The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Friday demonstrated its flagship's capability of protecting the country's territorial integrity amid a map controversy between Guyana and its eastern neighbour, Suriname.
With members of the media on board, the GDFS Essequibo pulled out of the Berbice river early on Friday morning for a short patrol on the "median line" between Guyana and Suriname. The crew, in a high state of alert, showed their readiness by performing the 'Action Station' drill, where all guns were manned in the event that there was aggression from enemy aircraft or vessels.
"Since the Surinamese government has included on their map... the New River Triangle, it is time for the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard to get active and show them that they may have it on paper, claiming that it is theirs, but our presence will be there... [We are showing] that we can protect it. This is one way of showing them that we are ready, willing and capable," an army officer stated.
Last week Guyana lodged an official protest after Suriname requested that diplomatic missions and international organizations in Paramaribo recognize maps of that country incorporating Guyana's New River area.
On Friday, the army said that the GDFS Essequibo was conducting "a short patrol on the median line between Guyana and Suriname" to show its resolve to protect the country's territorial integrity. Shortly before 10:00 am, some two hours after departing Port New Amsterdam in the Berbice river, Lieutenant Commander Floyd Levi, who captained the vessel, told members of the media: "We are just exiting the Berbice channel and our ETA (estimated time of arrival) on the median line is about 12 o'clock. When we get there, we will be supported by two of our smaller vessels, the two motor life boats, and we intend to remain in that position for a short period of time."
By noon, the Essequibo was at the mouth of the Corentyne river, some six miles from the Guyana shoreline and it had been joined by two of the Coast Guard's patrol boats.
"It is our job to monitor our sea space and protect the territorial integrity of Guyana... We are now about half a mile from the Guyana side of the Guyana-Suriname maritime boundary and we are now proceeding due south, heading towards the shore," the captain said as he pointed to the faint outline of the Guyana shoreline. The vessel continued on its course until the waters were too shallow to accommodate it, then turned back.
Levi emphatically stated that it was not the first time the Essequibo had done that patrol. He said the Coast Guard routinely patrols the area of Guyana's sea space and will continue the activity.
The army officer said that despite reports in the local press, the GDF Coast Guard will continue to execute its duty.
"If there is a need for an increase in activity, certainly we are well prepared to do that," Levi said.