U.S. ready to support GDF at Guyana’s border with Venezuela – Ambassador

Days after patrol ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were attacked on three separate occasions at the border shared with Venezuela, the United States Ambassador Nicole Theriot said her country is ready to assist with crime-fighting efforts in the border area shared with Venezuela.

Theriot delivered a strong message of support for Guyana’s sovereignty and security at the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Tuesday.

“Venezuela, of course, has also been in the news recently due to the Sindicatos’ acts of aggression against the GDF patrol in the Cuyuni. These are criminals engaging in criminal activities and the United States stands ready to support the GDF in its effort to eradicate this activity along Guyana’s frontier and to ensure the safety and security of Guyana’s people,” the US Ambassador said.

At a briefing last week, Guyana’s Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan said the recent attacks were carried out by men dressed in civilian clothing who used automatic weapons. He was, however, unable to state whether the Venezuelan gunmen are part of the country’s military.

Theriot also condemned Venezuela’s ‘provocatory’ elections in Guyana’s Essequibo region.

“Everyone should see the sham for what it is. It is sabre-rattling from the Maduro regime, nothing more and no amount of bluster or sabre-rattling changes the fact that the United States will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Guyana in support of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

She also highlighted, “We fully support the (International Court of Justice) measures for Venezuela to halt its so-called elections in the Essequibo on May 25 and we are extremely unhappy that they made that ill-advised decision to go ahead and move forward.”

The foreign diplomat also addressed Venezuela’s aggression as it relates to potential US investors and those doing business in Guyana.

“At the end of the day, it is just bluster aimed at shoring up domestic support. It should not affect Guyana’s investment climate or its readiness to do business,” she said.

Ambassador Theriot also highlighted Guyana as a key regional partner and further reiterated the US commitment to promoting fair trade, regional stability, and energy security.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief of Defence Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Omar Khan, called on Guyanese Indigenous communities, particularly those along the border with Venezuela, to share all relevant information with the army relating to the Spanish-speaking nation’s attempts to organise a widely-condemned election.