Guyana: Gunshots from Venezuela targeted boat with ballot boxes
Key Points(5)
- The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force said Sunday that gunshots were fired from the Venezuelan side of the border at a boat carrying election materials, prompting a Joint Services patrol to return fire.
- The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m.
- on the Cuyuni River, in the oil-rich and disputed Essequibo region that has long been at the center of a territorial feud between Guyana and Venezuela.
- According to a joint statement, the patrol was escorting nine officials from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and ballot boxes to remote polling stations in Region Seven.
- The escort team was operating in the vicinity of Bamboo, near the border.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force said Sunday that gunshots were fired from the Venezuelan side of the border at a boat carrying election materials, prompting a Joint Services patrol to return fire.
The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on the Cuyuni River, in the oil-rich and disputed Essequibo region that has long been at the center of a territorial feud between Guyana and Venezuela.
According to a joint statement, the patrol was escorting nine officials from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and ballot boxes to remote polling stations in Region Seven. The escort team was operating in the vicinity of Bamboo, near the border.
“The escort team, which comprised ranks from the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force, was conducting official duties in support of GECOM’s ballot distribution to remote polling stations in Region 7. A total of nine GECOM officials were aboard the vessels at the time,” the statement said.
The Joint Services reported that its patrol immediately returned fire and successfully maneuvered the boats out of danger. No injuries were reported, and no election materials were damaged or compromised.
Despite the attack, the mission continued. Ballot boxes were delivered to polling stations at Cumang Landing, Kurutuku, and Dukquarie Landing, following an earlier drop-off at Tumbung.
“The Joint Services remain alert and continue to coordinate closely with GECOM to ensure the security of all election-related operations. An investigation into the incident is underway,” the statement added.
Both Guyana and Venezuela have previously reported gunfire incidents involving boats on the Cuyuni River, though they have generally refrained from directly blaming each other’s armed forces.
