Kaieteur News Reports : United States-based Guyanese businessman Ed Ahmad has petitioned the High Court for a GY$30 million judgment against journalist Travis Chase for defamation. This follows a default judgment secured by Ahmad in June after Chase failed to respond to the libel suit.
Ahmad had initially sought GY$100 million in damages but has since requested a reduced award of GY$30 million, citing damage to his reputation both in Guyana and the United States. His legal representation, Darshan Ramdhani and Rajendra Jaigobin, submitted the request to the High Court on July 31, 2025.
The default judgment was granted by Justice Fidela Corbin after Chase did not enter a defense against the libel claim. According to court documents, attempts to serve the proceedings on Chase were unsuccessful initially, with two failed attempts made at his workplace, HPGTV Nightly News, on February 18 and March 3, 2025. Eventually, service was accomplished through Chase’s attorney, Roysdale Forde S.C.
Despite being served, both Chase and his counsel did not enter an appearance or file a defense within the forty-two days mandated by the Civil Procedure Rules. Consequently, Justice Corbin ruled that a default judgment was warranted due to Chase’s inaction.
The court noted that Chase did not contest whether Ahmad’s claims regarding defamatory publications on his Facebook page were false or malicious. Ahmad’s reputation as a businessman, owning multiple enterprises in both Guyana and New York, was emphasized, alongside his previous conviction in the U.S. for conspiracy to commit a criminal offense in 2017.
Ahmad’s legal team contends that the posts made by Chase were fabricated and malicious, significantly impacting his standing in the community. The court has yet to determine the final amount of the judgment, but the implications of this case highlight the serious nature of defamation claims in the digital age.
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