The father of 11-year-old Adriana Younge has urged citizens to engage in peaceful protest if they wish to show support for the deceased child.
Subryan Younge took to his Facebook page early this morning to inform citizens that his daughter was not a violent person and would not have supported any violent action taken in her name.
Younge received news yesterday, following the autopsy on his daughter, that she had died by drowning. However, he could not accept the information given all that had transpired prior to her body being found in the Double Day Hotel pool at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, last Thursday.
“When I heard all those things yesterday, I could have lost my mind. But my daughter wouldn’t want me to do that… Everybody out there who say they love Adriana and want to be there for her—Adriana wouldn’t like violence… Adriana didn’t like violence. Adriana was not a violent girl. So if you love my daughter, please stop the violence. Protest in a peaceful way, please!” the grieving father insisted.
The elder Younge told the nation that yesterday was the hardest day of his life, as he listened to the doctors’ autopsy results.
He stated that while the child was said to have drowned, there was a liquid found in her throat which has been sent for testing overseas. The family must now await the results of those tests.
Younge condemned several acts of unrest that took place across the country last evening. Several thoroughfares were set alight with debris following the autopsy examination of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, which was conducted at the Georgetown Hospital earlier in the day.
Even before the results were released, protesters and police ranks from the Tactical Services Unit clashed outside the health facility. One person was shot in the head with a live round and later succumbed to his injuries. Protesters hurled bricks, bottles, and other missiles at the police.
By nightfall, protests had erupted across the capital and later spread to surrounding areas and out-of-town communities.
Several stores were looted and vandalised, including a number of Chinese-owned establishments, Courts furniture stores, and Lucky Dollar outlets both in and outside the city. Police ranks, including members of the army, were deployed to several areas.
Numerous individuals were rounded up and arrested, while wanted bulletins have been issued by the police for persons accused of “inciting public terror”. Some individuals were caught in the act and arrested inside business establishments while looting.
As of this morning, a few locations remained unstable, with roadways blocked by fiery debris and police ranks deployed.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has nonetheless issued a public order titled “The Public (Safety) Order 2025”.
“In the interest of good order and public safety in every administrative region of Guyana, there shall be no public meetings, gatherings and assemblies of persons, processions or marches in any public place during the hours of 12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.”
