Following reports of armed gangs in the Cuyuni River, the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Security, led by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan visited several border communities recently, where citizens were assured of their safety.
At a post-cabinet press briefing Thursday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that the visit followed reports of armed gangs in the Cuyuni River who are affecting the work of miners.
During the visit, he said Minister Ramjattan met with police officers and citizens where he assured that the Government is taking measures to ensure their safety.
Additionally, Harmon said a high-level team is currently in Region 1, Barima/Waini and Region 7, Cuyuni/Mazaruni – which are border communities with Venezuela to address security concerns.
The team is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), a senior superintendent from the Guyana police force along with representatives from the Natural Resources Ministry, he said.
“They’ve had specific briefings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that basically deals with matters in relation to the border and the need for them to exercise caution in dealing with these matters. So I can say to you that high-level impact is taking place there now as these matters were dealt with at the national security level,” Harmon said.
The Minister was also questioned about claims of Venezuelan military forces conducting exercises in border areas.
However, he said that no credible information was received; therefore, nothing was filtered to the United Nations or any other international agencies.
“We cannot as a nation approach the international agencies, we cannot approach the united nations with hearsay,” he emphasized, adding that “We have to have credible information upon which we can file these reports, upon which we can dispatch note verbale.”
Harmon alluded to previous visits by teams from the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force to collectively address the security situation.
The State Minister assured that the police and army personnel have sufficient resources to conduct their jobs.
There have been reports in the past surrounding the harassment of residents in the border communities allegedly by Venezuelans as the Bolivarian Republic is in a state of need. The tension in the communities is escalated by the ongoing border controversy between the two neighbours –which is currently at the level of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
