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Miners appealing for army escort as Venezuelan gangs set up base on Cuyuni River

Apr 01, 2018 News

Authorities have ordered more patrols in the Eteringbang border area after miners complained of being harassed to pay illegal toll to Venezuela gang members called the Sindicato.
Miners are also appealing for Government to place matching camps on the Guyana side of the Cuyuni River to protect locals who use that waterway.
The situation has been escalating in recent weeks as Venezuela continue to battle runaway inflation, food shortages and thousands of its citizens fleeing daily.
Protests had been reported daily in that oil-rich country forcing persons to the border area.
This past week, miners paid for an advertisement in Kaieteur News, appealing for “urgent help”.
They said that miners operating in the Cuyuni River which separate Guyana and Venezuela are being threatened by the operations of the Sindicato.
The gang, last year, descended on San Martin, a Venezuela community opposite the Eteringbang landing on the Cuyuni.
However, the Venezuelan citizens objected after the gang members started to harass them for toll payments and percentage of goods being transported on the river.
A few weeks ago, the Sindicato moved down river and set up a camp on the Venezuela side of the river, about three miles from Eteringbang.
According to the advertisement, the gang was demanding a gram of gold for every five drums of fuel that had to pass.
They are also demanding food, cash and other things.
A local miner said that his boat engine was seized a few weeks ago and he was forced to pay them to get it back.
The miners said that they are transporting the fuel for their own operations and there is little that can be done about the Sindicatos who are heavily armed and would even fire shots if vessels fail to comply with orders to halt.
Another gang has reportedly set up another camp about 20 miles away in a place called Butanamo.
The miners not only want the local army which has a presence at Eteringbang to send out patrols to ensure that they have a presence around the illegal bases of the Sindicato, on the opposite side of the river, but for escort for the boat that traverse the Cuyuni River.
“We are heavily dependent on the river for transporting supplies and food stuff for our operations. This is dangerous.”
A Ministry of the Presidency official confirmed Thursday that the matter is engaging their attention.
Reports are that the army base in the Eteringbang area has been ordered to conduct more patrols.
However, the miners are insisting on escorts.
“The Cuyuni River is open waters that also belong to Guyana. We are not supposed to pay anything.”

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