By: Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — As the high-profile investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge moves toward a formal judicial review, the family’s legal team is demanding unprecedented transparency. High-profile attorney Dr. Dexter Todd is officially calling for the upcoming Coroner’s Inquest to be televised and broadcast live, arguing that the level of national interest and the severity of the allegations surrounding the case necessitate full public scrutiny.
The request comes just days after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommended the inquest to settle lingering questions about the child’s tragic drowning at the Double Day Hotel in April 2025.
The Case for Public Scrutiny
At a press conference held on Friday, April 17, 2026, Dr. Todd explained that because this case sparked nationwide protests and raised serious questions about police accountability, the legal process must be visible to the public.
- Transparency as a Shield: Todd argued that broadcasting the proceedings would ensure that the witnesses’ testimonies and the jury’s findings are beyond reproach, particularly after the initial investigation was marred by retracting police statements and public distrust.
- Possible Outcomes: The attorney noted that while the inquest could provide closure by ruling the death an accident, it also has the power to recommend criminal charges if the jury finds evidence of negligence or foul play. “The matter could effectively come to an end depending on the findings, but we must ensure that the process that gets us there is transparent,” Todd stated.
Silence from the Force
A significant portion of Dr. Todd’s briefing focused on what he termed the “deafening silence” from the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
- Lack of Updates: Despite the DPP’s move toward an inquest, Todd raised concerns that the GPF has not provided a substantive update on the “broader investigation” into the hotel events.
- The “Missing” Timeline: The attorney is pushing for clarity on exactly how Adriana went missing at a crowded poolside and remained undiscovered for nearly 24 hours, an inconsistency that the family maintains points to more than a simple accident.
What the Inquest Must Solve
The inquest, led by a Magistrate and a jury, will be tasked with answering the “Five Ws” of the tragedy:
- Who: Establishing the formal identity of the deceased.
- When & Where: Pinpointing the exact timeframe of the death at the Double Day Hotel.
- How: Determining the medical and environmental cause of the drowning.
- Circumstances: Examining the role of hotel security, supervision, and initial police response.
- Liability: Deciding if any person or entity should face criminal prosecution.
A Nation Watches
With the one-year anniversary of Adriana’s death approaching next Friday, the call for a televised inquest has put the judiciary in the spotlight. While live-streaming of court cases is rare in the lower courts of Guyana, the precedents set during high-stakes constitutional matters may provide a pathway for this request. For the family of Adriana Younge, the goal remains unchanged: a transparent accounting of what happened at the Double Day Hotel, ensuring that “justice for Adriana” is not just a slogan, but a documented legal fact.
