Ed Ahmad asks court to impose $30M judgment on Travis Chase for default libel

Aug 06, 2025 News

Guyanese journalist Travis Chase

Kaieteur News – United States-based Guyanese businessman, Ed Ahmad, has asked the High Court to impose GY$30 million judgment award against Guyanese journalist Travis Chase for defamation.

Ahmad had secured a default judgment against Chase in June after the reporter failed to enter an appearance in the matter. Ahmad had initially sued Chase for GY$100 million.

However in submission to the High Court dated July 31, 2025, by Mr. Ahmad’s lawyers, Darshan Ramdhani and Rajendra Jaigobin, Ahmad asked the High Court to award him GY$30 million because his reputation has been affected not only in Guyana, but also in the United States.

The default judgment granted by Justice Fidela Corbin at the Georgetown High Court after Chase failed to put in a defence against the libel claim by Ahmad.

According to the judgment order seen by this newspaper, after the business instituted the libel proceedings, Marshals of the Supreme Court of Judicature made two (2) unsuccessful attempts to effect service of these proceedings on Chase.

The document noted that the first unsuccessful attempt was made on the 18th February, 2025, at Lot 1 Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD); the address of HPGTV Nightly News, where he is a news presenter.

The Marshal made a second unsuccessful attempt to serve a copy of these proceedings upon Chase at Lot 1 Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, ECD.

Then on 3rd March, 2025, Mr. Roysdale Forde S.C., Attorney-at Law, wrote to Mr. Ahmad’s attorneys, Darshan Ramdhanie, KC and Rajendra Jaigobin, informing them that he acts for Mr. Chase in the proceedings and that he had instructed him to accept service on his behalf.

United States-based Guyanese businessman, Ed Ahmad

Consequently, a Marshal effected service of the proceedings by serving a copy the proceedings together with Chase’s authorisation code on the chambers of Mr. Roysdale Forde S.C.

However according to the judgment order, both Chase and his lawyer failed to enter an appearance in the proceedings and also failed to serve and file a defence in high court action herein within forty-two (42) days of service, as prescribed by the Civil Procedure Rules.

As a result, Justice Corbin determined that default judgment can be granted against Chase following his failure to serve and file a defence within the period prescribed by the Civil Procedure Rules.

Ahmad had sought GY$100 million from Mr. Chase for libel. However, the quantum of the judgment is to be determined by the judge.

The court determined that Chase failed to defend whether the series of publications on his Facebook page, Travis Chase, were untrue, false, malicious and defamatory of Ahmad.

The document described Mr. Ahmad as a businessman and the owner of several businesses in Guyana and New York, United States of America, with over 200 employees. Ahmad is also a director and shareholder of companies in Guyana.

The court noted that Ahmad was convicted in the United States of America of conspiracy to commit a criminal offence in 2017, and he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment; served that time and abided by all conditions of the sentence.

However, based on his claim, Ahmad, through his lawyers, noted that the defendant is a reporter who operates the page, “Travis Chase” on Facebook, a social media platform and is a presenter and editor at HPGTV Nightly News published patently fabricated, concocted, false and malicious posts against the New York based businessman.

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default libel, Ed Ahmad, sue, Travis Chase

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