seen any of MM videos and or is aware of the damage that the former has caused to the characters of many? In his rush to defend MM, Burke ignores the damage many people have suffered by the reckless videos disseminated by the former. Is MM being offered support by Burke and others because she attacks the government often?

It is important that we have journalists such as Freddie Kissoon who continue to point out the hypocrisy of many, like Burke, who pretend to fight for his people, yet, ignore or is silent, when those he defends attack the characters of others who in most cases, have no recourse to defend themselves.

Sincerely,
Mahendra Persaud