Adrianna Younge’s Death Exposes Deep Rot in Guyana’s Police Force

BY GERMAINE KWESI

The tragic and suspicious death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge at the Double Day Hotel has ignited a firestorm of outrage, laying bare the systemic failures and deep-seated corruption within the Guyana Police Force (GPF). As protests rage across Georgetown, the public’s fury is not just directed at the hotel but at the very institutions meant to uphold justice.

Adrianna’s body was discovered in the hotel pool under circumstances that scream foul play. Visible injuries on her face and body suggest she was assaulted before her death. Yet, the GPF’s response has been marked by negligence, incompetence, and outright deception. Their initial claim that CCTV footage showed Adrianna leaving the hotel in a vehicle was later revealed to be a fabrication. This deliberate dissemination of false information has shattered any remaining trust in the Force’s ability—or willingness—to investigate the case impartially.

AdvertisementThe GPF’s history of protecting powerful interests is no secret. The Double Day Hotel itself has a troubling past, with reports of other mysterious deaths linked to the property. In 2012, a young mechanic was found dead in the same pool, yet no justice was served. The hotel’s owners appear to operate with impunity, raising questions about whether the GPF is complicit in shielding them from accountability.

Guyana's Police Commissioner Mr. Clifton Hicken

 Adrianna’s family has openly criticised the police, rejecting a government-affiliated pathologist and demanding an independent international investigation. “The Guyana Police Force failed us,” Adrianna’s mother declared. “They helped to kill my child, from the Commander right down. They know what was going on all the time.” Her words reflect the anguish of a community betrayed by those sworn to protect them.

Advertisement

Protests have erupted across Georgetown, with demonstrators blocking roads, burning tyres, and even setting the hotel ablaze. The images circulating online capture the raw anger of a nation demanding justice—not just for Adrianna but for every victim of the GPF’s failures. The silence of Commissioner Clifton Hicken has been deafening, further eroding public confidence. Calls for his resignation are growing louder, with critics accusing him of cowardice and complicity.

Protesters set fire to the home of the owner of the Double Day Hotel

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s promise of a special investigation rings hollow to many. Without sweeping reforms and independent oversight, the GPF cannot be trusted to deliver justice. The death of Adrianna Younge has become a symbol of the rot within Guyana’s institutions, and the people are demanding change. Anything less would be an unforgivable betrayal of Adrianna’s memory and the nation’s conscience.

Advertisement