GDF soldiers come under gunfire near Venezuelan border; No injuries reported

A group of soldiers from the Guyana Defence Force came under fire on Tuesday and Wednesday while conducting patrols in the Cuyuni River near the border with Venezuela.

In a statement early this morning, the Guyana Defence Force said there were three separate attacks within the past 24 hours, but there were no injuries to the Guyanese soldiers. The attacks on the GDF patrols were reportedly carried out by armed men dressed in civilian clothing on the Venezuelan side of the border.

The GDF said on each of the three occasions that its ranks came under gunfire between Eteringbang and Makapa, they executed a measured response.

The Guyana Defence Force said it remains resolute in its mission to protect Guyana’s territorial integrity and ensure the safety of its citizens, explaining that it will continue to respond to acts of aggression along the Guyana-Venezuela border and will maintain regular patrols along the Cuyuni River.

The GDF said the public is assured that it is taking all necessary measures to safeguard the nation’s borders and maintain peace and security within Guyana.

Tensions have been rising in parts of the Essequibo region close to the border with Venezuela as the neighbouring country which continues to claim Guyana’s Essequibo as its own, moves ahead with plans to conduct elections for a Governor of Guyana’s Essequibo on the eve of Guyana’s Independence Anniversary.

Guyana has condemned those moves by Caracas and has informed the international community of the ongoing acts of aggression. The International Court of Justice, which is currently hearing the border controversy case that was filed by Guyana, recently ordered Venezuela not to proceed with its planned elections. Venezuela has accused the Court of attempting to interfere in its internal issues.

Three months ago, a number of GDF soldiers were injured in the same bordering region in the Cuyuni River when they came under gunfire from gunmen on the Venezuelan side of the border.

It was suspected then that the gunmen may have been linked to a Venezuelan criminal grant. Reports out of Caracas stated that some of those gunmen died from injuries sustained during their attack, while others were reportedly arrested. Those reports were never confirmed by the Guyana Defence Force, which stated then that it was monitoring the situation closely.

The United States has warned Venezuela against any attacks on Guyana or the oil ships operating in Guyana’s waters.

On the 1st March this year, a Venezuelan military vessel made an incursion into Guyana’s waters and carried out patrols near the oil ships in Guyana’s waters, with its crew demanding information from the crew of the oil vessels.

The incursion was widely condemned internationally.