Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court against journalist Travis Chase, alleging defamation arising from a series of social media posts earlier this year.
According to court filings reviewed by this publication, the minister is seeking damages exceeding $20 million and requesting court orders to halt further dissemination of the disputed content. In addition, she is seeking the removal of the posts from all online platforms and a formal public apology.
The lawsuit centres on three Facebook posts published on 5 and 6 January 2026 on accounts identified as “Travis Chase” and “HGPTV News.” The claim alleges that the first post, shared on 5 January, questioned the minister’s financial affairs, alleging that she and her partner had accumulated wealth without a clear explanation through property investments abroad. It specifically highlighted the purchase of a property valued at approximately US$540,000 and implied the need to scrutinise the origin of the funds and ensure compliance with anti-money laundering regulations.
That post was accompanied by photographs of a residential property and by documents said to be linked to a company registered in the United States.
Later the same day, a second publication reported calls from the opposition APNU party for Minister Rodrigues to resign, asserting that her rapid acquisition of assets raised serious concerns and warranted an independent probe.
The third post, published on January 6, cited U.S. property records and stated that the minister had personally acquired a home in Florida before transferring ownership to a corporate entity. Although the records did not accuse her of any illegal conduct, the post questioned transparency and the source of financing.
In her claim, Minister Rodrigues argues that, whether viewed separately or together, the posts conveyed an untrue and damaging impression that she engaged in corruption in her capacity as a public official and used improperly obtained funds to purchase property.
The statement of claim further asserts that the journalist failed to take into account the explanations she had already made publicly and continued to promote an insinuation of misconduct despite those clarifications.
As a result, the minister maintains that her reputation has been seriously harmed, noting that her public office intensified the impact, the posts’ extensive reach, and their repeated publication. She also states that the matter has subjected her to public embarrassment and caused both personal and professional hardship.
Social media platforms in Guyana have increasingly become spaces for misinformation and sensationalism, often driven by individuals seeking short-term attention rather than truth. As a result, several ministers have been targeted by coordinated and malicious campaigns aimed at discrediting the government.
There are social media influencers allegedly being paid to provide platforms for irresponsible commentary and false accusations against innocent individuals and ministers to be freely circulated. This creates a false perception of corruption in the public mind, even when no such reality exists.
Research indicates that a significant proportion of social media users in Guyana are children aged 12 to 16, who make up the majority of users on platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. These young users are particularly vulnerable to manipulation and misinformation. In reality, children use social media platforms to impress their friends and stay in touch, and they pay no attention to the advertisements on these platforms.
In light of this, the government should consider adopting measures similar to those implemented in Australia, including legislation that restricts children under 16 from accessing social media. Such a law would help protect young minds and reduce the spread of irresponsible and harmful political narratives driven by paid influencers and self-styled commentators. In addition, influencers in Guyana are using the follower counts of 12- to 16-year-olds for advertising purposes.