Probe into Adriana Younge’s death would ‘get to the bottom’ of everything – PM

Prime Minister Mark Phillips has expressed that the ongoing investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge would “get down to the bottom of everything that occurred” on the day of her disappearance leading up to the discovery of her body less than 24 hours later.

Younge was reported missing on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 23, shortly after she and her family, including her grandmother, arrived at the poolside of the Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.

On the morning of the following day, the child’s body was found in the pool.

Relatives reportedly claimed that the pool was initially searched but the girl’s body was not found.

Following the discovery of the child’s body, the hotel was set ablaze and was completely destroyed.

A postmortem examination conducted on the child’s body by three international pathologists including one selected by the family revealed the girl’s cause of death as drowning.

As police investigations continue, it is now left to determine the manner of death. This is according to the Prime Minister during an appearance on The Reset Talk Show on Wednesday morning.

“…the investigation is ongoing to determine the manner of death. Very important,” he noted.

A special investigative team was assembled to probe the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to the Prime Minister, “I want to assure you that the ongoing investigation would get down to the bottom of everything that occurred, including the searches, what time they were done, what was seized, etc. So, we have to wait the outcome of the investigation.”

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has come under criticism and intense scrutiny over its handling of the case.

After the girl was reported missing, the police claimed that they retrieved surveillance footage which showed that she left the hotel and boarded a motorcar.

This information turned out to be inaccurate and the person responsible for the error has since been sent on leave.

The regional commander Khalid Mandall was also sent on administrative leave while two ranks were relieved of their duties.

Questions linger on whether the police officers who responded to the scene properly searched the pool and the hotel’s premises.

“Let me say up front like you, I agree that there were missteps,” PM Phillips admitted.

He added, “I don’t want to prejudice the investigation by offering my views as to whether a search was done or whether it was done properly or not.”

The owner of the hotel had been released from police custody but is barred from leaving the country and is required to report to the police station on a daily basis.

As the investigation continues, further forensic analysis is being done internationally.

Meanwhile, the child’s body has not yet been buried or cremated. The funeral service, which was scheduled for May 5, was abruptly postponed until further notice.