A thorough evaluation is underway into the shooting of several Guyanese soldiers on Monday, says Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Irfaan Ali.
The president made the revelation on the sidelines of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.
He emphasised the seriousness of the incident and noted that clarity is needed before the Guyana Government decides on a posture.
“We are taking this very seriously, even if – and I am not saying this is the case, we have to do the evaluation – even if it is an armed gang or any of those organisations that operate on the Venezuela side of the border, this is serious, because they fired on ranks in uniform,” President Ali said.
The Guyana Defence Force on Tuesday reported that a resupply patrol en route from Eteringbang to Makapa came under fire from a group of armed men positioned on the Venezuelan bank of the Cuyuni River. The patrol immediately responded to the attack and engaged the assailants with return fire.
During the exchange, several members of the patrol sustained gunshot injuries.
The soldiers have been identified as 2LT Ansel Murray, SGT Andre Frazer, SGT Kevon Davis, CPL Kevin Henry, LCPL Troy Yorrick, and PTE Ezra Samuel.
President Ali in Facebook post earlier today said that he expressed his gratitude for their service at the borders and assured them of the nation’s support and his concern for their well-being.
