A member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was injured on Friday after a patrol came under fire during a border security operation along the Cuyuni River in Region Seven, according to the military.
In a statement the GDF said the incident occurred at approximately 12:03 hrs while troops were escorting civilian commuters in keeping with established operational procedures along the river. During the operation, the patrol reportedly came under hostile fire from the Venezuelan shore.
The military said its ranks responded in accordance with operational protocols and were able to ensure the safe passage of all civilians who were being escorted at the time.
One soldier sustained injuries during the exchange and was immediately administered first aid before being medically evacuated to Georgetown for further treatment. The injured rank is currently in a stable condition and family members have been informed, the GDF said.
The force noted that it continues to maintain an active operational presence along Guyana’s western border and remains committed to protecting its personnel, securing border communities and safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity.
Earlier this month, there were two separate occasions where GDF patrol came under hostile fire.
On May 6, at approximately 4:10 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. while the patrol was escorting civilian vessels at known points along the river. On both occasions, ranks returned fire in keeping with established operational procedures before manoeuvring safely out of the area.
These incidents comes against the backdrop of heightened vigilance along the western border. In February last year, a GDF resupply patrol travelling from Eteringbang to Makapa also came under fire from armed men positioned on the Venezuelan bank of the Cuyuni River, leaving several soldiers injured and prompting a high-level security review by the Government.
At the time, President Irfaan Ali said authorities were treating the attack with utmost seriousness as part of broader efforts to protect national sovereignty.
