The respective militaries of Guyana and Brazil have commenced discussions on the 24th Regional Meeting of Military Exchange, which will make it the first time it will be held since 2019 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a statement from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the meeting is being held at Lethem, in the Conference Room of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo).
“With a strong commitment towards strengthening border security as neighbours with a common frontier, military officers of Guyana and Brazil have commenced discussions at the 24th Regional Meeting of Military Exchange,” the GDF said in its statement.
“The two-day meeting proposes to examine a number of issues, including cross- border criminal activities, cattle rustling, and illegal mining. This meeting is held yearly, and the host is rotated. However, it was not held last year due to the pandemic. Both militaries had agreed to persevere with the exchange this year, which is testimony to the enduring nature of friendship.”
It was explained that Brigadier General Adriano Fructuoso Da Costa, Commander of the 1st Jungle Infantry Brigade, is heading the Brazilian Delegation, while Commandant of the Guyana People’s Militia, Colonel Trevor Bowman, is heading the local delegation.
Military top brass of Guyana and Brazil greeting each other in Lethem, Region Nine
Guyana and Brazil established diplomatic relations 53 years ago. When it comes to the border shared by the two countries and cross-border crime, Police are said to be on high alert for persons entering and leaving Guyana illegally by way of the Guyana-Brazil border in Region Nine. This was disclosed by the region’s newly appointed Commander, Superintendent Raphael Rose.
Even with the borders being closed by the National COVID-19 Task Force, the Commander had revealed that a 24-hour joint security with the GDF on the Takutu Bridge has been put in place to combat the illegal entry and departure of persons. “…we would turn persons back who would try to enter into Guyana based on the lockdown rules,” he stated.
The borders are largely kept closed. He noted that there are other areas that are prone to illegal entry and exit between Guyana and Brazil, naming the most popular to be the village Saint Ignatius, which is located in the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana. Persons are known to be smuggled across the river to enter or leave Guyana.
“We would do routine patrols and we would ask the public to share any information of persons coming over…the Police cannot be all the way along those areas, so we would have shared our numbers with the community, because the river runs straight along the Saint Ignatius area,” Superintendent Rose has said.
Commander Rose had stated that where persons [Brazilians] are seen in Lethem and are known to have crossed over illegally, they are usually arrested and taken to Immigration to ascertain whether or not they would have entered Guyana illegally, and if that is the case, they are usually sent back to Brazil and handed over to the authorities.
He also mentioned that in cases whereby Haitians, Cubans, or any other foreign nationals try to enter Lethem, there are three checkpoints in place in the Division: at Kurupukari, Kirkwood, and Annai. (G3)
