Questions raised on timing of raid at Melly Mel mom’s home

On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, a party of police ranks led by one ASP M Singh, carried out an ‘hush, hush’ operation at the home of Social Media personality Melissa Ann Atwell popularly known as Melly Mel. The operation is regarded by Atwell as a personal attack on her family and her, indirectly.

Atwell has been very critical and vocal about persons within the government and elements within the Guyana Police Force.

The Social Media personality took to her platform to accuse an Assistant Superintendent of Police and Assistant Commissioner of Police as the only two persons, aware of the planned search at her home.

The force in a statement said the search was intelligence-led. Interestingly, a warrant to search Atwell’s mother’s home was secured by the police officer without the knowledge of his immediate supervisor who is the commander of the division within which he works. Additionally, the Crime Officer for the division was also left in the dark about the operation and even the warrant.

Several questions are being asked about the timings of the operations. Atwell on her platform said the police received information about the alleged narcotics at the premises but did not act then but chose to act today Tuesday.

Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum were out of jurisdiction for one week. During that period, the force was being supervised by Assistant Commissioner of Police Ravindradat Bhudram. Why the operations did not take place during that period is a question the police Corporate Communications Unit is refusing to clarify.

The police did not find or remove anything of evidential value from the home at Atwell but said a plastic bag with cannabis was found in an Anneyway behind the house.