Govt to approach UN on Venezuela’s “provocative, dangerous” actions – Foreign Affairs Ministry

… but President says may be an error by Venezuelan military

The Government of Guyana is preparing to engage the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

after it received the preliminary report into an incident on Monday, where three mines officers attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, while patrolling in the Cuyuni River, came under heavy gunfire from members of the Venezuelan Army.
Based on preliminary reports, on Monday, May 30, 2016, around 17:30h, the three officers were returning from a monitoring and inspection exercise at Arau in the Cuyuni River, when the chartered boat in which they were travelling came under attack by Venezuelan soldiers, approximately one mile up from the Eteringbang Police Station.
“This matter will be brought to the attention of Secretary General of the United Nations in his capacity as Good Officer under the Geneva Agreement and members of the UN and its Security Council will also be notified,” a statement from Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday stated.
Also, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said it has dispatched a Note Verbale to the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry, conveying the Government of Guyana’s “grave concern” over this incident.
The note also called on the Venezuelan Government to “desist from such provocative and dangerous actions on the Guyana border,” adding that such actions can only lead to a destabilisation of relations.
Meanwhile, speaking to the Guyanese media on Wednesday afternoon, President David Granger explained that Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips is in contact with the Venezuelan General.
He however noted that based on information, the incident may have been an error on the part of the Venezuelan military stationed at the border.
“We have received information that there might have been some error on the part of the Venezuelan national Armed Forces and the matter is now being investigated and we are working towards a resolution of the controversy and we are trying to find out what occurred but I wish to assure you that the situation is not deteriorating and it is not going to be generating into any confrontation,” the President, a former Army General stated.
He quickly dismissed suggestions that the incident was deliberate, since also during Guyana’s independence celebrations last year, there were acts of aggression from Venezuela.
“What occurred on the 26th of May, 2015, was deliberate and the promulgation of that decree. As you know, after [Caribbean Community] Caricom Heads of Government (meeting) the decree was withdrawn under pressure from the Caribbean Community and another decree was issued. I do not see it as a continuation, I do not think the two incidents are linked and like I said, right now, it’s too soon to tell and I would like to await information from the Chief-of-Staff who is in touch with the Venezuelans,” the President noted.
Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have been tense over the past few months after the Bolivarian Republic continues to lay claim to over two thirds of Guyana’s territory, even though an 1899 Arbitration panel awarded the disputed Essequibo region to Guyana.
In February 1966, just before Guyana was granted independence, in Geneva, Switzerland, the Governments of British Guiana, the United Kingdom and Venezuela signed an agreement to resolve its contentions, but Venezuela has sporadically raised the controversy it created.
The controversy was reignited by Venezuela when the Government of Guyana granted access to the US-based oil exploration company ExxonMobil, allowing it to drill for oil in the Stabroek block offshore Essequibo.
The Venezuelan Government was peeved at this move and made direct contact with the oil company, urging it to discontinue its attempt to carry out drilling activities in the area. Saying it had no part in the territorial issue, the oil company went ahead with its drilling activity.
President Maduro later issued a decree on May 26, 2015, which purported to ratify maritime sovereignty over waters within 200 miles including the entire Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast as well as part of Suriname’s maritime territory and an area which is under dispute with Colombia.
Guyana has been seeking the UN’s help in resolving the issue and has sought a juridical settlement if the UN process fails.