Venezuelan gang attacks ballot escort in Cuyuni River

Sep 01, 2025 News

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…Joint services returned fire, escort escaped danger

 

Kaieteur News – In another brazen attack on this country, armed men from Venezuela on Sunday opened fire on a joint services-led escort transporting ballot boxes and Guyana Elections Commission officials for polling day duties in the Upper Cuyuni River near the two countries’ border.

In a statement the Joint Services said that on Sunday at approximately 14:30 hours, while escorting GECOM officials and ballot boxes along the Upper Cuyuni River in the vicinity of Bamboo, near the Guyana-Venezuela border, a Joint Services patrol came under fire from the Venezuelan shore.

“The escort team, which comprised ranks from the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force, was conducting official duties in support of GECOM’s ballot distribution to remote polling stations in Region 7. A total of nine GECOM officials were aboard the vessels at the time,” the statement read.

According to the Joint Services, the patrol immediately returned fire and successfully manoeuvred the escort team out of danger. “No injuries were sustained by any personnel, and no election materials were damaged or compromised.” The joint services said despite the incident, the team safely continued its journey, and all remaining ballot boxes were successfully delivered to their assigned polling stations at Cumang Landing, Kurutuku, and Dukquarie Landing. The earlier drop-off at Tumbung was also completed without incident. “The Joint Services remain alert and continue to coordinate closely with GECOM to ensure the security of all election-related operations. An investigation into the incident is underway,” the statement concluded.

Safe delivery

Meanwhile, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) confirmed that all ballot boxes scheduled for delivery to remote polling stations in District 7 on August 31, 2025, were successfully delivered without damage or delay. “Whereas the Joint Services have confirmed an isolated security incident during the escort operation in the Upper Cuyuni River, we wish to assure the public that no GECOM staff was harmed, and that all election materials remain fully intact and accounted for,” the electoral body said. It added: “The Commission thanks the Joint Services for their continued operational support and reaffirms that this incident will have no impact on the conduct of the elections on September 1, 2025. GECOM remains focused on fulfilling its constitutional mandate and is fully prepared for Election Day across all ten regions.”

Armed Venezuelan gangs have routinely entered Guyana and attacked citizens. In recent times they have stepped up attacks on soldiers patrolling the border. Back in February several soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force were shot and injured when members of Venezuelan notorious Sindicato gang opened fire on them in the Eteringbang, Cuyuni, Region Seven area. The Sindicato has been allowed to roam freely in Guyana’s hinterland and from time to time its members have harrassed, robbed and killed Guyanese. Their attack on the soldiers back then had come amid continued threats from Venezuela over its spurious claim to this country’s Essequibo region. That shooting also happened on the day when Guyana celebrated the 59th Anniversary of the Geneva Agreement of 1966, which provides the framework for the resolution of the controversy that arose out of Venezuela’s unilateral attempt to nullify the legality of the Arbitral Award of 1899, which definitively established the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

In a press statement back then the Guyana Police Force had listed the injured as: Second Lieutenant Ansel Murray, who suffered a gunshot wound to the right of his head; Sergeant, Kevon Davis who was shot in the right foot and ankle; Corporal, Andrew Fraser, who sustained gunshot wounds in the left of his abdomen and shoulder; Corporal, Kevin Henry, who was shot in the left arm and shoulder; Lance Corporal, Travis Yorrick, who was injured in the right thigh; and Private Ezron Samuel, who was shot in the right his abdomen. Despite their injuries, all of the soldiers were reported to be conscious and stable, police said in a statement. Medical treatment was administered by GDF medic L/Cpl Melville at the Makapa GDF Observation Post.

The incident took place near Black Water Mouth in the Cuyuni River, while a GDF boat was en route from the Eteringbang GDF main base to the Makapa GDF Observation Post to deliver supplies. The GDF team was using a thirty-foot canoe powered by a 185-horsepower Yamaha engine. During the journey, the GDF boat was intercepted by two wooden boats carrying heavily armed, masked men. The assailants circled the GDF boat and opened fire, prompting the GDF ranks to return fire. The exchange resulted in the attackers retreating, but not before multiple GDF members sustained gunshot wounds.

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• attacks, ballot, Cuyuni River, escort, GDF, patrol vessel, Venezuelan gang

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