PNCR/APNU calls for modern equipment for GDF, ramped up presence along Venezuela border

Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 23:44 by Writer

Even as the Guyana government awaits an evaluation to determine how best to avoid Guyanese soldiers from being attacked by Venezuelan gangs, the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Tuesday recommended investment in modern weaponry and other hardware.

“We strongly recommend that the GDF (Guyana Defence Force) be adequately provided with more effective and modern weaponry, inclusive of surveillance technology and rapid response capabilities. We must quickly learn and adapt from this incident,” the opposition said in a statement.

The PNCR/APNU also urged that “our gallant soldiers” be provided with all required training and equipment to “ensure their own safety and to withstand and repel all armed threats from across the Cuyuni River.”

The opposition’s recommendations came one day after six GDF soldiers were shot and injured on the Cuyuni River by Venezuelan sindicatos while they were on a resupply mission from their main base at Eteringbang t0 the Makapa outpost. The police and defence forces said the soldiers were attacked by men in a boat and the soldiers returned fire.

President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday said government’s plans to avoid a repeat of Monday afternoon’s incident would be based on an evaluation of that “serious” incident because the assailants “fired on ranks in uniform”. “Let’s get the evaluation and then we will discuss a posture that is important for the protection of our men and women in uniform and also of our sovereignty,” he said. The GDF on Tuesday said the injured soldiers were flown to Georgetown for additional treatment. Dr Ali, after visiting the injured servicemen at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, said on Facebook that, “All six soldiers—2LT Ansel Murray, SGT Andre Frazer, SGT Kevon Davis, CPL Kevin Henry, LCPL Troy Yorrick, and PTE Ezra Samuel—are in stable condition and receiving the best possible medical care.”

Expressing alarm at the attack by armed men positioned on the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni River, the opposition called on the government to urgently launch a full investigation into the incident and to “review and ramp up the country’s security and defence arrangements along the Guyana/Venezuela.”

The PNCR/APNU also called on the government to be proactive and be continuously vigilant in protecting Guyana’s territorial integrity. “It must not respond only to flare-ups and crises.” The opposition said it remains “uncompromising and resolute in defense of our country’s borders and territory.”