Guyana: Venezuela Allegedly Fires on Boat Carrying Election Material

Guyanese authorities reported that a boat transporting election material was fired upon from Venezuela in the Essequibo region. The incident occurred near the community of Bamboo, along the Cuyuni River.

According to a joint statement from the Guyanese military and police, the patrol returned fire. No injuries were reported. Despite the incident, the transport of election material continued safely.

Guyana is holding elections to elect a new president and parliament. The oil-rich Essequibo region is a subject of dispute between the two countries.

Venezuela claims that the 1966 agreement forms the basis for resolving the dispute through negotiations, while Guyana seeks validation of the borders by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.