ON Monday, April 13, 2026, Guyanese drivers created scenes not seen since the 1980s. Long, chaotic lines snaked around Regent and Camp Streets. Motorcyclists clutched five-gallon plastic bottles.
Some stations displayed “No Fuel” signs. It was clearly an issue. But we must face an uncomfortable truth that the crisis was not at the pump, but rather it was in the rumour mill.
Let’s clarify what happened. There was a genuine logistical issue that affected one major supplier. This was a real but temporary inconvenience.
However, a delay in one company’s shipment does not drain a nation’s fuel supply. What caused those stations to run dry was fear, fuelled by misinformation spreading faster than any tanker could deliver.
One of the most dangerous pieces of false information was a fake press release attributed to GuyOil. It claimed the disruption could last from three to 10 weeks. This release was fabricated and did not come from GuyOil.
Yet it circulated widely, and people believed it. Drivers who had plenty of fuel panicked and joined lines that stretched for hours. This behaviour, multiplied across thousands of vehicles, turned a manageable logistical hiccup into a nationwide crisis.
Officials noted that the opposition WIN party, led by US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed, amplified claims that increased public anxiety.
This is the harmful power of misinformation. It does not have to be believable to be dangerous; it just needs to spread faster than the truth. Disinformation spreads faster than facts, distorting reality, sowing division, and fuelling violence. We saw a less severe, but still instructive example of this on Monday.
Nobody was hurt, but people hoarded fuel in plastic bottles, a practice officials condemned as a serious fire risk that could lead to injuries, loss of life, and damage to properties.
Credit is due for the government’s response, which was quick and clear. President, Dr Irfaan Ali held an urgent meeting with fuel importers at State House and announced by Monday afternoon that shipments were already on the way.
Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips followed up that evening with a detailed statement confirming the arrival of fuel—3,000 barrels of gasoline and 14,000 barrels of diesel from SOL, along with 10,000 barrels of gasoline from Rubis—and published a complete schedule of incoming shipments for the upcoming week.
“There is no need for concern, panic buying, or hoarding,” the Prime Minister stated plainly. By Tuesday, the fuel supply was described as stable.
This quick and fact-based communication is what democracy needs in times of public anxiety. It sets a standard for citizens to follow, relying on verified institutions rather than unverified messages shared through social media or fringe platforms.
The events of April 13 serve as a warning. Misinformation is not harmless. It has real economic effects, fuels dangerous behaviour and undermines the social trust that keeps communities together. As Guyana moves forward, the resilience of its public-information system must match its development.
Every citizen who shares unverified claims contributes to the panic. Meanwhile, every citizen who stops, checks credible sources, and waits for official confirmation helps provide a solution. The fuel arrived, and the lines started to fade. But the lesson from this must endure.