PM Phillips says Guyana remains on heightened alert at borders

Prime Minister Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips has assured that Guyana’s security forces remain in a heightened state of readiness along all borders, as authorities closely monitor developments in neighbouring Venezuela and their potential spillover effects.

Speaking on the Starting Point podcast at the weekend, Phillips said the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has long maintained deployments along the country’s borders with Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela, but security posture was further intensified following recent events across the western frontier.

“In terms of readiness, the Defence Force is already deployed along all our borders… and as a result of what transpired in January, we immediately went into a more heightened state of readiness,” the Prime Minister explained. He added that troops were already on alert, but additional emphasis was placed on sensitising not only the military, but also the police, the Guyana Fire Service and border communities.

Phillips disclosed that following a meeting of the Defence Board, he travelled to Region One (Barima-Waini), where engagement focused not only on the security forces, but also on the regional administration. According to him, local officials play a critical role in intelligence-gathering and regional security, particularly in hinterland and border communities.

“We met with the regional administration because they have an important role in terms of intelligence and security of the region,” he said, noting that officials also visited several communities to interact directly with residents.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that many residents in border areas are closely following developments in Venezuela, despite challenges with connectivity. He said that before his arrival, residents were already aware of major political events unfolding there.

Phillips stressed that while authorities have not observed any unusual activity along the Guyana–Venezuela border so far, vigilance remains key.

“To date, thankfully, we have not seen anything unusual — just what we consider routine activities of people on the frontier. But we will not fall into any false sense of security,” he warned.

Guyana, he said, will continue to focus on preventing any instability or untoward acts on the Venezuelan side of the border from spilling over, underscoring the State’s responsibility to defend its territorial integrity and protect citizens living in border regions.

“At the end of the day, we have to defend our border and ensure that the people who live on our side enjoy an acceptable level of security, free from any acts of instability that may take place on the other side,” Phillips said.