The Alliance For Change (AFC) said it is deeply alarmed by the increasing pattern of “politically motivated prosecutions and legal overreach” under the current administration. It said the country is witnessing the dismantling of the guardrails that protect Guyana’s democracy and constitutional freedoms.
It noted that the recent legal actions against Guyanese including businessman Azruddin Mohamed, political activist Rickford Burke, and “social commentator” Daniel Wharton (aka “Baby Skello”) reveal a disturbing trend.
It noted that In Mohamed’s case, tax-related charges were filed years after the matter was deemed resolved, triggering questions about motive.
In Burke’s case, the AFC said that the political activist was charged under outdated defamation laws declared unconstitutional, and a legally questionable attempt was made to serve him a summons outside national jurisdiction.
The case of Daniel Wharton is equally troubling, the AFC said.
“Despite blasphemous libel being legally dubious, he was remanded without any indication of flight risk or interference. The public perception is clear: these actions serve a political script, not judicial prudence,” the party stressed.
The AFC also said that many believe the re-opening of the Ricardo Fagundes (“Paper Shorts”) murder investigation is not a genuine pursuit of justice, but a politically timed effort to undermine Mohamed’s rise as a political contender.
“Whether true or not, the optics are deeply concerning. In a democracy, even the appearance of prosecutorial bias erodes trust,” the party stated.
The party is now calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions, Commissioner of Police, and judicial leadership to “safeguard the independence of their offices”.
The AFC pledged that under a government led by Nigel Hughes, it will: end the abuse of prosecutorial power, strengthen the independence of the judiciary and law enforcement, and introduce clear guidelines and oversight to prevent political interference in legal matters.
Furthermore, it promises to create an Independent Justice Review Commission to monitor and audit politically sensitive prosecutions.
“The erosion of legal norms threatens not just political opponents, but every citizen’s freedom. We must resist the normalization of fear and recommit to a Guyana where law is a shield for the people—not a sword for the powerful. Better Must Come. United Guyana, Fair and Free.”
