GDF remains vigilant at all frontiers – PM Phillips

Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips says all of Guyana’s frontiers are currently being monitored by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in light of increasing aggression from neighbouring Venezuela.

“At a time like this, the GDF would have been monitoring all movements on our frontiers. That, itself, may require them to maybe adjust whatever troops that they have at the different locations and so,” the Prime Minister said.

Speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event, Prime Minister Phillips said that soldiers are expected to remain vigilant at all times.

And should any incident arise, the Prime Minister said that the military officials are expected to inform the relevant authorities and the government will intervene if necessary.

“We expect the GDF to continue to be vigilant on our frontiers because as you know diplomacy is our first line of defence,” the Prime Minister said.

“It means that the GDF must be able to quickly report to their government any unusual occurrence/s on our frontiers and the government will then take it further and make the necessary reports or raise the concerns with our friendly nations or with international organisations and regional organisations that Guyana is a part of,” he explained.

Venezuela is forging ahead with its illegal referendum in what authorities say is part of their plan to annex the Essequibo region.

Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez on Wednesday declared to the World Court that nothing will stop Venezuela from proceeding with its December 3 referendum, which Guyana has argued seeks to annex the Essequibo region.

Rodriguez further declared that once the referendum is over and the votes are counted, “the State of Venezuela will not turn its back on what the people decide.”

Guyana on Tuesday argued before the Court that the referendum is intended to be used as a trigger for Venezuela to seize Guyana’s territory by military force.

After decades of negotiations failed to bring a resolution to the border controversy, the United Nations Secretary-General referred the controversy to the World Court and Guyana filed its case in March 2018 to obtain a full and final settlement.