Guyana Business Journal Editorial
Adrianna Younge’s Death Demands Transparent Answers and Independent Justice
The tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen has shaken the nation’s conscience and exposed once again the profound deficits of trust in Guyana’s institutions. In the aftermath of this preventable tragedy, the facts now known must be clearly stated—and the urgent questions they raise must be answered.
The Known Facts:
1. Timeline of Events
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Adrianna Younge visited the Double Day Hotel with her grandmother, Carol Xavier, and other relatives between 1:00 and 1:10 PM. Her grandmother gave her money to purchase the bands required to access the swimming pool. She was last seen near the hotel pool shortly afterward. Following her disappearance, family members conducted an urgent search and notified the Tuschen Police Station at approximately 3:30 PM. Her body was discovered floating in the very same hotel pool around 10:00–10:30 AM on Thursday, April 24, nearly 20 hours after she was reported missing.
2. Physical Evidence and Suspicions of Foul Play
Medical personnel and police at the scene observed visible injuries on Adrianna’s body, including bruises and swelling to her face and limbs, deepening concerns about possible assault before her death. Family members and residents have raised pointed questions about whether her body was in the pool during initial searches, and some suggest the possibility that she was killed elsewhere and placed in the pool later.
3. Initial Police Response and Misinformation
The Guyana Police Force initially reported that CCTV footage showed Adrianna entering a red and black Toyota Raum, registration PSS 4684, which allegedly drove toward Vreed-en-Hoop. This information was later retracted after review, with the GPF acknowledging the error and launching an internal investigation into the incident. The premature release of false information has severely eroded public confidence and raised fears of either gross incompetence or a deliberate attempt to mislead.
4. The Hotel’s Troubling History
The Double Day Hotel is no stranger to controversy. In 2012, a young mechanic was found dead in the same pool under suspicious circumstances. The hotel owner’s son and a staff member were charged but later freed. This historical backdrop has intensified public outrage and raised questions about whether the hotel’s interests have been improperly protected in the past.
5. Family’s Rejection of Government-Affiliated Autopsy
Citing concerns over neutrality and transparency, Adrianna’s family rejected a government-hired Barbadian pathologist, Dr. Shubhakar Karra Paul. Represented by attorney Darren Wade, they demanded an independent autopsy by a North American expert, who is expected to arrive over the weekend to perform an autopsy on Monday, April 28. The family has also called for international investigators—specifically the FBI or Royal Canadian Mounted Police—to oversee the inquiry.
6. Government’s Response
President Irfaan Ali met with Adrianna’s family, pledged full support for an independent investigation, and instructed the Commissioner of Police to establish a special investigative team. The government has agreed to cover all costs associated with bringing an independent pathologist and has pledged that “no resource will be spared” in uncovering the truth.
7. Public Outcry and Protest
Following the discovery of Adrianna’s body, mass protests erupted in Tuschen and neighboring areas. During the unrest, fires were set at the Double Day Hotel and the residence of its owner, under circumstances that remain under investigation. Protesters have continued to demonstrate, including a 12-hour standoff outside the Leonora Police Station on Friday, April 25, demanding justice and accountability. President Ali, while affirming the right to protest, has warned that destruction of property and road blockages “will not be tolerated.”
8. Administrative Action
In recognition of serious institutional failures, Region Three Police Commander Khalid Mandall was officially reassigned on Friday, April 25, 2025, to Regional Division #4B. Assistant Commissioner Mahindra Siewnarine has been appointed as the new Commander for Region Three. Authorities have questioned multiple individuals connected to the hotel, including the owner, Mr. Bhola, hotel employees, security guards, police officers, and a swimming instructor.
The death of Adrianna Younge is not only a heartbreaking loss for her family; it is a stark indictment of the systems meant to protect Guyanese citizens. It is a national test: a test of whether we still have the institutional will and moral clarity to pursue the truth without fear or favor.
Guyanese citizens are not merely mourning the death of a child. They are demanding answers about the safety of their children, the competence of their institutions, and the integrity of their leadership.
To restore public trust, to honor Adrianna’s memory, and to ensure justice is done—and seen to be done—six critical questions must now be answered:
Six Key Questions:
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How did Adrianna Younge disappear from the hotel premises without immediate detection, despite being under family supervision and hotel security? Why was her body not found during initial searches of the premises, including the pool area?
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What are the precise circumstances, timeline, and cause of Adrianna’s death—specifically, what explains the injuries noted on her body, and was there foul play involved?
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Why did the Guyana Police Force initially release incorrect information suggesting that Adrianna had entered a vehicle and left the premises, and was this a result of negligence, incompetence, or intentional misinformation?
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What lapses, if any, occurred in the hotel’s security protocols, staff actions, and surveillance systems, and are the owners and staff complicit in any misconduct or cover-up? Does the previous death at the same hotel in 2012 indicate a pattern of negligence or worse?
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What role, if any, did police leadership or government officials play in the handling or mishandling of the initial investigation, and were standard investigative procedures followed?
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What independent mechanisms (such as North American forensic pathologists, FBI or RCMP investigators, or civilian oversight bodies) will be implemented to ensure a transparent and impartial investigation and restore public trust?
In this moment, Guyana stands at a crossroads. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. Anything less would betray Adrianna, her family, and the future of our nation.
Guyana Business Journal Editorial Board
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