Protests Erupt as Autopsy of 11-Year-Old Adrianna Younge Begins in Guyana
Protests erupted in Georgetown, Guyana, as autopsy of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge begins. Calls for justice grow louder after she was found dead in a hotel pool. Significant police reforms and independent investigations are demanded by concerned citizens and officials alike.
In Georgetown, Guyana, tensions ran high on Monday as protestors crowded Middle Street, blocking access to the mortuary at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH). They were demanding justice for 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose tragic death has stirred deep emotions among the populace. Younge was discovered in a hotel pool last Thursday, an incident that has raised significant public concern and anger.
The autopsy on Younge’s body, which commenced Monday with three foreign forensic pathologists, is expected to take over four hours. Authorities had earlier performed a CT scan before the body was transferred to the GPH mortuary. Two pathologists, Dr. Glenn A. Rudner and Dr. Shubhakar Karra Paul, were sent by the Guyana government, with Dr. Gary L. Collins, the Chief Medical Examiner from Delaware, participating as requested by Younge’s family.
Dr. Caleb Mc Cloggan, an endocrinologist asked by the family to be present, reminded onlookers to be patient, as the autopsy process began around 12:30 p.m. local time. He emphasized that there were also other patients in the hospital that needed care. However, protestors, beating drums and ringing bells, seemed undeterred, calling for accountability in this tragic case.
Opposition politician Amanza Walton-Desir voiced the need for urgent parliamentary action regarding an independent investigation into the police’s handling of the case. A petition, supported by the Guyana Human Rights Association, is pushing for a thorough inquiry, highlighting the alleged failures of law enforcement in this matter.
Despite the urgency, Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir stated the petition couldn’t be addressed right away due to procedural issues. All petitions must first be reviewed before being placed on the official agenda. Calls for an independent investigation into the police’s response have become a rallying cry, as calls for reform are louder than ever.
In the wake of Younge’s death, significant changes within the Guyana Police Force have already begun. Assistant Commissioner Khalid Mandall has been placed on administrative leave, while three other officers have been detained for questioning. Furthermore, the hotel associated with the tragedy has faced the backlash of arson, as businesses and communities react with outrage.
Tragically, the death of Adrianna Younge has sparked widespread protests demanding justice and accountability in Guyana. As the autopsy proceedings are underway, various calls for an independent investigation into the police conduct are being made. The government’s efforts to address these concerns include bringing in forensic experts and considering reforms to the police force, signaling a critical moment for rule of law and public trust in the region.
Original Source: www.jamaicaobserver.com
