In this regard, the GDF yesterday said it wished to reassure persons having to traverse the East Coast roadway passing through Buxton and Vigilance, as well as those living in and around Buxton, that it was doing its utmost to ensure their safety at this time.

According to GDF spokesman, Major Hubert Meusa, the heightened presence of the Army in Buxton serves to renew public confidence in the capability of the Army, and to allow the effective flow of traffic in and out of the area.

He said the Army's presence there also shows the cooperation existing between the GDF and the Police Force.

Patrols have been mounted along the Railway Embankment road and the public road.

Traffic has not been restricted, nor has any curfew been imposed.

However, the Army has advised that it would be in the best interest of citizens to do whatever they have to do outside of their homes, during the daylight hours - for example shopping and visiting.

A GDF platoon based in the area is likely to be there for sometime yet.

And Captain Dwayne Nurse, who has overall responsibility for the patrols in Buxton, yesterday explained that even though the Army at this time has a multi-type role in Buxton, its main purpose is to ensure that there is a safe and free flow of traffic passing through the area.

The presence of the Army in Buxton is also serving the purpose of helping to foster good relations between the security forces and the public, he said.

Over the last several months that the Army conducted `Operation Tourniquet' in Buxton, villagers and the military enjoyed cordial and professional relations, reports said.

However, there was a strange development Thursday evening when at around 20:00 hrs two gunmen reportedly opened fire on an Army patrol in the vicinity of the Buxton market along the Railway Embankment.

Army officials said that as the ranks were patrolling the embankment road, they came upon logs and benches which were placed across the road to block it.

As the soldiers disembarked and began to remove the obstacles, they were greeted by a hail of gunfire, forcing them to strike back.

In the exchange of gunfire, a man whose name was given as Clive McRae was shot in the shoulder.

The ranks took him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where, at press time, he was said to be resting in stable condition.

The other man whose name was given as Clive Duncan was mortally wounded, but since it was dark, this was not detected until yesterday morning when his body was discovered in that vicinity, the officials said.

And on Thursday night the Army had cause to go to the assistance of the Police at Vigilance when about 25 gunmen opened fire on the Vigilance Police Station from an open house lot obliquely opposite the station.

The Police returned fire, and the standoff lasted for about 10 minutes. No one was hurt in the crossfire.

And following those events, yesterday morning gunmen again opened fire on a car passing through Buxton, killing two civilians who were travelling from the Corentyne.

This incident forced traffic to grind to a halt for several hours.

Meanwhile, the traffic situation on the East Coast Highway between 15:45 hrs to 16:45 hrs was in direct contrast to what would obtain at that peak period on an average working day.

There were few vehicles plying the Number 44 route and leaving the East Coast bus park in downtown Georgetown, and few of those ventured beyond Annandale.

Driving along the East Coast highway and taking a cursory look around Buxton yesterday revealed that even though there was a relative calm in the village, motorists were still somewhat cautious about traversing that route.