Joint Services, GECOM staff come under fire near Guyana-Venezuela border while escorting ballot boxes

…all election materials remain safe, fully intact – GECOM

A Joint Services patrol escorting ballot boxes for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) came under fire on Sunday while travelling along the Upper Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) near the Guyana-Venezuela border.
Reports are that the incident occurred at approximately 14:30h in the vicinity of Bamboo, where shots were fired from the Venezuelan shore at the patrol team. The escort consisted of ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), along with 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 maneuver the vessels out of danger. No personnel were injured, and none of the election materials were damaged or compromised. Despite the incident, the escort team completed its mission. Ballot boxes were successfully delivered to polling stations at Cumang Landing, Kurutuku, and Dukquarie Landing, while an earlier delivery at Tumbung had been carried out without incident.
Joint Services said that it remains on high alert and continue to work closely with GECOM to safeguard election operations. An investigation into the cross-border gunfire has been launched.

No damage or delay
Meanwhile, GECOM also confirmed the incident and said that all ballot boxes scheduled for delivery to remote polling stations in District Seven on Sunday were successfully delivered without damage or delay. “Whereas the Joint Services have confirmed an isolated security incident during the escort operation in the Upper Cuyuni River, we wish to assure the public that no GECOM staff were harmed and that all election materials remain fully intact and accounted for,” GECOM said in a statement. The Commission thanked the Joint Services for their continued operational support and reaffirms that this incident will have no impact on the conduct of the elections today.
“GECOM remains focused on fulfilling its constitutional mandate and is fully prepared for Election Day across all ten regions,” the statement read.