Attorney General Anil Nandlall’s recent public outburst against social media commentator Melissa “Melly Mel” Atwell has drawn sharp criticism from within his own ministry and across Guyana’s legal and business communities, with multiple anonymous sources describing the AG as “lawless,” “unhinged,” and “a liability to the country.”
Nandlall has taken issue with Atwell’s assertion that her recent detention by U.S. immigration authorities for visa overstay was politically motivated and possibly connected to lobbying efforts by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Hours later, Nandlall released a confusing statement on his social media page dismissing her claims as absurd and ridiculing her character.
But insiders say his swift reaction raises deeper concerns.
“It’s embarrassing. The Attorney General of a sovereign nation is monitoring this woman’s Facebook page like a hawk,” said one senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “There are real, systemic issues in the justice sector, but he’s locked in on petty Facebook feuds.”
According to another source within the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Nandlall’s behavior is a reflection of his broader leadership style. “He governs like a man above the law. He picks fights on social media while the court system is collapsing. The backlog of criminal cases is years long, victims are waiting endlessly for justice, and he’s out here obsessing over what Melissa Atwell posts online?”
In his social media statement, Nandlall questioned the credibility of Atwell’s purported U.S. citizenship claim, implying that her detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement exposed a contradiction. But legal experts familiar with U.S. immigration processes dismissed this as a red herring.
“If she had actually lied to the U.S. government about citizenship or committed fraud, she wouldn’t be out on bond,” said a former regional diplomat familiar with U.S. legal proceedings. “She would be facing criminal charges. Visa overstays are common and don’t necessarily imply deception or conspiracy.”
Beyond the Atwell episode, critics point to Nandlall’s controversial history as a growing liability for Guyana. A third source from the private legal sector pointed to the AG’s long-standing baggage: “He was arrested for stealing law books, caught on tape threatening to kill journalists, and was named a suspect in the assassination of Courtney Crum-Ewing. And now he’s the chief legal officer of the country?”
The source added, “He’s a bully, plain and simple. And that’s not just bad optics, t’s dangerous. Investors are watching. No one wants to pour money into a country where the rule of law is under the thumb of a man like this.”
International investors have quietly echoed these sentiments in recent months. A regional venture capital executive, who requested anonymity due to ongoing business in Guyana, stated, “We’ve flagged the Attorney General’s behavior as a red flag. You can’t have stability when top legal officials are behaving like this. It sends the wrong message to the entire global business community.”
Meanwhile, Guyana’s judiciary continues to struggle with systemic dysfunction. Victims of gender-based violence report lengthy delays for protective orders. Criminal trials drag on for years. Legal aid remains out of reach for many in rural areas. Yet, according to multiple insiders, these urgent issues receive little sustained attention from the AG.
“This is not about Melissa Atwell,” said one ministry official. “It’s about an Attorney General who is distracted, vindictive, and increasingly dangerous to the integrity of our justice system.”
With mounting concerns from civil society, the legal community, and private enterprise, calls are growing for the Attorney General to step back from political theatrics and refocus on the role he was elected to fulfill: delivering justice, not performing vendettas.
