Dear Editor,

IT is an undeniable fact that many people make false claims on a daily basis in the political arena to persuade voters at elections time to vote for or against a political party.

In Guyana it is now elections season and many social media ‘influencers’ and so called journalists are having a field day peddling lies, deceptions and often defamatory statements in their quest to thwart the re-election of the PPP/C to the seats of government. They missed the real criminal in the room.

In recent times, two infamous characters come to mind: Rickford Burke and Melissa Atwell who have both been slapped with libel suits. What these two have in common is the fact that they have been relentless in vehemently attacking and making false and spurious allegations against the PPP/C Government and its ministers. The ‘facts’ they presented cannot be verified and are mere hearsay and regurgitations which they believed if they repeat often enough will transform into truth.

Political Goebbellism has been one of the most used and abused tactics used by the PNCR and its cohorts. It has been said that ‘Statements of fools appear to be authentic when other fools repeat them frequently’. Every year, these lies, and deceptive statements have been the basis of their electioneering, not what achievements they have delivered to this country and its people. They are now joined by a ‘journalist’.

However, in 2025, these lies, and deception have been taken to unprecedented heights when a well-choreographed interview by Travis Chase was mysteriously leaked on social media. In this interview, as is the norm, the statements made by the person interviewed, Azeem Baksh, were not verified at any time and seem to have been accepted ‘hook, line and sinker’ at face value.

Any true and credible journalist would know that if someone gives you information then that must be verified by producing some form of evidence (documents, videos, electronic messages, etc.)

The interview was done on March 25, 2025, and ‘released’ for public consumption on August 12 by no other than Melissa ‘Melly Mel’ Atwell, if this ‘leak’ was not deliberate then it will snow in Guyana this Christmas. Travis Chase had more than ample time to verify those criminally libelous statements made by Baksh but did not do so. There was no need. His type of journalism does not thrive on hard evidence but juicy propaganda which will be rapaciously consumed by the gullible in society.

It is difficult to accept that the contents of the video were not intended for the public given the timing of that interview. It’s elections season. If Baksh was so concerned about his safety, then it is a big question why he did not make a report to the police. He could have done a personal video and give it to someone confidential for release if he is harmed or killed, but he did not do so.
In his interview, Baksh did not only attack and disparage the President and Minister Bharrat, but he attacked the President’s mother who is in her seventies and a devout Muslim who is retired after an illustrious career as an educator. Was Baksh so blinded by greed and animosity that even such a great woman cannot be spared from his wrath? How can a credible journalist allow this senseless attack? Who would believe that the President’s mother would actually be the ‘collector’ for corrupt deals? This is grossly absurd and ridiculous.

Chase should have realised that such statements should never have been recorded much less made available. What threat does the President’s mother pose to Baksh? There were no threats from either the minister or the President. The political implications are clear. Was this interview done by political direction?

These unfounded attacks should be condemned by all credible human rights organisations and media houses.

Baksh’s apology can only be deemed hypocritical and signing a non-disclosure agreement cannot and will not absolve him from the grievous damages done to the image of all parties involved, especially the mother of the President. He should have limited his interview to who allegedly caused his ‘troubles’, in this case Satnarine Sahadeo and what he can verify by hard evidence.

I do feel that the parties involved in this ‘interview’ should face the full brunt of the law.

Yours sincerely,
Haseef Yusuf