Soldiers come under fire at Border Region, one injured

May 04, 2026

The Guyana Defence Force is reporting that a soldier was injured after being shot while performing escort duties along the western border in Region 7.

In a statement, the army said just about 11:30 hours on Tuesday, May 04, 2024, the ranks were escorting three civilian boats with personnel and cargo when they came under fire.

In an effort to protect the civilians, the GDF ranks in their patrol boat returned fire and manouvered the boat in a way that allowed for the civilian boats to be escorted out of the area swiftly and safely.

“Preliminary reports indicate that at approximately 1130 hours, a GDF Boat Patrol escorting three civilian boats transporting personnel and cargo from Makapa to Eteringbang came under fire in the vicinity of Black Water. The patrol returned fire and manouvred the convoy out of the area.” The Guyana Defence Force noted.

He said the injured soldier was shot in the right leg and was immediately administered first aid to stabilize his condition. He is at the moment being medically evacuated to Georgetown for further medical treatment, the army stated.

Notwithstanding the development, the Guyana Defence Force continues to carry out its mandate of ensuring the protection of its personnel while safeguarding Guyana’s territorial integrity.

Today, the International Court of Justice is hearing arguments in the case of Guyana Vs Venezuela in the claim by Venezuela that Guyana’s Essequibo belongs to them, and that the long-standing settled issue of the border dispute is not binding on them.