Info on response to Eteringbang visit of Caracas MPs restricted -PM tells House

Information on actions and procedures put in place by the government in the wake of a visit to Eteringbang by members of the Venezuela opposition is restricted, Prime Minister Sam Hinds told the National Assembly yesterday.

The Prime Minister was responding to questions posed by Leader of the Opposition David Granger with regard to the visit by Deputies of Asamblea Nacional De Venezuela into the territory of Guyana at Eteringbang in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region in Sunday, November 10.

Granger had asked the PM to inform the House of the administrative procedures prescribed by the government and the actions required by members of the Guyana Defence Force who were stationed at Eteringbang at the time with regard to such visits.

Granger also asked Hinds to inform the National Assembly of the circumstances surrounding the visit. He was also asked about the actual time and duration of the visit and the names of the members of the Venezuela Assembly who participated in the visit.

In a written response, the Prime Minister said that “some time after 15:30 hrs” a group of Venezuelans, “said to be legislators in Venezuela from opposition parties” landed at Tabat on the Guyana side, opposite San Martin, Venezuela. He said the persons were all thought to be civilians and were observed taking photos.

He said they had travelled with members of the National Guard military personnel, who remained in the boats.

According the PM, at the time the Venezuelan group visited Tabat Landing, no member of the GDF or the GPL was present.

Hinds said the group landed at some time after 15:30 hrs and while their time of departure was not recorded, it appeared that “their stay was not long, no more than half hour.

He said too that no names were given or recorded.

Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon had said, some days after the visit that joint service ranks stationed at Eteringbang were placed on alert.

Venezuelan newspaper El Universal had reported that a group of Venezuelan opposition deputies travelled to the Essequibo, in “defence” of Venezuela’s sovereignty.

According to the report, a sign held by the legislators said, in Spanish, ‘The Essequibo is ours.’