Latest update April 7th, 2026 12:30 AM
Govt. launches border patrol unit in Region Nine
(Kaieteur News) – President Irfaan Ali on Sunday launched Guyana’s first Border Patrol Unit in the country’s largest administrative region, Region Nine.
The unit will enhance the protection of Guyana’s borders, particularly in light of mounting security challenges along the country’s porous frontier.
The announcement came during the president’s visit to Rukumutu and surrounding villages, where he engaged directly with residents, emphasising the critical importance of securing Guyana’s sovereignty.
“Our borders are important. Supporting you in the protection of our borders is important. We want our borders to be protected from the level of the community,” he said.
President Irfaan Ali
President Ali stressed that it is the responsibility of the people living closest to the borders to help protect them. “I want to say that in Yurong Paru we launched a policing group recently of about 30 persons. But that community policing group will be under the umbrella of community policing and border patrol unit. We are coming together and what we are going to do it to launch, this will be the first district that the border patrol unit will be launched,” the president announced.
In a step to further support these community efforts, the government will provide three brand new all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to assist in the patrol and monitoring of the region’s terrain. The ATVs will serve as tools to ensure round-the-clock vigilance across three major villages, with the added benefit of full-time support from the patrol unit.
The unit is part of a larger national effort to address security concerns arising from Guyana’s porous borders, which have become increasingly difficult to manage. This problem has been exacerbated by the influx of thousands of Venezuelan refugees fleeing the economic and political crisis in Venezuela.
The government has faced mounting pressure to improve border security and provide better support for local communities, who are often at the frontline of these challenges.
In 2023, the Government of Guyana enacted legislation to formally establish the patrol unit, which will operate alongside the GDF and Guyana Police Force to monitor, secure, and patrol Guyana’s extensive and complex borders. The unit is designed to work on both the land and maritime borders, improving the country’s ability to respond to threats and challenges.
The launch of the border comes at a time of heightened tensions between Guyana and Venezuela, particularly over the disputed Essequibo region
In March 2025, a Venezuelan military vessel entered Guyana’s waters and came dangerously close to the FPSO Prosperity, which operates in the oil-rich Stabroek Block. The Venezuelan vessel radioed the FPSO, stating that it was operating in “disputed international waters.” This provocative act was followed by a direct approach toward other FPSOs operating in the block.
In addition to the unit, the government has been enhancing security infrastructure in Region Nine. As of August 2025, three new police stations have been commissioned in Annai, Karasabai, and Lethem, alongside a new Information Technology Centre. These efforts are aimed at strengthening the region’s ability to manage security challenges and provide better services to the communities in these remote areas.
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