HGP Nightly News – A Guyana Defence Force patrol came under hostile fire twice on Tuesday afternoon while escorting civilian vessels during border security operations along the Cuyuni River in Region Seven.
The GDF confirmed on Wednesday that the incidents occurred at approximately 16:10 hrs and 16:50 hrs at known locations along the river. According to the Force, the patrol was carrying out border security duties and was escorting civilian vessels when it encountered hostile fire on two separate occasions.
“The Guyana Defence Force confirms that one of its patrols encountered hostile fire twice yesterday afternoon while conducting border security operations in Region Seven,” the GDF said in a statement. The Force said that on both occasions, the patrol responded in keeping with operational procedures and safely moved out of the area. No injuries were reported.
“On each occasion, the patrol, escorting civilian vessels, responded in accordance with operational procedures and safely manoeuvred out from the area without injury to anyone,” the statement added.
The latest incident comes only days after a GDF rank was injured during a separate patrol operation along Guyana’s western border.
Despite the repeated encounters, the GDF said it continues to maintain a sustained presence in the area.
The Force said it remains committed to safeguarding Guyana’s territorial integrity and protecting communities along the border.
“The Guyana Defence Force continues to maintain a sustained operational presence along the western border and remains committed to safeguarding Guyana’s territorial integrity and the security of its border communities,” the statement said.
The incident is likely to raise fresh concern about security along the western frontier, particularly in areas where patrols are required to escort civilian traffic and maintain a visible defence presence.
For now, the GDF has not reported any casualties from Tuesday’s encounters, but the two episodes of hostile fire underscore the risks facing soldiers operating in sensitive border areas.
