Georgetown returns to normalcy

Normalcy returned to Georgetown today following unrest on Monday, sparked by the release of the post-mortem results of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge.

As news spread that she had died from drowning, crowds of protestors became restive, clashing with police and setting debris on fire. There were also reports of robbery and looting, which brought the capital to a virtual standstill on Tuesday.

Businesses and schools closed, traffic was minimal, and residents across the country remained indoors for their personal safety as the unrest spread to other areas of the country.

Today, however, Georgetown saw a return to routine activity. Businesses reopened, traffic flowed as normal, and many resumed their daily affairs.

Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn stated on Tuesday afternoon that the national situation was expected to stabilise, with normal business operations projected to resume countrywide. He added that the Joint Services—including the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, Guyana Defence Force, and other supporting agencies—would remain actively engaged to ensure the continued safety of all citizens.

A national curfew has been imposed, requiring citizens to remain indoors between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. as part of efforts to maintain heightened security.

On Tuesday, the police reported that intensified operations across the country led to the arrest of over 100 individuals and the seizure of 37 motorcycles within 24 hours. Numerous wanted bulletins were issued for individuals involved in disruptive activities.

Dozens of persons identified as causing “public terror”—including looting and destruction of property—appeared in court today. Among them were suspects accused of looting a Chinese supermarket and stealing millions of dollars in goods. They were arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and remanded to prison under the Criminal Offences Act.

The unrest stemmed from the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, who was found dead last Thursday in the pool at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, after being reported missing the previous day. She had gone to the hotel with her family to swim but was reported missing shortly after arriving. Despite multiple checks of the pool and hotel facilities, her body was only discovered later in the same pool.

A post-mortem examination conducted on Monday at the Georgetown Public Hospital confirmed that Adrianna died by drowning. However, the examination was unable to determine her time of death or provide other crucial information that might clarify the circumstances surrounding her demise.