Why is the government afraid to involve the FBI in the Adriana Younge case?

Jun 06, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

The 592 Voices would like to know when the Government of Guyana will engage the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate the death of Adriana Younge, as her family is determined to seek closure.

Following the completion of the second autopsy on the 11-year-old, the family is also considering formally petitioning the Government of Guyana to launch a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into her death.

What is preventing the government from seeking assistance from the FBI in this child’s horrific case?

On numerous occasions, the Guyana Police Force has failed to instill confidence in the civilian population, particularly in this case, which has fostered a sense of public distrust in the law enforcement agency.

If the authorities are committed to integrity and accountability, they must take serious action in this situation. It is not only traumatising for the family, friends, and associates of Adriana Younge but also for concerned and like-minded Guyanese who are calling for justice.

Lead Attorney for the Adriana Younge case, Dr. Dexter Todd, argued that the initial investigation leaned too heavily on “textbook approaches to drowning” and failed to connect all components needed for a comprehensive conclusion.

During a programme titled Nation Watch, over the weekend, Dr. Todd related that “It is a cause of concern internationally that we have treated this whole investigation of drowning a bit too much by textbook, so to speak. Dr Todd continued, “ And we have not connected all the various components of this investigation to come to those findings. And so, there is going to be a need for us to revisit the first autopsy.”

According to the attorney, the second legal route involves examining the Guyana Police Forces handling of the case. The third phase would be the petitioning for a COI, Dr Todd related. The legal luminary disclosed that there will be other legal representatives assisting in the case. He disclosed that growing concerns about Guyana’s handling of drowning cases, particularly those suspected of being homicidal, have sparked interest in the case from several foreign attorneys.

It is interesting to note that retired Canadian police officer Leonard McCoshen praised the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for what he described as a “thorough investigation” and dubbed their efforts as “exemplary and exceptional.”

The 592 voices are completely baffled by the adjectives used by Mr. McCoshen to describe the efforts of the local law enforcement agency. If these efforts were indeed exemplary and exceptional, then why is the family hell-bent on not allowing the GPF to handle the case?

The family, particularly Adriana’s father, Subrian Younge, has repeatedly stated that he does not trust the Guyana Police Force. This case is protracted, and this child needs to be buried in peace and with closure. The government continues to act as if it is business as usual when it is not. We reiterate justice for Adriana Younge and a full investigation into her demise without any interference. We do not know what is preventing the Head of State from engaging the FBI when the United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, has made it known that she and her administration are willing to render assistance. The resistance and reluctance question the governments intent to truly grant justice for Adriana Younge.

We must not forget Adriana Younge, we must not allow the election gimmicks and unnecessary hysteria to take precedence over our thoughts and minds. It is demonstrable that the families are in deep anguish and solace, and they need answers, not tomorrow or next year, but now, so that Adriana can rest in peace. Justice cannot be served by lip service alone, but effectiveness and proactivity are what yield results, We urged His Excellency Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali to act now.

Regards,

592 Voices

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News