Blood, bullets and drama outside GPHC

Apr 29, 2025 News

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 —as protesters clash with police during wait for autopsy results

Kaieteur News- What began as a peaceful demonstration in support of justice for 11-year-old Adriana Younge quickly descended into chaos outside and within the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday with police and protesters clashing, resulting in at least one man being killed and several others shot and injured.

The protest erupted over the mysterious death of Younge and yesterday’s long wait for the autopsy results added to the tension. Younge’s body was discovered approximately 20 hours after she was reported missing from the swimming pool area of the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, despite earlier searches of the premises. This sparked public outrage and questions over police conduct.

From as early as 07:00 hrs Tuesday supporters gathered in sun and rain alongside Adriana’s family as the body was moved from Ezekiel Funeral Home to Dr. Balwant Singh’s Hospital on East Street, Georgetown for a preliminary scan. The scan was conducted by a team of international experts, including Dr. Gary Collins, Chief Medical Examiner of Delaware, and Dr. Glenn Rudner. Family members, trying to hold back tears, stood outside the facility as their lawyer, Darren Wade, and the pathologists entered. Tension built as the scanned body was later transferred to GPHC, where crowds rapidly swelled at the hospital’s outpatient gate. The government-appointed pathologist, Dr. Shubhakar Karra Paul from Barbados, was tasked with performing the full autopsy.

Tensions mounted around 9:00 hrs when Adriana’s body arrived at GPHC. Within minutes, hundreds of supporters filled the hospital’s outpatient area chanting, “We want justice!” some carrying placards shouted. Others simply joined the crowd in solidarity with the family. As Adriana’s parents walked toward the building, supporters wept, screamed, and called for accountability.

The situation quickly escalated when media outlets were denied access to the facility, prompting some protesters to attempt to break through the gates. The crowd began blocking roads, using wooden debris and makeshift barricades as they continued to march and chant.

As the day wore on, the crowd grew. Larger crowds arrived from various parts of Georgetown, eventually overwhelming the police presence. Anger intensified as no official updates on Adriana’s autopsy were provided. Protesters began chanting, “No justice, no peace,” while demanding to be allowed into the compound.

By midday, Endocrinologist Caleb McCloggan, speaking to reporters, explained that a full forensic autopsy was underway and would take approximately four hours instead of the usual 30 minutes due to the complexity of the examination. The autopsy began at 12:30 hrs and concluded at 16:30 hrs. During the afternoon, three separate waves of unrest broke out. The first wave involved protesters outside GPHC demanded updates and access to the compound. The second wave occurred when violence erupted after a protester claimed an elderly woman was assaulted by hospital security, further enraging the crowd. Subsequently, full-blown chaos unfolded on Middle Street, where the Guyana Police Force’s Tactical Services Unit (TSU) arrived and fired rubber bullets. Protesters hurled missiles and lit fires on both sides of Thomas Street. Makeshift roadblocks were constructed, disrupting traffic and creating a war zone-like atmosphere.

Even some officers were seen retreating under pressure from the crowd, which continued to press toward the hospital gates. Inside the compound, additional chaos erupted. Witnesses reported shots fired near the maternity ward, sparking fear among patients, staff, and journalists who were forced to take cover during the escalation. Amid the chaos, a bystander not involved in the protest was shot in the foot while exiting an alley. A police officer was also injured by a projectile to the face. Protesters and police clashed violently, with tear gas and shots ringing out across the city centre.

Around 16:00 hrs, Attorney Darren Wade and the team of international pathologists exited the GPHC laboratory and held a private briefing with the Younge family at the hospital’s Resource Center. Dr. Gary Collins personally informed the family of the autopsy findings.

However, even this moment was overshadowed by further violence. TSU officers reportedly began firing into the crowd once more—both outside and inside the GPHC compound. Another woman was shot in the foot as members of the media scrambled for cover along the stairways of the Resource Center. After waiting for some time, checks were made in the said room but it was empty, following the crown back to the morgue where the family gathers as they were about the remove the body.

The father in a brief statement told Kaieteur news that his daughter died from drowning and for him that is no results.  “dem seh she drown and daz no results for me, once dem say me daughter drown is no results for me.”

Subsequently, the situation grew increasingly volatile as larger crowds from across Georgetown flooded the area, eventually outnumbering the riot team. The violent scenes at GPHC have marked a tipping point in what is quickly becoming a national crisis. Public trust in the police and authorities has eroded amid accusations of negligence, cover-ups, and systemic failure to protect children. This incident at the hospital signalled the beginning of broader unrest if demands for justice continue to be unmet by the people of Guyana.

 

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