Vice President (VP) and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has expressed condolences on behalf of the party to the family of Adrianna Younge, noting that it is an extremely sad day for Guyana.
Younge, 11, who was reportedly abducted on Wednesday, was found dead in a pool at the Double Day Hotel, Tuschen Public Road, East Bank Essequibo.
Police in a report yesterday said Adrianna had gone to the hotel’s pool with her grandmother, Carol Xavier, and other family members.
Xavier told investigators yesterday that at around 1:10 PM, she gave Adrianna money to purchase a wristband to access the pool. Adrianna subsequently entered the pool with her siblings.
Later, when the grandmother called for the children to come out of the pool, she realised Adrianna was missing. Police had reported that the child was abducted. The incident sparked a fiery protest by residents and family members and drew wide public condemnation.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has since called for a thorough investigation into the matters.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing at Freedom House today, Dr. Jagdeo supported calls for a thorough investigation into the incident.
“The family deserves answers and the people of this country deserve answers. And we find too many inconsistencies based on what we’ve heard so far with the story that has been weaved. So, we expect a thorough investigation into the matter. The President has already announced that there’d be a complete, detailed, and thorough investigation into the circumstances through which this young teenager lost her life,” Dr. Jagdeo stated.
He stressed that he was amazed by the circumstances surrounding the incident, as he pointed out that previous searches for the missing child on the premises and in the pool had turned up empty-handed.
Dr. Jagdeo stressed that a report from the police had also indicated that the same areas were checked last night and that Younge was viewed on footage entering a car leaving the location.
“Now, if they have that footage – the police, and they put it in a statement here, they should immediately release the footage. I don’t know why there is a delay in releasing this footage. Because this is very inconsistent with the entire story… we want to see it too, as a country and the family would want to see that. How after this young lady left did her body return to the pool?” he questioned.
He further pledged full support in getting to the bottom of the situation, as he reiterated that whoever is found culpable will face consequences.
