Adriana laid to rest

Jun 23, 2025 News

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…amid renewed calls for justice

 

By Shania Williams

 

Kaieteur News – Nearly two months after her demise, the body of 11-year-old Adriana Sueria Younge was finally laid to rest on Sunday at the Vergenoegen Burial Ground, East Bank Essequibo.

The solemn farewell marked the end of a deeply emotional and public period of mourning for a young girl whose mysterious death captured the attention and heart of an entire nation.

Adriana, a resident of Hyde Park, Parika, was discovered in the pool of the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, Essequibo Coast, on the morning of April 24, 2025, nearly 20 hours after she was reported missing. She was last seen by her grandmother around 13:01hrs on April 23 while swimming in the hotel’s pool.

Her lifeless body was retrieved by her father, Subrian Younge, when she was found floating in a standing position in the pool, prompting a national and international outcry. Her death has since attracted widespread attention, with many mourning her loss and calling for transparency in the investigation.

For weeks, the investigation into her death was marred by questions, inconsistencies, and heartbreak. Two autopsies were conducted before the family finally made the painful decision to lay her to rest. Despite the delay, the public support never faded, instead, it intensified.

On the day of her funeral, hundreds of mourners gathered, many dressed in bright red and wearing shirts adorned with Adriana’s image.

The funeral proceedings began at 10:00 hrs at Sandy’s Funeral Parlour, with an overwhelming crowd assembling long before the official start. Police were deployed across the West Coast Demerara and at the Demerara Harbour Bridge for precautionary security, though they kept their distance from the actual service.

Adriana’s mother, Amecia Simon, and her aunt, Ameka Lewis, arrived early to an emotional scene. Upon entering the parlour, Simon collapsed in tears besides her daughter’s casket. Visibly broken, she remained there for an extended period, unwilling to let go. The crowd of mourners, who had been waiting anxiously outside, were soon allowed to view the body. As persons walked around the casket to view the body, many wept openly, sharing words of comfort and solidarity with the grieving mother. The public viewing lasted for an hour, from 10:00 to 11:00hrs. However, the father Subrian Younge and grandmother were not present.

Following the viewing, Adriana’s body was taken to her home in Parika, one final visit to the place filled with her memories. The hearse then proceeded to the Vergenoegen tarmac, where the official funeral service was held. By the time the procession reached the venue, the crowd had tripled in size. The tarmac was beautifully decorated in pink, Adriana’s favourite colour, with her photos and tributes displayed throughout. An additional public viewing was conducted at the tarmac. As mourners gathered to pay their respects, an unexpected and tense incident unfolded. Adriana’s grandmother arrived to view the body but was chased by Lewis, and several members of the crowd. Tensions flared as the grandmother was escorted away, accused of not being truthful about the events surrounding Adriana’s disappearance at the Double Day Hotel. Before she was removed from the venue, she cried out in anguish over Adriana’s casket, wailing, “Oh my granddaughter… I will see you soon. Granny coming to see you.” The confrontation sparked a brief disturbance during the service, with Lewis heard shouting, “You have no shame!”

Order was eventually restored, and the service continued. At 14:oohrs, the formal programme began. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow but also filled with love and remembrance. Adriana’s former classmates from Grade 6A of Parika Salem Primary School presented a moving acrostic tribute, and her siblings delivered heartfelt poems. The crowd chanted, “Justice for Adriana,” a common refrain throughout the service.

The pastor while delivering the sermon, read excerpts from Adriana’s personal diary, where she had written about her dream of excelling at her National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and attending Queen’s College, Guyana’s top secondary school. She was described as a bright, spirited girl with a passion for learning and a heart full of ambition.

Her aunt, the only family member who addressed the audience formally, remembered Adriana as a beacon of light and innocence, an ongoing church girl with big dreams. Her classmates and teachers also paid tribute to her, mourning at the empty desk and chair where Adriana once sat.

The service also included hymns such as “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and “We Are the World,” alongside stirring dance performances and poems. One of the most emotional moments came as the entire crowd joined in singing “How Many More”, a song that echoed the broader plea for justice. Screams by Adriana’s mom, Amecia were heard, still unable to grasp the tragic death of her first born.

Among the attendees were several opposition politicians, including Amanza Walton-Desir, opposition leader Aubrey Norton, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes and his wife Cathy Hughes along with WPA co-leader, Dr. David Hinds and social activist, Apostle Nigel London. No government officials were present at the service.

After the service and final viewing, emotions reached a breaking point. Adriana’s mother, Amecia Simon, collapsed in uncontrollable grief, falling to the ground in tears as family members rushed to her side to provide support. Just a short distance away, Adriana’s father, Subrian Younge, sat silently on a chair, his face buried in his hands, visibly distraught and still struggling to come to terms with the heart-breaking reality of his daughter’s death. The deeply emotional scene unfolded moments after the hearse departed the tarmac, carrying Adriana’s body to the Vergenoegen Burial Ground, where she was finally laid to rest.

At the burial, Adriana’s casket was gently placed inside her tomb, bringing a solemn close to a life that had touched the heart of a nation. As the tomb was sealed, enclosing a little girl who left an indelible mark on so many lives. Mourners stood in respectful silence, each reflecting on the profound loss of such innocence. Though the family and nation heavily grieved at her funeral, they remained hopeful that one day justice will be served for little Adriana Younge.

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• Adriana Younge, Double Day Hotel, drowned, Parika, Vergenoegen Burial Ground

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