Adrianna Younge’s Death Must Spark Revolution, Says GTUC President on May Day

Amid widespread national grief and mounting frustration over the state of public security, President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Norris Witter, has issued a passionate call for transformative change in Guyana’s leadership and policing institutions.

Speaking on Thursday at the GTUC’s May Day rally, held under makeshift tents at the fire-ravaged Critchlow Labour College, Witter said the recent wave of public mourning, particularly over the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, should serve as a “catalyst for great revolution” and powerful driver for national reform.

The lifeless body of the 11-year-old was discovered on April 24 in a swimming pool of Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo. The Guyana Police Force initially stated that Adrianna was not present on the premises, where her body was later discovered in a swimming pool. The police’s initial claim contradicted evidence and eyewitness accounts, leading to public outrage and demands for accountability.

Her death has sparked widespread protests and calls for justice across the country. An autopsy conducted by three pathologists, including one from the United States, concluded that Adrianna died from drowning, a claim that has left more questions unanswered.

“Her death must not be in vain,” Witter declared, describing the incident as a potential turning point for societal awakening. He urged a complete overhaul of the current system, advocating for new leadership and fresh ideas capable of lifting citizens out of what he described as a “state of oppression.”

In an emotionally charged address, Witter pointed to persistent allegations of misconduct and negligence within the Guyana Police Force, citing Adriana’s case and other recent incidents as evidence of deep-rooted problems. “We are not saying all police are bad,” he said. But “we are saying that there are enough rogue elements within the police force to make the society unsafe.”

He questioned the state’s role in Adriana’s death, going so far as to say, that either “the criminals murdered her, or the state assassinated her.” The president charged that “the state must be held responsible for the fact that it was one of the arms of the state, by not giving her the kind of protection that she needed and practicing hatred.”

“It is my view that Adrianna’s death — murder — assassination will not go in vain! Strange things are happening not only in Guyana but in the world. But I do believe that Adrianna will be the catalyst for a great revolution. Adrianna will be the catalyst that will ensure that there will be new faces and right faces in the state. And I say to you, each and every one of you: speak her name!”

Witter’s remarks underscored his belief that Adrianna’s death must become a rallying point for national awakening and systemic change. He called on citizens to channel their grief into collective action, demanding accountability, reform, and a complete renewal of leadership within the country’s institutions.

The GTUC president stressed that restoring public faith in law enforcement and governance would require more than just policy tweaks. “If we are to have good governance, or have respect for law, personal security, for life and liberty, there must be new faces and right faces.”

Linking the rally’s theme — “We need a change where the state respects workers’ rights”— to broader national issues, Witter criticised the current Irfaan Ali administration for ignoring repeated appeals from the GTUC. He accused the government of trampling workers’ rights over the past several years, acting with “impunity” and eroding democratic norms.

He concluded with a fervent appeal for systemic reform. If we are to build a state that values its people, respects labour, and embraces democracy, then we must dismantle the old order, he said. In calling for a new order Witter said Guyana needs people who are willing to lead with justice and integrity.