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Four police officers – a Sergeant, a Corporal, a Lance Corporal and two Constables – who reportedly shot at a Police Sergeant are under close arrest and the incident is being investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, the shooting incident occurred at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, on Monday.

The Sergeant who was stopped when the ranks opened fire was identified as Ronald Payne of the Providence Police Station.

“The Special Branch ranks were at the time assisting Regional Division #3 ranks in the investigation of an alleged robbery/murder, and they were looking for a dark-coloured Toyota Rumion car that the suspects had used as a getaway vehicle,” the police statement noted.

Sergeant Payne was driving home from work in his dark-coloured Toyota Rumion at around 22:10 hrs when he was stopped by the ranks, who opened fire in the air and ordered him to stop.

Sergeant Payne, who was unaware that the ranks were Special Branch operatives, became terrified and drove to the Providence Police Station.

The ranks also went to the Providence Police Station and were subsequently placed under closed arrest.

Their firearms were seized.

Crime scene technicians processed the scene and recovered several spent shells.

The Police Ballistics Department is examining the shells and firearms. There were no injuries or property damage during the incident.

The three bandits who robbed an Eteringbang Landing, Cuyuni River supermarket and slashed the throat of the owner, Chinese National Yang Lisong, stole a quantity of raw gold during the crime.

Reports indicate that they had intentions to also kill, Lisong’s wife, Wen Shuping, but she was spared after pleading for her life.

The News Room was informed that as investigators continue to probe the brutal murder, three suspects are currently in custody.

The suspects are Darvy Diaz De Costa, Pharrel Prince Adelph and Oscar Alside Scanio.

They were all questioned by detectives and the News Room was informed that they detailed their involvement in the crime.

Information reaching the News Room revealed that De Costa bounded the Chinese couple and after he was reportedly told by Scanio to kill them, he slit the throat of Lisong.

However, he claimed only cut Suping to her face after she pleaded for her life.

Adelph reportedly assisted De Costa to bound Suping. He also searched the supermarket for valuables. In doing this, he told investigators that he found an unknown amount of raw gold.

At the police station, Adelph reportedly handed over a piece of gold to a Guyana Defence Force rank, who he knows and asked that he deliver it to his mother.

The gold was handed over to the police and it weighed 4.3 grams.

Adelph further claimed that Scanio also took possession of a quantity of gold during the crime.

However, the News Room was told that Scanio denied this.

Scanio told the police that he acted as a lookout man while his two accomplices were inside the supermarket.

As the investigation continues, the News Room was further told that the police returned to the scene on Thursday where they recovered the suspected murder weapon, a knife.

The knife was reportedly used to slit Lisong throat.

The three suspects remain in custody. Two of the suspects were arrested shortly after the crime, while the third suspect was nabbed several hours after.

The incident occurred around 14:00hrs Thursday, at a supermarket at Eteringbang Landing that the Chinese couple operated.

Police said that ranks from the Eteringbang Police Station received a phone call from the owner of the building that houses the supermarket, ‘Vanlang’.

He reported that something was happening at the building. As a result, ranks who were at Eteringbang Landing at the time responded.

Upon arrival at the supermarket, Police said the supermarket entrance was locked.

Upon further checking, Lisong was found in one of the rooms in the building. He was lying against a wall, clad in a grey jersey and dark grey trousers.

Suping was found in another room.

An Artist’s impression of the New Demerara River Bridge

He was speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), in an interview on Wednesday.

The new bridge, set to connect Region Three with the Capital City, is being constructed under standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

The Italian company, Politecnica, was appointed to oversee construction works and assess the project design to ensure works are being executed according to the project specifications.

The layout of the New Demerara River Bridge

The team consists of approximately 22 persons inclusive of local and international experts.

Politecnica team leader, Abdul Hameed revealed that various phases of the project are being undertaken simultaneously to accelerate its progress.

Currently, construction is advancing through the piling stage, with approximately 38 per cent of this phase already completed.

Hameed said, “Within the coming of three or four months all the piling work will be finished.”

Ongoing works on the New Demerara River Bridge

In addition to the ongoing foundation work, the contractor is also engaged in constructing two pre-cast factories situated on the East and West sides of the project site.

These factories are specifically being developed to manufacture pre-cast beams for bridge construction.

“It is almost more than 60 per cent completed. So probably by month-end, the foundation for both towers will be completed,” Hameed underscored.

Ongoing works on the New Demerara River Bridge

Assisting the contractor to construct the modernising bridge is some 650 workers. Of these, 120 are Guyanese, while 85 are Venezuelan migrants.

The bridge spanning some 2.8 kilometres with a design speed of 80 kilometres per hour aims to significantly reduce travel time and enhance accessibility between the two regions.

The main cable stay part of the bridge is approximately 570 meters long, while the approach of the bridge is 2.4 kilometres in length.

The bridge features a main tower measuring 110 metres in height with a clearance of approximately six metres high. It will also feature cyclists and walking lanes.

Ongoing works on the New Demerara River Bridge

According to the Ministry of Public Works, Project Engineer Siddiq Khan, once completed, the bridge will be the first of its kind in South America.

He further disclosed that there will be no weight limitations or interruptions of traffic upon its completion.

“There will be no weight limit so trucks of all capacity will be able to go across and they will be able to go across very swiftly. There will be no retractions so ships are going to pass under it and no interruptions of traffic,” said Khan.

Designed with a lifespan of 100 years, the bridge’s construction is advancing smoothly, albeit with some minor hindrances. These obstacles primarily stem from material shortages and shipping delays. However, CRCCL Project Manager, Wang assured that all challenges encountered will be promptly addressed to ensure timely completion of the project. [DPI]