Incident with Venezuela’s army at Eteringbang resolved amicably, with handshake – GDF

…Home Affairs Minister concerned about non-State actors at border

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Friday confirmed a recent encounter between its ranks and members of the Venezuelan army in the border community of Eteringbang in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), assuring that the incident was amicably resolved.
On Friday, a local newspaper reported that two Guyanese soldiers were detained and forced to return sand and stones, sourced from the Cuyuni River – which Venezuela is claiming rights, that they were transporting to the community for the ongoing $214.5 million upgrade of the Eteringbang airstrip.

However, Chief-of-Defence Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Omar Khan told reporters on the sidelines of the Regional Security System (RSS) Council of Minister’s Meeting held in Georgetown on Friday that it was not a detention.
“I wouldn’t use the words detained… The matter was amicably resolved,” he assured.
In a subsequent statement from the GDF, it was explained that the incident occurred on Wednesday on an island in the Cuyuni River at Eteringbang. At about 11:50h, during an administrative journey, ranks of the GDF and the Venezuelan Army had an encounter.
“The incident attracted the intervention of both the GDF and Venezuelan commanders who arrived at the scene shortly thereafter. At no time during this interaction were our ranks dispossessed of items or returned items. The matter was addressed amicably and ended with a shake-of-hands by both Commanders,” the Guyanese Army stated.
The GDF went on to refute any inference that the photograph accompanying the article was related to the incident at Eteringbang. The Army urged the exercise of diligence and accuracy in selecting visual content when reporting to avoid misrepresentation.

“The GDF emphasises the importance of accurate reporting, especially concerning matters of national security, and urges the media to verify information before dissemination to ensure authenticity and avoid unnecessary alarm or misinformation.”
“It is important to note also, that given the border case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), incidents on the border between Guyana and Venezuela and involving military ranks should be reported accurately to deescalate any potential for conflict,” the GDF stated.
Venezuela continues to lay claim to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass, the Essequibo, and a portion of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which almost 11 billion barrels of oil have been discovered over the years, and where oil production activities are ongoing.
In 2018, Guyana moved to the World Court, seeking a final and binding ruling on the October 3, 1899 Arbitral Award to settle the longstanding border controversy. However, since then, there have been heightened tensions between the two South American neighbours with both countries beefing up their military presence at the border.

Concerns at border
However, Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, has noted that in addition to actions by the Venezuelan Government to claim the Essequibo region, there are also mounting concerns over non-State actors at the border between the two countries.
Speaking at the RSS Council of Ministers’ Meeting on Friday, Minister Benn posited that there were risks and challenges Guyana was facing when it came to the border with its Spanish-speaking neighbour.
“We are concerned about the questions of instability, particularly in the presence of non-State actors in eastern Venezuela [especially] on our borders. And here, I make reference to the remnants of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional/National Liberation Army), the Tren (Tren de Aragua – Venezuelan street gang) and others supporting their efforts in the form of the malandros and others who are involved in drug trafficking, people trafficking and smuggling of minerals and other things,” the Home Affairs Minister stated.
His comment comes on the heels of increased criminal activities carried out by Venezuelan nationals in Guyana especially in the border communities.
Only on Wednesday, two Venezuelan nationals were among three persons charged and remanded for the murder of Chinese businessman Yang Lisong, last week at Eteringbang Landing.
Darvy Diaz De Costa and Oscar Alside Scanio – both Venezuelans – along with Pharrell Prince Adelph of Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD) , appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court #5 before Magistrate Faith McGusty, to answer the charge of murder in the course or furtherance of a robbery, contrary to Section 100(1ci) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.
They were not required to plead to the charge. The matter was transferred to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court, with the next court date set for April 24, 2024.
On Thursday last, Yang and his wife, who operated a supermarket at Eteringbang Landing, were attacked.
During the ordeal, the perpetrators had bound the hands of the Chinese businessman and bashed in his face. His wife was also injured during the robbery. Shortly after the incident, the Police had nabbed the suspects.
This followed the fatal shooting of Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff, a 50-year-old gold miner of Byderabo Road, Bartica, Region Seven, and Donovan Washington, a 26-year-old porter of Lot 11 Seventh Avenue, Bartica, during a robbery at the Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River. The deceased were attacked by two masked bandits, who escaped with $37 million in raw gold and two firearms on March 3.
The incident had sparked outrage from stakeholders in the mining industry since Sheriff was a senior member of the Small Miners’ Association Guyana Inc (SMAGI).
During a subsequent visit to Bartica, President Dr Irfaan Ali on March 6 promised the miners that their issues would be addressed and further consultations held by the security forces. (G8)