News

NEW YORK, (Reuters) – A Picasso oil painting from 1955 smashed the record for the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction when it soared to $179.4 million at Christie’s yesterday.

A man who was reportedly found hanging from his Foulis, Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home was pronounced dead on arrival yesterday at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Envoys from the United States, United Kingdom and Canada today teamed up with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to observe the electoral process in Essequibo, Berbice, Linden and Georgetown and all said they were satisfied with the process.

As a result of expressions of intimidation by members of the electorate, coupled with a few incidents in Georgetown, the Commissioner of Police has called on the Chief of Staff for the support of Guyana Defence Force troops in the conduct of Joint GDF/GPF Patrols, a release from the police said.

At about 0245h. today, police say that the roadway at Alness Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, was found to have been blocked with a derelict vehicle, pieces of wood and other debris.

The Guyana Elections Commission is set to start releasing live preliminary results at 11pm tonight even as Chairman of the commission Dr Steve Surujbally appealed to the citizenry and political leaders to let peace and tranquility prevail.

Updated: 8:25 pm. Stabroek News will continue to publish the results of Statements of Poll posted up outside of polling stations as they become available.

Former US President Jimmy Carter yesterday flew back to Atlanta, Georgia after feeling unwell, dealing a blow to many who had hoped for his presence at today’s general elections and for the declaration of the final results.

To assist with investigations into Friday’s discovery of an arms cache at the GNIC wharf, Police yesterday issued a wanted bulletin for an ex-policeman who was in 2003 implicated in another arms bust with the now deceased convict Ricardo Rodrigues.

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr Steve Surujbally yesterday told Stabroek News “administratively, logistically and technically we are at 110%…we are ready and everything is fine.”

A Guyhoc Gardens resident died yesterday at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after he was shot to his head by a man who had fired at another man on Main Street.

Five person are in custody after the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit intercepted a shipment of over 50 kilograms of cocaine concealed in frozen shrimp at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri yesterday.

Hundreds of thousands of Guyanese will head to the polls today in the most pivotal elections since 1992 with the main opposition parties uniting in their strongest effort yet to unseat the incumbent PPP/C government which has been in power for the past 22 years.

A billboard boasting of over $8 million in development is absurdly displayed near the run-down Mahdia hospital which also boasts a filthy non-functioning x-ray department and morgue and a ramshackle furnace, in the market area of the town.

The Guyana Police Force is informing members of the public that during the Elections period its Quick Response Hotline 225-6411 has been dedicated to include the receipt of information/ reports on serious or unusual incidents that may have been observed by citizens.

Over the past months, the government has handed over vehicles, among other things including money to Rupununi communities and PPP/C affiliated groups and also made extensive use of state resources for their election campaign, according to several residents who have expressed concern.

Six months after she was punched in her head, allegedly by her father during a fight with her mother, 8-month-old Reshma Deodat succumbed to her injuries on April 25 at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) observer mission will be sending teams to monitor polling stations in Regions Three, Four, Six and Ten for today’s general elections, mission coordinator Dr Domingo Paredes said yesterday.

Four armed men invaded   a mining camp at Konawaruk, Region 8 yesterday afternoon shooting fuel tanks and terrorizing workers and leaving an excavator operator of the Figueira Mining Company injured.

Eleven-year-old Ricky Samaroo remains in critical condition at the George-town Public Hospital (GPH) after he was doused with methylated spirits then set on fire allegedly by his father, Ravendra Samaroo on Thursday.