Gunfire from Venezuelan shores: Security forces on high alert – Pres Ali as strengthened GDF ready

President Dr Irfaan Ali has assured the nation that Guyana’s security forces remain on high alert and well-equipped to defend the country’s borders, following an incident in which members of the Joint Services and staff of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) came under fire near the Guyana-Venezuela border while transporting ballot boxes.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday at about 14:30h in the vicinity of Bamboo along the Upper Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), near the Guyana-Venezuela border, prompted swift assurances from President Irfaan Ali that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) remains on full alert and well-prepared to defend the nation’s territorial integrity.
According to reports, the escort consisted of ranks from the GDF and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), for nine GECOM officials who were transporting election materials to polling stations in Region Seven. In a statement, the GPF said that the Joint Services responded to the attack and were able to manoeuvre the vessels out of danger. No personnel were injured, and none of the election materials were damaged or compromised.
Speaking to the media on Monday after casting his ballot at the Leonora Technical & Vocational Training Centre, the President acknowledged that Guyana has faced repeated cross-border fire in recent months.
However, while declining to go into operational details, President Ali said that significant investments have been made in strengthening the GDF’s capacity, both in troop presence and technology.
“We have had the fire from the Venezuelan side a number of times in the last couple of months. So, of course, it’s concerning. The security forces are on full alert. They have their strength, and they’re ready. They have the equipment, and we have to understand the threat of Venezuela… I can tell you that the Guyana Defence Force has beefed up not only its troops, but also their position. We have invested a lot, as you know, in the military. So, I’m confident with what they have on our borders and the systems they have in place,” Ali stressed.
The President re-emphasised that his Administration will continue to support regional and international efforts against transnational crime and threats to peace.
“We view our sovereignty very seriously. But also, we live in a region that all of us must come together to fight transnational crime and to fight illicit drug trade. And we will support every effort to smash the illicit drug trade and transnational crime. We have to be part of every effort to tackle transnational crime. And wherever transnational crime is, whilst I’ve said this, we have always said consistently that this region must remain a zone of peace. And we will do everything to ensure that this region remains a zone of peace and support every effort to ensure that this region remains a zone of peace,” he explained.
Just a few days ago, Guyana was named among a growing coalition of nations partnering with the United States to strengthen border security and combat transnational narcotics trafficking as part of a broader push to counter organised crime and enhance regional stability.
The partnership focuses on intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement and strengthening legal frameworks to combat trafficking networks that use porous borders and maritime routes across the Caribbean and South America.