Three Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) officers narrowly escaped injury yesterday when they reportedly came under attack from members of the Venezuelan army, in the vicinity of Eterinbang, in the Cuyuni River.
While details of what took place are not clear, Stabroek News was told that the soldiers, who were positioned on the Venezuelan side of the border, opened fire on the boat that was transporting the three GGMC officers yesterday afternoon.
As a result, the men were forced to seek cover by lying flat in the boat.
GGMC Commissioner Newel Dennison was able to confirm the attack, while relating that the officers were conducting compliance and regulatory activities prior to the shooting.
He said that while he did not have the full details of what took place, the three men were safe.
Meanwhile, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Brigadier Mark Phillips told Stabroek News that investigations were ongoing. He explained that the army had not yet received any official report from the police or other personnel on the frontiers.
However, Phillips offered the assurance that the army will issue a statement as soon as the reports are confirmed.
Tensions between the two countries have been heightened since May last year, when Venezuela issued a maritime decree claiming most of Guyana’s Atlantic waters.
The decree was issued shortly after US oil firm ExxonMobil announced a major oil find in Guyana’s waters.
Venezuela’s maritime decree sought to claim this area, reigniting a longstanding territorial controversy between the Guyana and its neighbour.
Since then, Guyana has mounted an intense international campaign to rebuff Venezuela’s claims and to articulate the position that a juridical settlement is now necessary.
In September, Caracas had its gun boats traversing Guyana’s waters for what it then called routine military operations.
