Troops more alert at border

…chief-of-staff says Sindicato gang still poses security threat

By Lisa Hamilton
Members of the joint services at Guyana’s borders are “more alert” and have changed their posture to meet the recent decree of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro claiming the Essequibo region.

The media was informed of these changes on Tuesday by Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess at a press conference at State House. “We have changed our posture on the border and we are there, more alert and are ready to constitutionally continue to preserve Guyana’s patrimony,” he said.

Bess also confirmed that the GDF is still treating the matter of the Venezuelan Sindicato gang as a possible threat to Guyana. In September 2020, members of the gang opened fire at Guyana’s joint services patrol on the Cuyuni River.

In the past, there have been other instances of terror caused by the gang to residents at border communities.
“The Sindicato threat, it’s still there because we all are aware of the situation in Venezuela where the country its poorly led and their economic and social issues that force non-State actors to survive. Because of our border with Venezuela we definitely are affected by that but I must say that we, the Guyana Defence Force, we are ever vigilant and we continue to work to ensure that the citizens of Guyana are safe,” Bess assured.

Additionally, he iterated Government’s position that Guyana is currently utilising the diplomatic channel to interact with Venezuela even as it awaits the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award.
Bess pointed out that several countries, including bodies such as CARICOM and the Organisation of American States (OAS) have thrown their support behind Guyana’s decision to allow the ICJ to settle the matter.