RCMP retiree has powers like local police

May 21, 2025 News

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…was sworn by govt. to probe Adriana’s death – Nandlall

Kaieteur News- Retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigator Leonard McCoshen was sworn in by the Government of Guyana to probe the Adriana Younge case. McCoshen is now vested with the same powers as members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to conduct the investigation.

This is according to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Nandlall, SC. Nandlall made the announcement on Sunday during a live discussion on the Caribbean Tea programme aired on social media, alongside attorney Dr. Vivian Williams Esq., senior journalist Denis Chabrol, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines media specialist, Kendol Morgan.

Eleven-year-old Adriana’s body was retrieved from the Double Day International Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo swimming pool by her father, Subrian Younge on April 24. Her body was found approximately 20 hours after she was reported missing during a family trip.

However, the Government’s decision to retain McCoshen has drawn criticism from Adriana’s family, who described the move as ‘unacceptable,’ stating they had expected a team of international investigators rather than one person to take the lead in the case.

Despite the backlash, McCoshen has arrived in Guyana and is working with the police on the case.

During the programme, when asked to clarify McCoshen’s authority and relationship with the GPF, AG Nandlall explained, “The investigator had to be sworn in as a member of the Guyana Police Force and that would invest in him or vest him with all the powers that the Guyana Police Force is conferred with under the Police Act Chapter 16:01. And that gives him the right to conduct the investigation along with the other investigators, do everything that is required under the investigation and put his findings up. And that is what he’s contracted to do, to produce a report in writing within a time specified in his contract.”

However, Nandlall emphasized that though the government has appointed McCoshen to assist police in Adriana’s probe, the GPF remains, “the sole exclusive and premier law enforcement agency in Guyana to deal with civilian crimes.”

Further, in addressing public scrutiny and concerns over the investigator’s credibility and the government’s alleged connection with McCoshen, Nandlall said, “The regional component of that Royal Police Force here in the Caribbean I think recommended that gentleman. The government doesn’t know that person. He was recommended from the Caribbean itself. I believe he may have done work in the Region before.”

He added that McCoshen’s presence in Guyana is based on a commitment made by President Irfaan Ali to the Younge’s family to bring a foreign element to assist with the investigations.

“It is to add objectivity, to boost public confidence, to assure the family that the government is committed to ensuring that a professional, objective investigation will be concluded,” the Attorney General said.

Despite McCoshen’s appointment, the Younge family and many members of the public continue to call for a foreign law enforcement body such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), RCMP, or Scotland Yard to spearhead the investigation.

When asked why the government had not contacted those agencies, Nandlall replied, “I would not be able to answer that question and I don’t think it makes a difference.”

He continued: “I don’t know. Maybe they wanted somebody quickly. When you want to engage agencies or officers who are formerly part of agencies, you have to go through a process. This guy was retired and apparently he does this, he offers this type of service, and as I said, he does this in the region in particular.”

Further, when pressed on whether it is legal for foreign investigators to serve in official police capacities in Guyana, Nandlall did not provide a direct legal explanation.

However, he expressed doubts about such move. “As a matter of policy, we have a Police Force here that is authorized by our Parliament to be the premier enforcement agency in the country. I will not advocate a derogation from that policy objective of the legislation unless Parliament changes it. You have a police force that you are relying upon to maintain public order and law and order in your country and to quell disturbances and to maintain peace. That police force consists of human beings. There are men there who are highly qualified.”

He continued, “These men work hard. They work dedicatedly. And then, through no fault of theirs individually, they are side tracked because some public demand arises and their role is now superseded by some external agency that possibly can’t even do the job that they can do. And then when all the work is finished and the higher remuneration package is paid out and the glory is shown upon these exquisite groupings that come into the country and goes out back with the glory and the money, we depend upon this grouping here to continue to put their shoulders to the wheel. Is that fair to any institution? Is that fair to our police officers? So as a matter of policy, I don’t advocate that.”

The Attorney General concluded his view with a personal reflection stating, “My child is as valuable as everyone’s child. So why investigators must come from overseas for the child of one parent but mustn’t come for the child of another? And when will we stop? And which country can sustain a programme or a tendency or a policy of that type? None. No sovereign nation in the world that I know of condones or supports that type of arrangement.”

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