‘Justice’ for Adriana Younge goes global

May 04, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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Kaieteur News- Guyanese and citizens in other parts of the world are making their voices heard as calls for justice over the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge continue to echo throughout the country. Candlelight vigils and public meetings have been held in places like Queens, Brooklyn New York, Toronto Canada, Brixton in the United Kingdom, Bridgetown Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, The British Virgin Islands (BVI), Anguilla, St Vincent and several other parts of the world.

Younge’s death has touched Guyanese at home and abroad, as well as many citizens from other countries all of whom have expressed disgust and dissatisfaction at the manner in which the investigation into her death is being handled.

The 11-year-old was on an outing at the pool area of the popular Double Day International Hotel and Bar Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) with her relatives when she disappeared on April 23 last. And despite searches made of the pool and sections of the hotel, she was not found until her body mysteriously turned up in the pool hours later.

Since then, citizens at home and abroad have held vigils, marches and other memorial activities in honour of the child’s memory.  Locally, hundreds turned up candlelight vigils and marches were held in places like Mabaruma Region One, Annai Region Nine, New Amsterdam and other villages in Region Six, Linden and Kwakwani Region Ten.

On Wednesday night, scores of people turned up at a vigil held on the Kitty Seawall; that vigil was attended by Subrian Younge, the child’s father.

A visibly emotional Younge continues to appeal for truth surrounding his daughter’s disappearance and death to come to light. That same night, a vigil was also held by the Parika Primary School for Younge, Mabaruma also joined the call for truth, justice and peace with a vigil and walk.  Popular Jamaican dancehall singers Spice and Nigy Boy have also spoken out on Younge’s death.

Last week after the child’s death was reported, thousands of citizens across the country joined in mourning the tragic loss, in the diaspora, scores of Guyanese responded with a similar show of empathy.

The international community condemned the police action and held small gatherings and candlelight vigils in places like Queens, and Brooklyn New York. The gatherings 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 larger numbers 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 was attended by scores of Guyanese.

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, Subrian 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 had 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.

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.

The family has since 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, Anguilla, Bridgetown Barbados, Candlelight vigils, Jamaica, nited Kingdom, public meetings, St Vincent, Suriname, The British Virgin Islands (BVI)

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