Protests Erupt in Guyana After Body of 11-Year-Old Found in Hotel Pool

ESSEQUIBO, Guyana—An uneasy calm hangs over the Tuschen area as residents demand justice for 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose body was discovered floating in the swimming pool of the Double Day Hotel. The grim finding, which followed her disappearance on April 23, has sparked widespread anger and protests against local authorities.

Adrianna was last seen shortly after 1:10 PM on the day of her disappearance, having visited the hotel with her grandmother and other relatives. Family members began searching for her after she failed to return, notifying the Tuschen Police Station around 3:30 PM. However, her body was only discovered the following morning, raising suspicions about the circumstances surrounding her death.

Visible bruises on Adrianna’s face and limbs have led to fears she may have been assaulted before her death. Local residents are questioning the police’s handling of the investigation, especially after an initial report erroneously suggested she was kidnapped.

In response to the mounting public outcry, President Irfaan Ali reached out to Adrianna’s family, promising full governmental support for a transparent investigation. The family, however, has expressed mistrust in local authorities, demanding an independent autopsy by Dr. Gary L. Collins from Delaware, instead of the government-appointed pathologist.

Local shops began to reopen cautiously on Monday as police maintained a visible presence following a tense 12-hour standoff at the Leonora Police Station last Friday, where protesters gathered to voice their outrage. Some reports allege that demonstrators targeted the hotel and the owner’s residence with unconfirmed arson attacks.

Adrianna’s heartbroken family and friends await the results of her autopsy, which will be conducted today, while authorities are under pressure to act decisively. The community is demanding justice not just for Adrianna but also for a past incident involving the same hotel, where another young man’s suspicious death occurred in 2012.

In a statement, the Rights of the Child Commission reaffirmed their commitment to seeking justice: ‘Justice for Adrianna is not negotiable; it is a moral imperative.’ The Commission has called for a thorough investigation, reminding the government of its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The investigation remains ongoing as the community demands answers, while Adrianna’s family holds firm in their push for accountability.