Last Updated on Monday, 5 May 2025, 21:39 by Writer
United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, on Monday, appealed to Guyanese not to resort to violence, as final preparations were being made to inter the remains of 11-year-old Adriana Younge.
“Looting and destruction of property are harmful to all. I strongly urge all involved to commit to peace as the Government works to resolve the situation,” she said in a brief statement on the Embassy’s Facebook page.
“I encourage all Guyanese citizens to remain calm and voice their concerns through non-violent means and to adhere to the rule of law.
The United States remains committed to supporting the people of Guyana, our shared democratic principles, and the country’s continued stability and prosperity,” she said.
European Union Ambassador to Guyana, René Van Nes issued an almost identical statement.
Citing a lack of confidence in the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the family and the opposition have called for investigators from the US, Britain or Canada to probe the circumstances surrounding Younge’s drowning.
The Guyana government had said it was committed to a thorough investigation but remained mum on calls for foreign investigators and a commission of inquiry by Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton.
Ms Theriot expressed her “heartfelt condolences following the tragic death” of the girl on either April 24 or 25, 2025.
Her body was found in a pool at the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo under controversial circumstances as a result of a GPF statement that she had been seen on government video surveillance cameras entering an identifiable car.
The US envoy also shared “deep concern and sorrow over the crisis and civil unrest that have happened in Guyana.”
The girl’s death had sparked sporadic protests mainly across Guyana’s coast and in the capital, Georgetown, during and after the autopsy by three foreign forensic pathologists.
That autopsy found that Younge died by drowning.
Samples taken from her body were sent to leading laboratories in the United States for testing.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday warned that government would not tolerate any disruptions at the time of Younge’s funeral.
“The Guyana Police Force, with the full support of the Joint Services, is on alert to respond to specific and general requests to calls for service from the public to assure calm and security,” the ministry said.
The Ministry of Home Affairs reminded all citizens of the need to enable a non-disruptive, safe and respectful atmosphere, on May 5, 2025 “Arrival Day”, sufficiently conducive to enabling the funeral arrangements for Younge, the successful commencement of sittings of the CXC Examinations, the appropriate celebration of Arrival Day “and the full return to safe and normal undertakings throughout the country.”
The GPF is yet to hold a news conference on the incident.
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