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Coastguard sends back boatload of Venezuelans from Moruca
Kaieteur News – The Guyana Defence Force’ s (GDF) Coastguard on Wednesday sent back a boatload of Venezuelans to the neighbouring country who arrived around midday at Santa Rosa, Kumaka in the Moruca sub-region in Region One.
Kaieteur News was told there were more than 30 individuals in total and the group included men, women and children.
They reportedly arrived in a large iron boat powered by an outboard engine. The coastguard ranks stopped the foreigners from going any further after they discovered that they were entering Guyana illegally.
They were packed into the same boat they came with and escorted back to the closest Venezuelan border point by the coastguard.
Their deportation follows a series of interceptions by the authorities after the government decided to clamp down on their illegal entry into these shores.
Venezuela nationals who were detained on Wednesday at Moruca
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, at a recent press conference, noted that while the government has a responsibility to treat Venezuelan refugees humanely, the armed forces are going to thoroughly monitor and vet those crossing its borders.
He noted that the Joint Services ranks had detained a person of interest who crossed the country’s borders recently.
Joint Services ranks had also detained Venezuelans who arrived illegally by boatloads at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two several weeks ago. It was reported that they too were deported to Venezuela.
The tightening of security at Guyana’s border comes at a time when people at remote border communities have expressed fear as Venezuela moves ahead with its planned Referendum for December 3.
In the referendum, Venezuela is seeking the support of its citizen in a move to unlawfully claim the county of Essequibo as its own.
The border controversy case is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Guyana has approached the court to block the referendum.
The ICJ will make its decision on Friday but Venezuela is signaling that it will move ahead even if the court blocks the referendum.
President Mohamed Irfaan Ali had said that Guyana wants to settle the matter peacefully and lawfully but if Venezuela acts of aggression continues then this country’s developmental partners will not stand aside and see the neighbouring country take advantage of the country.
Since President Ali’s statement, the GDF has had several military engagements including with United States Defence officials.
Engagements were held on November 27-28 with the US army and the discussions were centered on “upcoming engagements to include strategic planning sessions and processes to enhance both countries’ military readiness and capabilities to respond to security threats.”
Ali had said too that Guyana has planned a series of activities to counter Venezuela’s referendum.
Some of the activities have already started with Head of State visiting several border communities to sensitize residents on the border controversy.
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