RESIDENTS of the Barima- Waini Region have registered concerns with the government over the smuggling of guns across the border from neighbouring Venezuela.
This is according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, during a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle. According to the minister, “the nature of the concerns is very, very serious”

The security minister indicated that based on what officials were told, there are some new security concerns in the area and that has been passed onto the relevant national security personnel for action to be taken.

Ramjattan also confirmed that the issues have been engaging him personally as the security minister. There are documents on his desk to that effect and those issues are being addressed. Pressed to comment more on the issue, he explained that based on what was communicated to officials from persons in the area, the issues have to do with guns coming across the border and the names of certain persons are being called.

Minister Ramjattan said that based on the reports coming out of the area, there seems to be police involvement in the new development and this has been communicated to the administration of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for the necessary actions to be taken. “Who might be dealing with the gun and who also are violating from the police prospective and who are the rogue elements and all of that, so like everything else we do have the rogue elements dealing with these matters and all of that information is coming to us” Ramjattan explained.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that there is likely a possible ring operating in that part of the country, where operatives from several local agencies might be facilitating the illegal guns trade, among other activities. Recently, President David Granger has been making visits to several hinterland locations, primarily those with the border regions.

He has been meeting with residents and assuring them of the Government’s commitment to ensuring their safety and that the sovereignty of Guyana is maintained. Venezuela which is one of three countries sharing land borders with Guyana is presently in a state of crisis.