Former Mayor Ubraj Narine Condemns Acid Attack on Schoolchildren, Calls for Swift Justice

 In the wake of a series of shocking events that have rattled the nation’s conscience, former Georgetown Mayor Pt. Ubraj Narine visited the young victims and teachers injured in a brutal acid attack at a school in Chateau Margot, East Coast Demerara. His visit, Wednesday, came just days after the nation was shaken by the discovery of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge’s lifeless body in the swimming pool of the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, a case that remains shrouded in controversy and allegations of police inaction.

Narine’s appearance at the children’s home was both compassionate and politically pointed. Offering prayers and solidarity to the injured and their families, he denounced the attack as “cowardly” and “a stain on our society.”

“No one should ever feel unsafe in a place of learning or service,” Narine said. “That this attack follows so closely on the heels of Adrianna Younge’s tragic death only deepens our collective pain. These are not isolated incidents — they are symptoms of a society under siege.”

The acid attack — which targeted innocent children and educators — has intensified national outrage and fears about escalating violence. Though police have not released substantial updates on suspects or motives, the silence has only fed growing public distrust.

Narine directly challenged the Guyana Police Force to take immediate, decisive action. “I urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay,” he said. “Such heinous acts must not go unpunished — and must not become our new normal.”

The acid attack has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed conversations about the state’s responsibility to protect its most vulnerable citizens. While police have yet to issue a detailed update on the investigation, public frustration is mounting as the nation demands answers.

With back-to-back tragedies shaking Guyanese households, civil society groups and community leaders are increasingly vocal about the urgent need for stronger protective measures for children, greater police accountability, and a national reckoning with violence.

The incident, still under investigation, is being closely watched by civil society groups, educators, and human rights advocates who say the case could set a precedent for how seriously the state treats violence against children.

As the acid victims begin the long road to recovery, the country waits — not just for arrests, but for justice that sends a message no future attacker can ignore. And for Adrianna Younge, as her case continues to spark protests and vigils at home and abroad, Narine called on all Guyanese to reject despair and stand united in the face of growing brutality.

In his statement, Narine appealed to all Guyanese to rise above fear and division and to offer tangible support to the victims and their families. “Now is the time for unity — not silence. Let us rally together against violence and show these families they are not alone,” he said.

For many, the question now is whether justice, long delayed in other cases, will finally be delivered for these  children and their families, the need is urgent. For the country, the stakes could not be higher.