The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has strongly condemned the decision by the courts to remand Daniel Wharton, also known as “Baby Skello,” on charges of blasphemous libel, calling for his immediate release and accusing the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government of intensifying a crackdown on democratic freedoms.
Wharton was charged with blasphemous libel on June 13, 2025, following the release of a song that allegedly contained offensive content about the Hindu deity Maha Lakshmi. He pleaded not guilty under the Administration of Justice Act. Magistrate Judy Latchman remanded him to prison until July 1, 2025.
In a statement issued today, the opposition coalition said Wharton’s imprisonment represents a dangerous attack on free expression and is part of a broader trend of state repression under the PPP.
“The remand of Mr. Wharton comes at a time when the desperate PPP government is increasingly using repressive tactics to stifle the fundamental freedoms of expression, conscience, association, and peaceful assembly of citizens here and abroad,” the statement read.
The coalition accused the government of employing anti-terrorism laws to prosecute ordinary crimes such as looting, attempting to silence overseas-based critics on social media, and intimidating political opponents within Guyana. It also charged the PPP with persistent attacks on the free press.
APNU also dismissed the public concern expressed by Education Minister Priya Manickchand and other PPP officials over Wharton’s detention as hypocritical and politically convenient.
“The APNU Coalition is not impressed by the crocodile tears shed by Minister Manickchand and a few other PPP leaders… If they were genuinely concerned, let them be consistent and advocate within their own government to stop its repeated violations of human and democratic rights,” the release stated.
While APNU clarified that it does not condone expressions that intentionally insult or offend any group based on religion, it said Wharton had apologised, and that the state’s response was both disproportionate and alarming.
“The decision to remand him to prison is, in any case, disproportionate and threatens our basic freedoms,” APNU said. “Guyanese must continue to raise their voices in condemnation. Release Baby Skello now!”
The charges against Wharton have drawn controversy across the political spectrum, igniting debates about free speech, religious sensitivity, and the criminalization of online expression.
APNU’s call adds to mounting public pressure on the state to reconsider the handling of the case, which has become a flashpoint in the broader struggle over civil liberties in Guyana.
The song’s lyrics and imagery were condemned by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) and the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) as vulgar, sexually explicit, and blasphemous, leading to public outrage within the Hindu.
However, the arrest and remand have sparked a broader debate about freedom of expression, double standards, religious sensitivity, and the role of the state in regulating artistic content. Antonio Dey, in a letter today pointed out that “Jennifer Ally an Indo Guyanese has been culpable of racial incitement and hostility and no disciplinary actions were taken against her, when her actions are as equally egregious as Mr Wharton’s.”
The case continues to draw national attention, raising questions about the use of law, particularly freedom of speech, to contain some while allowing others to engage in similar or more egregious behaviours.
