VENEZUELAN soldiers are claiming that they had shot at a Guyana Geology and Mines Commission boat on Monday in the Cuyuni River owing to suspicion that the vessel was carrying smuggled fuel and other contraband. 

No one was injured during the incident which has prompted a protest by the Guyana Government which has since 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.

The Guyana Chronicle was told by high officials that the Guyana Defence Force and the Venezuelan Military have launched separate investigations into the incident which took place on May 30th. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that a military team headed by a high-ranking Venezuelan officer has been dispatched to the area to investigate the incident which took place within Guyana’s territory.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) disclosed that Venezuela maintains an observation post at La Boca on Ankoko Island from where four shots were fired across the bow of the boat. At the time, the vessel was transporting four persons including three GGMC officials along the Cuyuni River.

The GGMC team was returning to Eteringbang after inspecting mining operations at Arau. After the shots were fired the boat stopped at the western bank of the Cuyuni River, at the Venezuelan outpost, and was allowed to proceed after the GGMC officials identified themselves. No one was threatened or injured during the incident, this newspaper was told.

According to information, a GDF location commander at Eteringbang visited the Venezuelan outpost the following day and spoke to the Venezuelan ranks. There were seven ranks at the location, who explained that they fired two shots in the air to force the boat to stop as they suspected that it was transporting contraband fuel and goods.

They, according to the information, expressed regrets over the incident. The incident had raised suspicion after a Venezuelan Military aircraft had landed weeks ago at a Guyana interior airstrip in the border area. A protest note was dispatched to Caracas and the incident was explained as a mistake. The subsequent incident on Monday took place amidst growing tensions inside Venezuela, which is experiencing acute food shortages and political instability.

On Wednesday Guyana warned Venezuela about “provocative and dangerous actions” although 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 for its part said in a letter to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry, that such actions can only lead to a destabilisation of relations. 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 kilometres (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.

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.