The main Opposition political parties have strongly criticized the harassment of the relatives of outspoken human rights advocate, Melissa Atwell aka “Melly Mel”.

On Tuesday afternoon, a party of Policemen swooped down on the Eccles home of Atwell’s mother and grandmother and ransacked the house claiming that they had been granted a search warrant to look for drugs based on intelligence.

There was nothing found at the property and the officers never showed the search warrant to the two women or questioned them about anything.

However, in a statement yesterday afternoon which was prompted by media questions, the Guyana Police Force stated that while it found nothing during its search of the yard and the house, its ranks spotted a small bag in an alleyway behind the yard and a search of that bag revealed less than an ounce of marijuana in a ziploc bag.

In its statement, the People’s National Congress Reform noted that the Guyana Police Force continues to execute instructions aimed to silence persons like Melly Mel for exposing the “corruption, malpractices and incompetence” in the GPF and in the Government.

The PNCR said it is explicit evidence that the Guyana Police Force has been politicized and de-professionalized by the PPP-led administration.

According to the opposition party, while the most recent act of victimization by the Guyana Police Force is unsurprising, the Force is urged to remember its mandate to investigate crimes committed by those in high office, and not to harass innocent Guyanese and their relatives.

In its statement, the Alliance for Change said the invasion is a blatant violation of the rule of law and the constitutional rights of citizens.

The AFC said the action by the Police Force represents a disturbing erosion of civil liberties and the misuse of police powers, adding that it stands in solidarity with Melissa Atwell and her family, and calls for a full, independent investigation into this incident.

The AFC is also urging the Guyana Police Force to respect the sanctity of private homes and adhere to the legal protocols enshrined in Guyana’s constitution, which safeguard the rights of every citizen.

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