Last Updated on Saturday, 3 May 2025, 12:25 by Writer
The family members of 11-year-old Adriana Younge on Friday refused to allow the autopsy to be conducted by a Barbados-based forensic pathologist, and said they wanted investigators from the United States or Canada to probe her death.
“There was no post mortem. The family is seeking to get an independent person. We’re working to get somebody overseas now,” the family’s lawyer, Darren Wade told Demerara Waves Online News.
Reiterating that “the family has no confidence in the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to carry out an impartial and thorough investigation in this matter,” he said they wanted investigators from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
But the police force on Friday night said it was pushing ahead with its investigations.
The law enforcement agency said investigators have questioned a number of persons, including the proprietor of Double Day Hotel and Bar and his employees.
Additionally, a security guard attached to the hotel, along with a swimming instructor, was interviewed by detectives.
A number of police ranks of Regional Division #3 were also questioned.
“At this juncture, the investigators are still interviewing persons who can assist with the investigations,” the police force added.
Younge’s body was seen in the Double Day pool on Thursday, in stark contrast to the GPF saying that she was seen entering a car that was identified by colour and licence number.
President Irfaan Ali on Friday, however, maintained that Barbados-based international forensic pathologist, Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul, who is already in Guyana, would conduct the post-mortem and the family’s pathologist would be allowed to observe and ask questions.
But Attorney-at-Law Wade questioned Dr Paul’s qualifications, and he publicly called on the Guyana government to disclose whether Dr Paul possesses postgraduate training in anatomical pathology.
“Furthermore, if such qualifications exist, we request confirmation as to whether he holds a subspecialty in forensic pathology, and if so, where he received his training in these disciplines,” the lawyer added.
Dr Paul boasts over 23 years of experience in forensic pathology, including autopsy examinations, scene visits, and skeletal remains examinations.
He was also the forensic medical examiner to three police constabularies in the United Kingdom.
He currently serves as consultant forensic pathologist at Barbados’ forensic sciences of the Office of the Attorney General.
He also served as a Programme Manager for forensic medicine in Northern Ireland, and an Assistant Professor in several Departments of forensic medicine in India.
The lawyer also suggested that Younge’s family was expecting their pathologist to conduct the autopsy and hoped the Medical Council would be ready to grant that person approval to practice in Guyana.
“My office is presently in communication with North America-based pathologists and they appreciate the circumstances and are working among themselves for one pathologist to travel to Guyana over the weekend for possible postmortem examination on Monday. Hence, we are asking the government to have the medical board ready and prepare to grant all necessary approvals, after the necessary documentations are presented,” Mr Wade said.
For its part, the GPF said, “It is significant to note that the Guyana Police Force is also awaiting the arrival of another independent pathologist who was identified by family members of the deceased to perform the post-mortem examination. The post-mortem examination is an important aspect of the investigation in order to confirm the cause of death of Adriana Younge,” the police force added.
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