Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana Carlos Perez was today summoned by Foreign Affairs Minister Hugh Todd following the shooting of six Guyana Defence Force ranks by armed men from Venezuela territory on Monday.
Government in a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack and demanded redress for the attack on the GDF vessel navigating in Guyanese waters between Eteringbang and Makapa.
The attack, by a group of heavily armed men firing on the GDF vessel from Venezuelan territory, injured six GDF troops, all with gunshot wounds. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but some of the wounded had to be evacuated for medical treatment, the statement said.
The statement said an investigation is in progress but preliminary investigation indicates that the perpetrators are members of Venezuelan gangs who operate with impunity on the Venezuelan side of the international border.
Minister Todd told Ambassador Perez that Guyana is outraged by Monday’s attack and that it was holding Venezuela responsible.
According to the statement, Minister Todd reminded Ambassador Perez that under international law, Venezuela is responsible for any harm caused to Guyana or its nationals by way of persons acting from Venezuela territory, including private individuals unaffiliated with the Venezuelan government or Armed Forces.