Trade with Sindicatos prevalent in Cuyuni area – border controversy symposium hears

Black market fuel shipments

The icy relations between Guyana and its western neighbour, Venezuela spurred by its “acts of aggression” in addition to its unstable economic situation have allowed the proliferation of an unregulated fuel trade with operatives in the Spanish-speaking country.
However, it was during a recent symposium on the Guyana/Venezuela controversy that it was disclosed that the black market trade with notorious criminal gang ‘Sindicatos’ in frontline communities is prevalent.

At last week’s symposium organised mainly for union representatives, it was revealed that miners and other business operators are being forced to trade on the black market due to convenience and distance from the capital city, Georgetown.
One of the areas principally infiltrated with the practice is the Cuyuni-Mazruni (Region 7) area.
“Our people are importing fuel dealing with Sindicatos…its black market; Essequibo can buy cheaper fuel…Sindicatos are controlling the border,” one of the stakeholders explained. This disclosure comes as revelations are being unearthed over the millions of dollars that Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been losing due to reported tax dodging measures.
Regarding what occurs in interior locations, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Major General (retired) Joseph Singh explained that customs’ authorities are aware of the practice but regulation is particularly elusive with the unstable situation in the Bolivarian Republic. He further added that persons are more inclined to collect fuel much cheaper “even if they have to pay a bribe.”
“If you’re a miner operating from middle Cuyuni or Waiamu River, it’s hardly likely that you’re going to move fuel from Georgetown to that area when you can get the fuel from Venezuela. Customs authorities have been recognising that something needs to be done but unwilling to do what is necessary because they have no one to speak with in the Venezuelan side; it can’t be an arbitrary decision on our part, it has to be a bilateral decision,” the former army general pointed out.
Major General Singh further outlined that if there is no basis for bilateral discussion, the convention of the black market trade “will take precedence”.
“At an official level, those things you mentioned about the trade and fuel, etc, have to be negotiated on a bilateral basis but until such time until there is some kind of stability in Venezuela, the irregularities will continue,” Singh added.
Over the last several months, reports have surfaced detailing the terrorisation Guyanese are encountering with the notorious Sindicato gang. In fact, the dwelling places of regular inhabitants as well as mining camps are being raided. It all came to head on last Wednesday night when one suspected gang member was shot and killed by the Sheriff Security Services firm during an almost two-hour standoff at SSS Mining Camp at Blackwater, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
Meanwhile, as the gang situation remains prevalent, tensions over Venezuela’s imminent remapping of its coastal areas abound and in Major Singh’s “Acts of aggression by Venezuela in pursuit of its spurious claim” presentation, it was highlighted that Region Seven residents are being affected by pollution of the upper Cuyuni River which leads to downstream impacts on communities and aquatic life.
“The environmental impact of mining in the State of Bolivar from the upper Cuyuni River and downstream impacts on communities and aquatic life; security implications of Sindicatos and other transnational criminal organisations operating within the State of Bolivar; the raiding of mining camps on Guyana’s territory; the migration of disaffected / impoverished Venezuelans into Guyana’s border regions (close to 9000 Venezuelans in Guyana) health concerns, transmission of disease like malaria,” Singh said, highlighting some of the issues arising out of the Venezuela/Guyana border controversy.