Latest update June 14th, 2025 12:49 AM
Manickchand, other lawyers slam court’s “excessive” decision to remand ‘Baby Skello’
Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand
Daniel Wharton, popularly known as ‘Baby Skello’
Kaieteur News – Minister of Education and attorney-at-law Priya Manickchand has publicly condemned the court’s decision to remand Daniel Wharton, popularly known as ‘Baby Skello’, after he was charged with blasphemous libel.
Wharton, who sang a vulgar and distasteful song about the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where he was remanded to prison until July 1, 2025.
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) condemned the song following a public outcry from the Hindu community and other sections of society and called for disciplinary action to be taken.
Minister Manickchand took to her personal Facebook page on Friday to express her disapproval, describing the court’s decision as inconsistent and misplaced, particularly in contrast to how other, more serious matters are handled.
“The bench needs to be consistent and sensible in its application of the law. We are jailing someone for mumbling or trying to sing something offensive against a female goddess (which was terrible and should never be encouraged or listened to and which I personally condemned) but [the court is] failing to address speedily DV [domestic violence] matters where women are at the mercy of the court, failing to address matters of cyberbullying where women’s nude photographs are published online without their consent, and other truly egregious crimes against women. I truly hope he has a lawyer who will have this odd decision reversed at the high court,” the minister said.
Echoing the minister’s stance, attorney Sase Gunraj who sits as a commissioner of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), also expressed concern over the decision to remand Wharton.
“The remand of Baby Skello is unnecessary and excessive. His attempt at music was undoubtedly blasphemous and disrespectful, but refusal of bail ought not be used as a penalty,” Gunraj stated.
Attorney-at-law Dexter Todd also criticized the ruling, questioning its rationale: “Why would a person be remanded for such a charge? What is really going on in this country?” he asked.
Similarly, attorney Ronald Daniels also took to his personal Facebook page condemning the actions taken against Wharton. He argued that the decision to remand Wharton speaks more to the arbitrary use of institutional power than to a sincere effort at justice.
“We cannot rectify, repair or mitigate this by selectively punishing one sinner while we cast a blind eye and deaf ears to all the other angels and advocates of the devil,” he said.
Daniels also questioned the relevance of the blasphemous libel charge itself, noting that the offence has colonial roots aimed at protecting Christianity in a now-outdated system where Church and State were intertwined.
“The English society has long abandoned blasphemous libel… We hold on with a vice grip to that which our colonial masters have long let go of.”
On the legal matter of bail, Daniels was clear: the denial was unjustified.
“There is hardly any basis upon which Skello should have been remanded into custody… Bail should have been granted.”
While Daniels made it clear he does not support or endorse Skello’s music, he maintained that justice must be fair and balanced.
“I hold no brief for Skello… However, I am firmly against any selective pursuit of justice and abuse of institutional powers; which this matter reeks of.”
The court’s decision has also drawn widespread criticism from the public, particularly on social media platforms. Many users expressed outrage and disbelief over the severity of the action taken against Wharton.
One Facebook user commented: “This is so wrong.” Another questioned, “Did he murder someone? What about bail or a fine?” The phrase “Free Baby Skello” has since begun trending online as a form of protest against what many see as judicial overreach.
- Baby Skello, Blasphemous Libel, Daniel Wharton, Diamond Magistrate’s Court, Magistrate Judy Latchman, Priya Manickchand
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