Protest Erupts in Guyana Following Death of Missing Child

The tragic death of an eleven-year-old in Guyana has ignited violent protests, resulting in a hotel and a home being burned to the ground. Adrianna Younge, a resident of Tuschen, disappeared on Wednesday while at Double Day Hotel with relatives. The community launched a search party but faced resistance from the hotel owner and law enforcement when trying to thoroughly search the premises. Relatives were allowed to enter late Wednesday night, but their search was unsuccessful. Early Thursday morning, residents gathered in front of the hotel, burning tires and demanding answers from the owner. Shortly after, Adrianna’s lifeless body was discovered in the hotel pool. This discovery sparked a series of events, including the destruction of the hotel and the owner’s home by protesters. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This shocking video captures the moment when missing eleven-year-old Adrianna Younge was found lifeless in the pool at Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, Guyana. Reports indicate that Younge disappeared around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday while swimming with her family. Her relatives claim that the hotel owner and staff were reluctant to assist in their search efforts. On Thursday morning, protests erupted in front of the hotel, supporting the child’s father, Subrian Younge, just before Adrianna’s body was discovered.

 

Subrian Younge, Father of Deceased

“I tell you all again, like I tell social media, these people in there knows about my daughter, from the staff, to the boss, to everyone that was in there from one o’clock between two o’clock knows what is happening in there. I could move, I could get up from here right now and go home, you all give me my daughter let me go home. The soonest you give me my daughter I will go home.”

 

Younge’s body was discovered in the pool two hours later. Here’s what Younge’s aunt had to say to a reporter in Guyana.

 

Aunt of Deceased

“We were beginning the police to lock down the place so that we can search. They did not do that. A police by the name of Reece said he will lose his job if he does that. Day Day son is claiming that she left. He never offered any sympathy anything. They never allowed us to search as a family until after eleven going unto twelve.”

 

Videos and images from the late Wednesday night search show that Adrianna Younge was not in the pool at that time. The gruesome discovery of her lifeless body was made by a search party on Thursday morning. Her father, Subrian Younge, is seen jumping into the pool to retrieve her body.

 

Voice of: Guyana Resident

“We checked this pool. We checked this morning. This girl was not in this pool. This girl was not in the pool. This girl was not in this pool.”

 

Suspecting foul play, the situation quickly escalated into a violent protest. The Double Day Hotel was looted and later set ablaze. Following the discovery, the father gave an emotional statement.

 

Subrian Younge

“We search the pool this morning. We searched the pool at six this morning with police. I didn’t go there, but six of my family. They searched the whole building. I was standing there watching them and the pool was righter there. Nobody did not see the body. After ten, my daughter body appeared just so magically, dead. They would have wait for us to go away for them to move the body. But here is what I said, I would have never moved until I see her body. If it was today, I would have stand here today, tomorrow I would have done the same thing. The next day I would have done the same thing, but God.”

 

Protestors then turned their attention to the home of the hotel proprietors, just three streets away. It was also set ablaze and burned to the ground, while a main road was blocked. Newsroom in Guyana reports that the hotel owner has been detained by police. President Irfaan Ali issued a statement shortly after Adrianna Younge was discovered, announcing the formation of a special team to lead the investigation. He emphasized that the full truth must be uncovered, and no resource will be spared to achieve this. He also requested a detailed explanation from the police regarding their actions since the matter was reported. President Ali visited the family on Thursday evening. The protest continued today as the community seeks answers. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.