Adriana Younge’s death grips diaspora

Apr 30, 2025 News

─ several vigils held in her honour

Kaieteur News- While thousands of citizens across the country joined in mourning the tragic death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, scores of Guyanese in the diaspora responded with a similar show of empathy.

The international community initially responded with small gatherings and candlelight vigils in places like Queens, New York, over the weekend. The gathering later spread to Bridgetown, Barbados, where a book of condolences was opened in Younge’s memory.

Guyanese in Bridgetown were joined by sympathisers from the island, several of whom learnt of the child’s tragic loss of life via social media.

Together, they lifted prayers and inspirational songs as they called for justice for Younge and her family. On Monday, Guyanese in Brooklyn gathered yet again for a vigil, this time, in a larger number as their collective cry for justice rang through the neighbourhood.

“What we want? Justice! Justice for whom? Adriana!” the crowd shouted collectively, holding placards with the child’s picture. Several participants held the Golden Arrowhead as they continued to chant “Say her name! Adriana!”

In Canada, a vigil was held at Thomas Memorial Park, which was attended by a handful of people since the Canadian elections were still ongoing. However, Kaieteur News understands that Guyanese there have planned an interfaith service in Younge’s memory.

A section of the crowd at the vigil in New York for Adriana Younge

Meanwhile, Guyanese and friends in the United Kingdom gathered Tuesday evening at the Brixton Tube station to honour the child’s memory. Those in the UK held a faith service calling for justice for the young child. The crowd sang hymns as they lit candles in her memory.

The response from the diaspora followed several events held in honour of the deceased child. In Guyana, sympathisers, mourners and Younge’s family members held a candlelight vigil in the vicinity of the burnt Double Day International Hotel and Bar at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) while scores of persons in Linden, Essequibo and Georgetown hosted similar activities.

The body of the 11-year-old girl was pulled from the Double Day International Hotel pool last Thursday by her father, Subryan Younge, amidst a heated protest action. The child was reported missing around 14:00hrs on Wednesday during an outing with her grandmother. Despite repeated appeals for the police to conduct a thorough search of the premises, family members claim this was not done. Furthermore, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) later admitted to issuing an inaccurate statement, which indicated that the child left the hotel in a red and black Toyota Raum the evening she went missing.

Relatives remained adamant that little Adriana had not left the hotel, as surveillance footage reviewed from a neighbour’s camera only showed the child entering. Her body was later recovered floating in the hotel pool. As a result, the family expressed distrust in local investigators.

The diaspora in Barbados showed their support by hosting a vigil on Monday

On Monday, an independent post-mortem examination (PME) conducted on Younge’s body concluded that she died from drowning.

The result of the four-hour-long autopsy at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was later confirmed by the family’s lawyer, Darren Wade, and then President Irfaan Ali at a news conference.

Prior to the child’s post-mortem, which commenced around 12:30pm, a series of scans, including X-rays and a full-body CT scan, were conducted to assess for fractures and other injuries, including internal bleeding. While it appears as though the administration has closed the case, the family’s attorney said relatives are continuing to press the government for an independent and impartial investigation. Wade complained that although President Ali publicly said that no stone would be left unturned in the death of Adriana and he would support the family, there has been no effort to meet this specific request by the family.

The family had requested the services of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Scotland Yard or the Royal Mounted Police of Canada to investigate the death. Wade stressed, “I believe it is critical at this point in time for the family and for the entire country that the state acts, that the president doesn’t just talk and that he delivers based on that promise.”

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Adriana Younge, empathy., Guyanese Diaspora, tragic death

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