–President Ali promises full transparency in probe
–Region Three Commander sent on ‘admin’ leave
–Hotel owner, employees, police ranks in custody

PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has reiterated his government’s commitment to full transparency, and pledged unwavering support to the family of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose death, suspected to involve foul play, has gripped the nation.

Speaking directly with family members, including the girl’s mother, outside their home on Saturday morning, President Ali promised that every effort would be made to uncover the truth.
“All of us want the truth; we all want justice,” the President said, assuring the grieving relatives that the administration will honour all their requests related to the investigation and upcoming post-mortem examination (PME).

The Head of State added, “All of us want the truth. That is the only thing I’m interested in; ensuring the truth leads to [justice]. Whatever action has to be taken, will be taken,” Dr. Ali reiterated during his second visit to the family.

Adrianna’s body was discovered on the morning of April 24, 2025 in a pool at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara), hours after she was reported missing, the day prior, following a visit to the hotel with family members.

The pool was searched several times with no sign of the young child, so when her body mysteriously appeared, it triggered public outrage, and sparked nationwide protest actions, as the family suspected she was murdered and then dumped there.

Citing a lack of trust in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to properly investigate Adrianna’s death, the Younge family requested that an independent pathologist perform the autopsy.

HIGHLY-QUALIFIED TEAM OF PATHOLOGISTS
Their request led President Ali to bring in Dr. Shubhakar Karra Paul from Barbados, who has significant experience in forensic and legal medicine. Dr. Paul has over 23 years of experience in forensic pathology, covering thousands of autopsy examinations, crime scene analyses, and forensic reports.

Notably, Dr. Paul previously supported local forensic teams in identifying the victims of the tragic Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire in May 2023, which claimed the lives of 20 children.
Not satisfied, the family asked to fly in their own independent pathologist from North America to observe the autopsy at the expense of the State, and the President agreed.

Nevertheless, Dr. Ali stated, “We don’t have any issue with any other pathologist,” assuring the family that they were free to bring their own doctor to observe the PME.
To ensure transparency, President Ali disclosed that he has instructed the police to fully video-record the autopsy process.

“I’ve asked the police to make sure everything is videoed; no missteps. Everything must be observed. As many witnesses as the family wants in there [for the post-mortem], that is medically permissible. All of their requests, in terms of this post-mortem, must be honoured as far as possible,” President Ali told local journalist Gordon Moseley shortly after meeting with the grieving family on Saturday.

The family’s pathologist has been identified as Dr. Gary Collins, the Chief Medical Examiner for the U.S. State of Delaware. He is expected to arrive here today, Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Chronicle has confirmed that the government has since engaged the services of a third pathologist. When contacted by this publication on Saturday evening, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony confirmed that one Dr. Glenn Rudner, a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology at the New York-based Mount Sinai Hospital and School of Medicine, will be joining the two doctors mentioned earlier.

Dr. Rudner, a board-certified pathologist based in New York, earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine, and has over 20 years of experience in the field. Dr. Rudner is scheduled to arrive in Guyana this evening.

The Health Minister confirmed that both Dr. Paul and Dr. Rudner are certified to practise in Guyana, with their qualifications having been assessed and approved by the Guyana Medical Council (GMC).

“The two doctors, Dr. Paul and Dr. Rudner, whom the government has invited, are both licensed by the Medical Council,” Dr. Anthony said.
He clarified that for Dr. Collins to practise in Guyana, he must first be registered with the GMC, a process that involves assessing the individual’s qualifications before approval is granted.
Local Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade, on behalf of the child’s family, has already forwarded Dr. Collins’ qualifications to the Guyana Medical Council for review.

SHAKE-UP
On Saturday, Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken announced that Assistant Commissioner Khalid Mandall, Commander of Regional Division 3, has been placed on administrative leave. He was first transferred to Division 4B, before he was sent on leave. Assistant Commissioner Mahindra Siewnarine has since been posted to oversee the division of Region Three. Mandall has come in for severe criticism over the way he handled the case when Adrianna was first reported missing.

According to Hicken, several other police ranks are also under close arrest as investigations continue. President Ali also confirmed that the owner of the hotel and staff remain in police custody, while the Top Cop revealed that interviews are ongoing, with several individuals who may aid in the investigation.

President Ali on Saturday encouraged the family to engage in peaceful protest, and promised to visit them again to provide updates, and check on their well-being. “I will continue to be here to update you; to listen to you,” he promised.

The Head of State had previously emphasised that no effort or resource will be spared in uncovering the full truth. The police have promised to provide updates as the investigation unfolds.

BACKGROUND
Adrianna’s body was pulled from the hotel’s pool by her father, Subrian Younge. According to initial police reports, she was last seen at the hotel on Wednesday afternoon, where she had gone swimming with her siblings, under the supervision of her grandmother.

The police initially said that surveillance footage showed Adrianna leaving the hotel and entering a red-and-black Toyota Raum motorcar, PSS 4684, which was said to be heading in the direction of Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

The police said the vehicle was rented to a man they only identified as Orlando. At that point, the case was being treated as a suspected abduction. Although extensive searches were conducted on Wednesday, Adrianna was not located.

Police said the hotel’s management claimed its surveillance cameras were not working, further complicating the investigation. However, it remains unclear whether police officers independently verified the status of the cameras. Public outrage intensified on Thursday following the gruesome discovery of Adrianna’s body in the pool.

Calls mounted for the release of the video showing her entering the vehicle, and citizens questioned the thoroughness of the initial investigation. In a subsequent statement, the police admitted that elements of its earlier communication regarding the alleged abduction were inaccurate.  They stated that preliminary investigations revealed discrepancies in the initial report, prompting an internal review of the communication processes that led to its release.

The police have reassured the public that a comprehensive investigation is underway, not only into Adrianna’s death but also into the missteps in communication.
Adrianna had recently completed the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), and was eagerly awaiting her results, which are scheduled for release in June.