Opposition Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson has renewed her call for justice in the death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, criticising the government’s silence and raising concerns over transparency and accountability in the investigation.
In a public letter, Ferguson—writing for the third time on the matter—accused top officials, including President Irfaan Ali, of interfering in the narrative around Younge’s death while the Guyana Police Force remains largely silent. She questioned the President’s early statements downplaying foul play in the child’s drowning, asking whether he had access to conclusions not yet publicly released.
“How does he know this? Was it conclusively stated in the pathologist’s report?” Ferguson asked, expressing concern that President Ali appears to be speaking on behalf of law enforcement agencies.
The young girl’s body was discovered in the pool of the Double Day Hotel, East Bank Essequibo on April 24, several hours after she was reported missing. The hotel was later destroyed by fire. The circumstances surrounding her death and the subsequent arson have drawn widespread public concern, yet Ferguson said, there has been a lack of communication from key authorities.
“Minister Robeson Benn, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum have made no statements or held press briefings,” Ferguson noted. “Is this acceptable in a democratic society? The silence suggests a troubling effort to shield certain interests.”
She also raised alarms over the Guyana Fire Service’s failure to provide a preliminary report on the hotel fire 15 days after the incident, calling the delay “unusual” and suggestive of selective treatment.
The letter, which blends personal grief with political critique, positions Younge’s case as emblematic of broader issues under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration. Ferguson accused the government of enriching a small elite while ordinary Guyanese suffer from lack of accountability and justice.
With Guyana approaching General and Regional elections later this year, Ferguson urged citizens to consider the state of law enforcement and governance. “A government seeking reelection must not only build roads and bridges but also uphold justice and accountability,” she wrote.
Calling the current administration “vindictive” and dismissive of dissent, Ferguson cited a pattern of unresolved deaths under questionable circumstances, naming several individuals including the Henry boys, Quindon Bacchus, and Orin Boston.
She concluded with an appeal for national reflection and political change in 2025. “Let us vote with Adrianna Younge in mind,” Ferguson wrote. “Justice for them begins with change.”
Ferguson also invoked a biblical reference from 2 Timothy 1:7, calling for courage and unity in the face of fear: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
