Retired Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Dr. Gary Best believes Guyana has got to do more than investing in diplomacy to hold off Venezuela’s ongoing acts of aggression.

Appearing on the Nation Watch television programme one day after the incursion of a Venezuelan military vessel in Guyana’s waters near the oil ships, Dr. Best said the Government has got to invest more resources in the military to beef up Guyana’s defence.

This year, less than 5% of the national budget was allocated to national defence spending.

“I believe it is important to recognise that it is incumbent that the Defence Force at this point of time is re-equipped and better equipped to hold Venezuela for a determined piece of time, maybe 72 hours, until international pressure comes in. So diplomacy yes, but still an active weapon by Guyana, but we cannot forget the importance of building up those resources”.

During the incursion, the Venezuelan Coast Guard vessel spent more than five hours traveling to the various oil production and oil drilling ships within Guyana waters, questioning the Captains of those vessels and declaring falsely to them that they were operating within Venezuela’s waters.

Guyana has since filed an official protest with the Government of Venezuela and has also informed the international community on the latest act of aggression from the neighbouring state, which continues to claim Guyana’s Essequibo region.

Dr. Best said the Government has got to take the threats from Venezuela much more seriously and dedicate more resources to the nation’s defence.

“We have a large budget, much more resources and much more income and we have less spending percentage wise, on the defence of Guyana. If we were to cut infrastructure budget by 60% or 40%, it would not affect the other sectors. You would have more money available to put towards defence”, he said.

The Guyana Government has said the latest action by the Government of Venezuela has done nothing but pose a threat to the peace, good order and security of the sovereign territory of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the stability of the Latin American and Caribbean region.

The Government made it clear that Guyana views this maneuver as highly provocative and is concerned by the persistence of the Government of Venezuela in encroaching on Guyana’s land and maritime territory.

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