A family outing to the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, ended in tragedy when the lifeless body of 11-year-old Arianna Younge was discovered in the hotel’s pool on April 24—less than 24 hours after police claimed they had intelligence suggesting the child had left the hotel in a car. This glaring failure by the Guyana Police Force has ignited fresh public outrage, with mounting calls for the removal of Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken.
Angry and heartbroken citizens have taken to the streets in protest. But rather than empathize with their grief, President Irfaan Ali—no stranger to protests himself—chose to condemn the demonstrators. His response did not go unnoticed, especially by firebrand Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir. Responding on her Facebook page, the parliamentarian wrote:
“Justice for Adrianna can’t be achieved by silencing the people!!!!! I see Irfaan Ali has said—and I quote—‘There is no way blocking public roads, burning public infrastructure, and inconveniencing citizens will help little Adrianna’s cause or those interested in the truth.
These actions are now politically instigated and will not be accepted. They are unlawful and unhelpful and action will be taken.’”
Walton-Desir did not hold back:
“THE PRESIDENT MUST KNOW that there is no way sheltering a broken, corrupt police force, covering up incompetence, and protecting crooks will help little Adrianna’s cause or those genuinely interested in the truth. These actions of shielding failure and silencing outrage are what have bred this national fury in the first place. They are unlawful, unjust, and unacceptable. Blaming the people’s outrage on politics is itself a political act.
The only rightful action to be taken is swift, honest justice and not the punishment of a grieving, wounded people!!! Get it right!”
Walton-Desir also slammed the president’s token response of replacing police commanders:
“Irfaan Ali swapping commanders does not solve the problem—it’s a slap in the face of Guyanese. We need justice! #FixItRight”
She concluded with a blunt warning that the public’s patience is gone:
“I think the Guyanese people are tired of talking. Tired of excuses. The Guyanese people need action from the Government. Within the last month alone, the Police have clearly demonstrated that they cannot be trusted. And if you can’t trust the Police, what’s going to happen to the citizens? This is no longer about theories or investigations. Irfaan Ali must act. Clifton Hicken must be removed.”
