Three Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officers narrowly escaped injury yesterday when they reportedly came under attack from members of the Venezuelan army, in the vicinity of Eterinbang, in the Cuyuni River.
While details of what took place are not clear, Stabroek News was told that the soldiers, who were positioned on the Venezuelan side of the border, opened fire on the boat that was transporting the three GGMC officers yesterday afternoon.
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, says the Community remains unwavering in its determination to preserve Guyana’s territorial integrity.
The SG reiterated CARICOM’s support when he met with President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.
He was quoted in a release by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying, “The community has been resolute in always preserving the territorial integrity of Guyana. It is an issue that we are always on. At appropriate junctures, statements have always been issued. I have made statements the Community has made statements, the Chairman, at the appropriate occasion, and the matter of Guyana’s territorial integrity is sacrosanct. The Community will always be supporting Guyana in this issue. There is no question about it. It is an issue, which will, of course, be discussed in the next few weeks when the Heads are here but in terms of Guyana, there can be no question in terms of the Community’s support to Guyana.â€
Three officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) were travelling on the Cuyuni River, along the border region, when they came under gunfire from Venezuelan soldiers. The officials were returning from a monitoring and inspection exercise at Arau when the chartered boat they were in came under attack approximately one mile from the Eteringbang Police Station.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a letter to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, said that such actions can only lead to a destabilisation of relations.
