– Venezuelan general claims shooting was an ‘error’

By Shauna Jemmott

GUYANA has warned Venezuela about “provocative and dangerous actions” after it said officers of the country’s mining agency came under gunfire from the Venezuela army on Monday, but President Granger does not see the issue leading to any confrontation.

“We’re trying to find out exactly what occurred. I wish to assure you that the situation is not deteriorating and it’s not going to be degenerating into any confrontation,” President Granger told reporters at his Georgetown office Wednesday.

“There seems to be an error on the part of the Venezuelan National Armed Forces and we’re trying to get more information.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that on Monday evening, three officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) were travelling on the Cuyuni River, along the border region, when they came under gunfire. The officials were returning from a monitoring and inspection exercise at Arau when the chartered boat they were in came under attack approximately one mile from the Eteringbang Police Station.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a letter to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, said that such actions can only lead to a destabilisation of relations.

The ministry has dispatched a Note Verbale to the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs “conveying the Government of Guyana’s grave concern over this incident and calling on the Venezuelan Government to desist from such provocative and dangerous actions on Guyana’s borders.”

Though the attacks came at a time when the country is celebrating its 50th Independence anniversary, President Granger said “it is too soon to tell” if it was just a coincidence.

On Independence Day (May 26) last year, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro promulgated a decree which not only reaffirmed the country’s claim over the Essequibo region, but also sought to annex Guyana’s maritime space, including the area where American firm ExxonMobil discovered a “significant” oil field.

“It is too soon to tell. What occurred on the 26th of May 2015 was deliberate; the promulgation of that decree. And as you know, after the CARICOM Heads of Government[meeting], the decree was withdrawn under pressure from the Caribbean Community, and another decree was issued.

“I do not see it as a continuation. I don’t think the two incidents are linked. Right now it’s too soon to tell. I would like to await information from the Chief-of-Staff who is in touch with the Venezuelans,” President Granger said.

He recalled that “there have been several incidents between the Venezuelan armed forces and the Guyana armed forces over the last 50 yrs. This is certainly not the worst and as I said, it’s too soon to tell, I’m trying to get information on the cause of the shooting and both the Ministry of the Presidency which is responsible for the Guyana Defence Force and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are working towards a resolution of this matter.”

Maduro’s decree and his unfriendly stance represented a departure from the conciliatory stance of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, who was friendly with the previous government and sold Guyana fuel on advantageous terms under the Petrocaribe initiative.

Exxon, which is drilling in the so-called Stabroek Block, about 190 kilometers (120 miles) off Guyana’s coast, said its policy is to follow the host countries’ and international law, and that border disputes are a matter for governments.

In 2013, Venezuela’s navy evicted a ship used by Texas-based Anadarko Petroleum to explore for oil in the offshore Roraima block.

Last September, Guyana expressed concern about a build-up of Venezuelan military personnel on the border.

Guyana is seeking a lasting and juridical settlement to Venezuela’s claim that the 1899 arbitral award which settled the countries’ borders is null and void.

The United Nations Secretary-General is tasked with determining the way forward.