– Troops briefed on Venezuela’s ?unusual? military actions along border – Govt.By Kiana Wilburg Minister of State and Defense, Joseph HarmonThe ?unusual? deployment of some 200 military troops along Guyana?s borders,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysshare.us@#$%&/]NFL Jerseys Authentic[/url], and boats armed with missiles along the Cuyuni River by Venezuela has caused the defence forces to heighten their vigilance along the country?s border with the neighbouring Spanish-speaking country.This is according to Chief of Staff,[url=http://www.basketballstore.us@#$%&/custom-shop/Custom-Shop-Orlando-Magic/]Custom Orlando Magic Jersey[/url], Brigadier, Mark Phillips, who announced yesterday that troops from the Guyana Defence Force were already at strategic locations near the border.He made this and other comments at a post cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, in the wake of actions by the Venezuelan military, which he shared with Minister of Defense, Joseph Harmon and Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman.The Brigadier said that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ?remains ready to define aggression of our borders.?Brigadier Phillips said that the important locations in this sense are Eteringbang and Kaikan. He said that several observation posts along the Cuyuni River have been established.?We continue to monitor the activities by the Venezuelan armed forces on our frontiers. Our deployment is geared to define aggression and acts of incursion of our border. We remain ready to deploy additional troops and equipment, if need be, to those locations.?He said that a build-up in troops on the Venezuelan side had been observed about one week ago but over the past weekend, there was a noticeable increase in troops in the area.?What is unusual is the deployment of military boats with machine guns in the Cuyuni River; the Cuyuni River is inclusive of Guyana?s border. To deploy armed boats in the Cuyuni River is an affront to our sovereignty.?The deployment remains,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysfactorywholesale@#$%&/]Jerseys NFL Cheap[/url], as I speak in position and we continue to observe the troops; just over 200 at San Martin and Ankoko Island and the movement of those boats between Ankoko Island and San Martin,? the Chief of Staff said.The Brigadier reiterated that the Guyana Venezuela Border is a settled border and the duty of the GDF at this time is to define aggression along this settled border with Venezuela.Troop levels have not yet been increased. The Chief of Staff said, ?Our troops at Base Command Stevenson, Timehri, our troops at Camp Ayangana and our troops at other coastal and inland training locations are already briefed and alerted and remain in a state of readiness to support our activities on the border.?Minister of State Joseph Harmon said that President David Granger is on top of the issue and in fact, held a meeting with him and Phillips on the way forward.Harmon emphasized that the matter is of tremendous importance to the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces of the country and he has given some clear instructions on the matter.The Minister of State said the President recognizes that there are ?political and strategic? reasons for the build up and it is a matter that will be aired on every platform on which Guyana is represented.Granger is expected to make his maiden presentation to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in the USA this week and the recent border development is going to be raised at that forum. Minster of Governance Raphael Trotman, said that there is no cause for people to feel that the country is about to be invaded.Trotman said that there are obviously ?maneuvers? but these have more of a ?political end. You would be aware that Venezuela has several activities on the border with Colombia.?He said that Guyanese ought not to be alarmed as he insisted that everything is in place to monitor what is going on. ?We shouldn?t panic,? he insisted.Harmon explained that the coalition administration has already alerted the International community inclusive of the Organization of American States and Caricom to Venezuela?s new posture at the country?s borders.With regard to the GDF?s deployment of troops and equipment at this stage, the Minister of Defense said, ?As the old saying goes, ?if you see your neighbour playing with a match don?t wait for fire to get the water, be on standby with it.?Though the government has already alerted several agencies in the International community,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysfactorywholesale@#$%&/]Jerseys NFL Wholesale[/url], it has not yet written to Venezuela on the matter. Harmon however indicated that this is expected to be done by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge as soon as possible.The Minister of State was then reminded of a comment from Brazil during the celebration of its 193rd anniversary some weeks ago.?I firmly believe that in the 21st Century, there is no place for old territorial disputes,? Brazil?s Ambassador to Guyana, Lineu Pupo de Paula had said.But since this new development, Harmon confirmed that Government has not heard from the Brazilian envoy as yet as it relates to speaking against the matter.Government has described the actions of Venezuela as one of aggression, warning on Tuesday that its citizens in the border areas are to be on the alert.These latest moves by the neighbouring country would follow a number of actions,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysshare.us@#$%&/]NFL Jerseys Supply[/url], including the recent refusal to approve a new ambassador to that country.Top army officials in Venezuela claimed that the troop buildup was for ?operational exercises?.Speaking to reporters at his Vlissengen Road offices on Tuesday, President Granger disclosed that he received reports that Venezuela has been making ?extraordinary? military deployment in eastern Venezuela. That area is immediately west of Guyana.The President was convinced that the deployment was linked to Venezuela?s claims on a large section of Essequibo and on parts of the Atlantic Ocean which belong to Guyana.??Very provocative and we feel that Venezuela is treading on a dangerous course at this point in time. But rather than making a peaceful resolution of the matter,[url=http://www.cheapnfljerseysforwholesale@#$%&/]Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys[/url], Venezuela seems to be pursuing a very offensive and aggressive course,[url=http://www.cheapjerseysnear.us@#$%&/]cheap nfl jerseys china[/url],? the president had told reporters.Venezuela news reported that one of the pieces of equipment is the Pechora M-2 weapon which has the capability of shooting down cruise missiles and stealth aircraft.Photographs circulating on the internet showed the weapons being transported on trucks which are said to be equipped with radars.According to President Granger, relations with Venezuela appeared not to be getting better and would come at a time when Venezuela is embroiled in a major controversy with its own neighbour-Colombia.Venezuela?s aggression to Guyana took on harsher tones in May after US-owned ExxonMobil announced a significant oil find in concessions belonging to this country.