Mystery surrounds Adriana’s autopsy report... ask police; top cop tells
Dead:AdrianaYounge
lawyer they don’t have it
ByShaniaWilliams
While Minister of Health Dr FrankAnthonyhadpreviouslytold thisnewspaperthatthepolicearein possession of the preliminary findings into the autopsy report of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken said that the police do not havethefile.
A delegation, including lead attorney Dr Dexter Todd, along with attorneys Eusi Anderson, Dexter Smartt, and Adriana's parents, met with Hicken, seeking answers regarding the investigation.
A key revelation from the meeting, according to Dr Todd, was that the Guyana Police Force does not have the preliminary autopsy report in its possession, despite the public being told Adriana died from drowning. This contradicts earlier comments by Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, who told Kaieteur News on Monday that the initial forensic findings had already been handed overtothepolice.
In a brief interview with Kaieteur News, Dr Anthony declined to provide any information surrounding the autopsy, which was performed at the Georgetown Public Hospital one week ago. He said the initial findings of the forensic examination have been handed overtothepolice.
“That is for the police. I don't have one,” Dr Anthony stated whenaskedaboutthereport.“This is a police matter All these things yougottotalktothepoliceabout.” Pressed further for clarity on the findings and whether it ruled out forced drowning as reported by President Irfaan Ali, Minister Anthony replied, “Talk to the police; the police would have the autopsy report from the pathologists.”
However,Dr Todd,whoposed thequestionaboutthepossessionof the autopsy report to Hicken, said that police do not have the report. Dr Todd recounted, “Is there a preliminary report available of the autopsy which was done? That is notyetprovided,itisnotavailable? So,wehavenoanswer Wouldyou oppose us having a review of the autopsy? 'Well, we don't have the report,' Hicken answered. “So, no answer So,inanutshell,thepolice force,allthattheywerepreparedto say from the commissioner's level is that they are doing a comprehensive investigation. But
theyarenotatlibertyatthisstageto say what really the comprehensive investigationwillentail,”Dr Todd said.
Additionally, in regard to Minister Anthony stating that the pathologist handed over a copy of the report to police, Dr Todd said thatsincehewastoldthatpolicedo nothavethereport,arequestneeds to be made to the pathologists to seekthereportfirstbeforethelegal team can do so. “I would think the policeareincontactwiththem,and it'sforthepolicetogettheirreport from them, and then we can get it from the police. I believe we may becrossingsomeethicalbordersif
we were the ones to directly interfacewiththem,”Toddsaid.
This discrepancy raises serious questions about which report President Irfaan Ali referred to when he publicly stated that Adriana had drowned. Although President Ali did not confirm whetherhehadpersonallyseenthe autopsy report, he stated that a policerepresentativehadsharedits findingswithhim.
“AndIjustwanttobrieflyshare withyouwhatwassharedwiththe police representative and shared withme,”PresidentAlisaid.“Upon completing the procedure, the forensic pathologists ruled out signsofphysicalandsexualtrauma onMs.Younge'sbody Aftercareful deliberation, the team concluded thatMs.Youngediedasaresultof drowning. The relatives were also informedthatthepathologistsruled outtheoriesofforcibledrowningor any other means of killing, followedbydisposalofthebodyin water So that was what was communicated,”hesaid.
As such, Dr Todd questioned thevalidityofthePresident'spublic pronouncement, stressing that it wasprematuretodeclareacauseof
death without access to even a preliminaryautopsyreport.“Ifyou weregoingtosaydrowningandall our eyes and people who are sensible enough to recognise that something is wrong, if the preliminary report is not available, why was there a public pronouncement on a prospective causeofdeathofthischildwithout having a preliminary report availableatleast? Andyouwantto say,woulditnothavebeenbetterto say that the entire autopsy process is incomplete, and therefore it will be premature at this stage to pronounce on a possible cause of death,becauseIthinkthatiswhatI think assisted in exacerbating this
entire situation,” Dr Todd pointed out.”
Hicken also failed to identify the lead investigator or provide specifics about the scope of the investigation.“Whatreallyareyou investigating? Have you ruled out homicide?Are you investigating a homicide? No answer,” Todd said. He added that when asked what testsarebeingdoneonthesamples sent overseas and when results are expected, there was still no response. Additionally, Todd said that at the meeting, no answer was provided as to whether water samples were collected from the pool to determine if Adriana had drowned in a chlorine-treated swimming pool. The Police, in a subsequent statement, said that water samples were collected and havebeensentoverseasfortesting. Meanwhile, attorneyAnderson disclosed that the police commissionerprovidednoposition when asked whether the force wouldopposeasecondautopsy He emphasised that due to the lack of answers, another meeting with the policeisnecessary “Butgenerally, the thrust of today's meeting was thatweneedafollow-upmeeting.I
don'tknowhowproductiveorhow useful that would be in light of the urgency and the sensitivity of this matter,”Andersonstated.
The family's legal team confirmed that Hicken requested their questions be submitted in writing, and responses would be provided later Dr Todd noted, “The next step will have to be, as we agreed with the commissioner, we will have to write. And then, becauseofthetimeperiod,wewill definitely have to look at seeing how, from a higher policy level, that we request that there be some formofinternationalhelp.”
Toddalsorefutedearlierclaims about the state of Adriana's body
While attorney Darren Wade had stated decomposition prevented a determination of time of death, Todd offered a different account.
“We had a look at the body.And I can tell you, the body is good.The body is good. There are a few discolourations of the face, but outside of that hands, feet, upper it's very well It's not decomposedatall.”Asofnow,the family remains uncertain about funeral arrangements, pending further clarification in the investigation Adriana's lifeless body was pulled from the swimming pool by her father, Subrian Younge, on April 24, just 20 hours after she was reported missingwhileonafamilytripatthe location An autopsy was conducted on April 28 by a threemember international pathology team The specialists, Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul from Barbados, Dr Gary Collins, Chief Medical Examiner of Delaware, United States of America and Dr Glenn Rudner of Mount Sinai Hospital, concluded that she died fromdrowning.
Adriana's family walking beside their attorney moments after the meeting with Hicken
Commissionerof the Guyana Police Force, Clifton Hicken
LeadAttorneyinAdriana's Youngcase, Dexter Todd
MinisterofHealth, Dr. Frank Anthony
KaieteurNews
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EDITORIAL
Talking culture
On Monday, Arrival Day was observed as a public holidaybythenation.Thoughtheusualvibrantcelebration wasmutedduetotheunrestinoursociety,theholidayitself shouldremindusthatweareamulti-culturalsocietysince each of the groups that arrived in this country brought distinctcultureswiththem,aspectsofwhichsurvivetothis day
Multiculturalismisbestunderstoodneitherasapolitical doctrinewithaprogrammaticcontentnorasaphilosophical schoolwithadistincttheoryofman'splaceintheworld,but as a perspective on or a way of viewing human life. Its central insights are three, each of which is sometimes misinterpreted by its advocates and needs to be carefully reformulatedifitistocarryconviction.
First, human beings are culturally embedded in the sense that they grow up and live within a culturally structuredworldandorganisetheirlivesandsocialrelations in terms of a culturally derived system of meaning and significance.
Thisdoesnotmeantheyareentirelydeterminedbytheir culture—asifunabletoriseaboveitscategoriesofthought or critically evaluate its values and meaning systems. Rather, it means they are deeply shaped by it: they may overcome some of its influences, but not all, and they necessarilyviewtheworldfromwithinaculture—whether it's one they've inherited and accepted uncritically, reflectivelyrevised,or,inrarecases,consciouslyadopted.
Second,differentculturesrepresentdifferentsystemsof meaningandvisionsofthegoodlife.Sinceeachrealisesa limitedrangeofhumancapacitiesandemotionsandgrasps onlyapartofthetotalityofhumanexistence,itneedsother cultures to help it understand itself better, expand its intellectualandmoralhorizon,stretchitsimagination,save itfromnarcissismtoguarditagainsttheobvioustemptation toabsolutiseitself,andsoon.
This does not mean that one cannot lead a good life withinone'sownculture,butratherthat,otherthingsbeing equal, one's way of life is likely to be richer if one also enjoysaccesstoothers,andthataculturallyself-contained life is virtually impossible for most human beings in the modern,mobileandinterdependentworld.
Nor does it mean that all cultures are equally rich and deserve equal respect, that each of them is good for its members, or that they cannot be compared and critically assessed.Allitmeansisthatnocultureiswhollyworthless, that it deserves at least some respect because of what it means to its members and the creative energy it displays, thatnocultureisperfectandhasarighttoimposeitselfon others, and that cultures are best changed from within. Third, every culture is internally plural and reflects a continuingconversationbetweenitsdifferenttraditionsand strands of thought.This does not mean that it is devoid of coherence and identity, but that its identity is plural, fluid andopen.
Cultures grow out of conscious and unconscious interactionswitheachother,definetheiridentityintermsof whattheytaketobetheirsignificantother,andareatleast partially multicultural in their origins and constitution. Each carries bits of the other within itself and is never whollysuigeneris.Thisdoesnotmeanthatithasnopowers ofself-determinationandinnerimpulses,butratherthatitis porous and subject to external influences which it assimilatesinitsnowautonomousways.
Aculture'srelationtoitselfshapesandisinturnshaped by its relation to others, and their internal and external pluralities presuppose and reinforce each other A culture cannot appreciate the value of others unless it appreciates thepluralitywithinit;theconverseisjustastrue.Aculture cannot be at ease with differences outside it unless it is at easewithitsowninternaldifferences.Adialoguebetween cultures requires that each should be willing to open itself uptotheinfluenceofandlearnfromothers.
Government's Alarming Disregard for Information Rights
DearEditor, I write to share the latest information on Guyana's dismal state of transparency andrighttoinformation. On April14,2025,onbehalfofa group of civil society organisations and individuals, I wrote the President, who holds the Portfolio for Information, requesting a meeting regarding the Office of the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Information's failures: no mandatory annual reports tabled, unanswered public information requests, and erosion
ns' constitutional right to information.Abriefing note accompaniedtheletter. Therewasnoresponseto the letter, and therefore no meeting.Todenycitizensthe courtesyofaresponseisbad enough.Toeffectivelyrefuse to discuss an issue of which you hold portfolio responsibility, and which is
the oxygen of democracy and the essence of good governance, does a disservice to the President's rd Office. On23 April2025,I sentapre-actionlettertoMr Charles Ramson Snr , C o m m i s s i o n e r o f InformationandtheMinister of Natural Resources, reminding them of longoutstanding requests for information and indicating myintentiontoapproachthe Courts if they still refused my request. I received a response from Mr Ramson that was dismissive, characterising my concerns as "transparently relentless, brazen alignment with the agenda-driven, political media malcontents." He mocked citizens' rights as a "self-induced myth of a constitutional right to information” and my concerns as “manicured spasms of delusional concern, opportunistic at
best, but deceptively disruptiveatworst."
Rather than address his statutory failures, Ramson threatensthathisoffice"will strenuously defend on its behalf, any mischievously contrivedlitigation,however authored" - an apparent attempttointimidatecitizens exercising their legal rights.
The irony is stark This Office was established to facilitate the enjoyment of several constitutional rights, guaranteeing inclusive democracy and the right to information Instead, it consumestensofmillionsin public funds while producing nothing of value. Itishighlydisappointingthat the President condones this flagrant mockery of transparencybyhissilence.
Having exhausted all reasonable avenues, I will shortly initiate legal proceedings to obtain the information I sought. The
rule of law must be upheld, particularly by those sworn to administer it. Our group will soon resume its public campaign to obtain our rights.
I call on my fellow Guyanese to follow the example of a Trinidadian who, a couple of years ago, wasconfrontedwithadenial of access to information and whosuccessfullypursuedhis case all the way to the Privy Council. I wonder whether theLawLordssilentlyasked themselves: what a backwards culture that requires its citizens to resort tosuchextremeaction.
I am providing copies of allthreelettersreferencedin this correspondence for transparency and public interest. They allow the public to judge the inadequacies of the official attitudeandresponses.
Sincerely, ChristopherRam
Parliamentary petition on policing gathers strong support
DearEditor,
The Guyana Human RightsAssociation (GHRA)
is heartened by the outpouring of support for its petitiontoParliamentcalling for “an immediate, independent and thorough investigation into the operations, conduct, and leadership of the Guyana
Police Force, to be conducted by a credible and impartial international organization.”
The Petition attracted 195actualsignatures.Italso gained considerable traction on social media Social media posts reached over 68,000 people through Facebook,withslightlyover 8,000 people engaging, through a combination of 'likes','comments'or'shares'. GHRA extends sincere thanks to all who took the trouble to convert their indignationintoaction.
This collective action illustrates how petitions can help cooperative action between civil society and parliamentarians,offeringan alternative path forward amidst the racial and political polarization that characterizes public life in Guyana. It also underscores the positive potential of social media, often dismissed as a space for divisive commentary While thepetitionwaspromptedby the scandalous mishandling of the investigation into AdriannaYounge'sdeath,its scope addresses a wider pattern of misconduct: repeated scandals involving money laundering, illegal asset acquisition, corrupt procurement practices, politically driven promotions, narcotics disappearance, and chronic weaknesses stemming from internalcontrolfailures.
Aparticularly disturbing development under the current administration is the steady privatization of policing Private security firmsareincreasinglyacting beyond their legal remit.
Sheriff Security, in particular,hasinvolveditself in high-profile government disputes, including recent unrestsurroundingAdrianna Younge'sautopsy Witnesses reported police officers accompanying a Sheriff vehicleandseeminglytaking instructions from its armed personnel. Private firms are now operating at mining sites and interfering in licencing disputes, further blurring the lines between state and private authority This growing influence is especially troubling given the allegations surrounding the family behind Sheriff Security including a housing scandal involving a
senior Ministry of Housing official, and prior charges related to gold smuggling through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Notably, the same family maintains a strong presence on the pro-government social media outlet "Guyana DailyNews.”
Beyond these recent defects, the rot runs deep. The Guyana Police Force, born from the colonial-era “Guyana Militia,” has never fully evolved into a modern civilian policing institution. It remains overly centralized, bloated in rank structure, lacking in career development opportunities, repressive of unrest rather than protection of citizens and disconnected from the communitiesitserves.
Regards
ExecutiveCommittee
Guyana Human Rights Association(GHRA)
Dismissal has more questions than answers
DearEditor,
The surprising and sudden dismissal of the cleaner of the school and explanation offered is like the hotel drowning death - more questions than answers - and seems to be a case of more in the mortar than the pestle
Thebigquestionis,why now?
And if the reason was her job performance, which it was alleged was p o o r , t a r d y a n d unsatisfactory (INews May 7), why go to lengths about the fire and her conduct, for which she w a s h a i l e d a n d celebrated?
And all the balderdash a b o u t I W D a n d considerations for her circumstancesispuzzling. Ifshewasgoodenough to be kept on your humanitarian grounds, why the sudden change of heart now?
Surelyhercircumstances
have not drastically improved?
There is a comingling of the fire conduct and job performanceconduct,pitting oneagainsttheotherinorder to justify the actions taken. The public will draw its conclusions.
Regards ShanshunMohamed
BLUNT BLUNT
Not a dictatorship, not yet
A democracy without freedom is like a human body without breath. It is a like nation in name only, a hollowed-out shell where the rituals of governance persist but the essence of liberty is drained away
This is the direction in which Guyana now tilts. The country's governance is becoming an unsteady ship listing under the weight of assaults on the free press, state-orchestrated smear campaigns, political intransigence, and the weaponization of public institutions against dissenters.
It is not a dictatorship, not yet, but a slow, methodical suffocation of freedom—a democracy by appearance only, where the people vote but do not truly speak, where the opposition exists but does not truly function, where power is not shared but monopolized in practice.
The free press, the indispensable foundation of any functioning democracy, has found itself under siege. Weekly, the government does not merely respond to criticisms; it assails the press with venom that transcends rebuttal.
To defend one's record is democratic; to vilify journalists, to attack their credibility with the fervour of a prosecutor bent on securing a conviction in the court of public opinion, is something else entirely.
The government's response to press scrutiny has morphed from engagement to outright hostility, turning the media into a battlefield where reporters must either withstand the onslaught or retreat into silence.
Nandlall says persons who stand with
rioters opposing terrorism charges
Attorney General (AG) andMinisterofLegalAffairs
Anil Nandlall, on Tuesday, defended the charges of terrorismlaidbytheGuyana Police Force against a numberofpersonswhowere part of fiery riots across the country last Monday evening.
The protest erupted following the disclosure of the autopsy report of 11year-old Adriana Younge, whosebodywaspulledfrom the Double Day hotel pool onApril24,last.
During his weekly programme “Issues in the News,” Nandlall said that a number of persons have raised concerns about the terrorismcharges.
He said they all seem to be affiliated with one politicalventure.
“They have a problem withthechargeofterrorism. Well,ifyoustandontheside of the scrapes, if you stand on the side of the thugs, and you say that you will embrace the thugs and the scrapes,ifyousaythatthatis yourposition,thenyoumust oppose the charge of terrorism,”theAGreasoned.
To persons saying that the charge is wrong, Nandlallsaidtherecouldnot have been a better or more appropriate charge instituted.
“Which part of this here isexcessive?Whoseverwith the intent to strike terror in people, when you light the road afire and you robbing everybody that pass on the road,whenyougoinpeople supermarket and you rob everybody, when you get
cutlass and chopping vagrants on the road, what you intend to do, if not to strike terror in people,” he wentontosay
He told viewers that if they should reach out to the peoplewhowerethevictims of these attacks on the roadways, and those being robbed,theywouldfindthat theyexperiencedintenseand overwhelmingfear
TheAGstatedthatwhile persons have the right to protest, looting and driving fear into citizens, including business owners, will not be tolerated.
Kaieteur News reported on May 1 that 42 men and one woman were hauled before various courts on charges of break and enter, larceny and inciting public terror, following an autopsy
Ramsonrespondstoinfo requestwithdismissiveattack
…mocks citizens' rights as a “self-induced myth of a constitutional right to information” — Ram
After weeks of silence, attorney-at-law Christopher Ram said he has finally received a response from Guyana's Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson SC. But instead of addressing concerns about
t r a n s p a r e n c y, t h e Commissioner mocked citizens' rights as a “selfinduced myth of a constitutional right to information.”
Ram, who previously announced plans to sue the government over its failure to release information, revealed that Commissioner Ramson replied to his April 23 pre-action letter This followed weeks of protest action outside of the Commissioner's office demanding that he carry out his office mandate According to Ram, the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Information described the right to information as a “self-induced myth of a constitutional right” and dismissed citizens' concerns as “manicured spasms of delusional concern, opportunistic at best, but deceptively disruptive at worst.”
report that 11-year-old Adriana Younge died by drowning Those riots resulted in two men being shot and killed, several othersinjured,andclosetoa dozenChinesesupermarkets beingburglarised.
Some 29 of the 42 men appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at theGeorgetownMagistrates' Court,whiletheotherswere arraignedatcourtsoutsideof the capital. Eighteen-yearold Emmanuel James of Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown and25-year-oldJamalSmall o f J a m e s S t r e e t , Albouystown, Georgetown,
were jointly charged with terrorism, break and enter, and larceny.It is alleged that onApril28,2025,atHunter Street between West Front Road and Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, James and SmallbrokeintoJinBaoLin and stole a quantity of groceries, phone cards, household items, hardware items, alcohol and snacks valuedat$500,000. It is also alleged that on the same day at the said
committed a terrorist act by placing wood and other items on the roadway and setting fire in a manner that caused destruction of property
James and Small were not required to plead to the indictablecharge.
“We had no issues with the visit of Mr. Azzrudin Mohamed” – residents of Lake Capoey
In a joint statement on Wednesday, the councillors, tourism operators and residents of the Lake Capoey community expressed that they had no issues with businessman AzzrudinMohamedvisitingtheirvillage.
Commissionerof Information, Charles Ramson SC
Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram
The statement comes a day after a video was circulated with Toshao Wendy Francis saying that she was disrespected by the businessman and others, and also accused himofbreachingtheAmerindianActsincehe isanoutsiderwhodidnotseektheCouncil's permission before entering the community Refuting her claims, the statement said, “Lake Capoey is a tourist community As such,becauseweusuallyhaveahighvolume of customers on a weekly basis, it was decidedyearsagobythecommunitythatwe would allow visitors to come into the communityonalimitedbasiswithoutwriting forformalpermission.Thoserulesarestillin force in the community to accommodate tourismandassuch,noletterisneeded.”
Toshao Wendy Francis
“Rather than address his statutory failures, Ramson threatens that his office will strenuously defend on its behalf any mischievously contrivedlitigation,however authored, an apparent attempttointimidatecitizens exercisingtheirlegalrights,” Ramsaid.
Ram outlined that the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Information Office was established to facilitate the enjoyment of several constitutional rights, guaranteeing inclusive democracy and the right to information.Instead,hesaid, the office consumes tens of millions in public funds while producing nothing of value. Moreover, Ram also criticized President Irfaan Ali for remaining silent on the issue, despite holding
Inaletter,Ramexplained thatinsteadofrespondingto the substance of longoutstanding information requests, the Commissioner alsothreatenedtovigorously fight any court challenge.
portfolio responsibility for information.
“ I t i s h i g h l y disappointing that the President condones this f
s silence…To deny citizens the courtesy of a response is bad enough. To effectively refuse to discuss an issue of which you hold portfolio responsibility, and which is the oxygen of democracy and the essence of good governance, does a disservice to the President's Office,”Ramstated.Hesaid he will proceed with legal action but signalled that the casewillnowalsoformpart ofabroaderpubliccampaign demandingtransparencyand respect for constitutional rights. He highlighted, “The rule of law must be upheld, particularly by those sworn toadministerit…”
ItwasalsodisclosedthattheViceToshao was made aware of the businessman's intendedvisitbyacommunitymember,who handled parts of the organising, and the information was shared, via a WhatsApp group, to the Councillors. It was also highlighted that Team Mohamed's is not responsible for any lack of communication that may have happened between the community organisers, the Vice Toshao, the Councillors,andtheToshao.
Further, the residents, councillors and tourism operators sought to clear up misinformationbeingspreadinrelationtothe visit. Firstly, it was, “One small boat came beforeMr Mohamedwithsevenpersons,not from the community Another boat with Mr Mohamed, residents from the other side of the lake, and I would assume - his two bodyguards- came shortly after It was not boatloads as was said by the Toshao.” Secondly, the residents clarified that Team Mohamed's visited the community at the request of several residents and there is evidencetoshowsuch.
Additionally, the statement said in contrast to claims by the Toshao, no Councillor was disrespected by the team
during the visit. In fact, the Councillors remained neutral and most stayed in the village office, with only one greeting the businessmanandengaginginaconversation pertaining to agriculture. “The Toshao was the only one taking offence to the visit. The loudest persons in the outcry against the Toshao were from the villagers who wanted to see Mohamed there, not from the seven persons visiting with Mohamed,” the statementsaid.
Itfurtherclarifiedthat,“She(theToshao) said that Mr Mohamed had nothing good to say; on the contrary, Mr Mohamed, as is normal, gave a small talk and listened to the people'sconcerns.Hedidalotmorelistening than speaking. He did not flaunt his wealth, hedidnotmakeexorbitantpromises;hejust listenedandtooknotes.”
“Indeed,itisafactthatCapoeyislargely supportiveofthePPP/C.However,thereare many other persons that are open to hearing from other people as well It is also noteworthythatTeamMohamed'scameasa humanitarian group and not a political entity,”thestatementhighlighted.
Lastly, the residents, Councillors and tourismoperatorsadvisedcustomerstonotbe deterredbytheserecentevents,astheywere still welcome to visit the lake and enjoy the touristattractionsavailable.
Attorney General (AG)
Anil Nandlall
Man files $100M lawsuit against Govt. over false abduction claim
Deon Jeffrey, the contractor who was falsely accused by the police of abducting Adriana Younge, hassuedthestateforinexcess of$100millionindamages.
According to the lawsuit whichwasdraftedbyAttorney Darren Wade, Jeffrey is seeking declarations that his right to liberty was breached under Article 139 of the Constitution of Guyana; that his right to freedom of movement was breached under Article 148 of the Constitution; and that the Guyana Police Force falsely detainedhim.
The lawsuit names
Attorney General Anil
and was arrested for the alleged abduction of 11-yearold Adriana Younge at the Double Day Hotel the day prior
According to the document, Jeffrey was then escorted by the officers to the La Grange Police Station, where he was held in police custody until approximately 6:30 p.m., at which time he wasreleased.
Following the girl's disappearance, police had issued a statement claiming that surveillance footage showed the child leaving the Double Day Hotel and entering a Raum, bearing registrationnumberPSS4684, which was seen heading toward Vreed-en-Hoop. The command centre in Region Three supported the claim basedonitssurveillancefeed.
Nandlall, SC, as the defendant.Hewantsthecourt to declare that his right to equal protection of the law under Article 149(D) of the Constitution of Guyana was breached.
However, police later
As such, he is seeking damages in excess of $100 million for wrongful detention. In a document to support the lawsuit, Jeffrey rd explained that on the 23 April, 2025, a young girl by the name of Adriana Younge went missing at the Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East BankEssequibo.
He noted that on or about the said date, the Guyana Police Force informed both the public and the family that Adriana Younge had left the said hotel in a red Toyota Raum bearing registration numberPSS4684.
Jeffrey explained in the document that at the material time, the applicant was in possessionofthesaidvehicle, which he had rented from Mr SheifJamelMohamadYusuf.
th He explained that on 24 April 2025, at approximately 6:15 a.m., while driving from the western end of the West Bank of Demerara, he was stopped at the Demerara Harbour Bridge by the police
admitted the report was inaccurate and launched an internalinvestigationintohow the misinformation was disseminated. Jeffrey later told Kaieteur News of the treatment he received from police when he was apprehended.
According to him, on Wednesday, he was at home for the entire day and had not travelled to the West Coast or even into town. Jeffrey, who worksinconstruction,saidhe hadtakenthedayoffandonly left home briefly in the morning to deliver eggs for a friend in the area before returning home. He said he remained there for the rest of the day and assured that more than 10 persons can confirm hisalibi.
On Thursday morning, Jeffrey related that he got up around 05:00h, to take his brother and his brother's partner to Georgetown However, at about 05:45h while approaching the Demerara Harbour Bridge in (Continuedonpage16)
Deon Jeffrey’s red Raum
Govt. to spend another $24M to rehabilitate Cliff Anderson Sports Hall's roof
After spending over $300 million to rehabilitate the Cliff Anderson Sports Hallsince2022,theMinistry of Culture, Youth and Sport is preparing to spend approximately $24 million more to rehabilitate the facility'sroof.
This is according to an invitation for bids issued by the ministry, which stated that the bids for the project areexpectedtoopenonMay 13, 2025, at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB)office.
Kaieteur News had reported that the ministry
c o m m e n c e d t h e rehabilitationprojectin2022 to modernise the sporting facility
During a visit to the sports hall back in November2022,Ministerof Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, told this publication that a contract worth $97M, which was a w a r d e d t o E C S Construction & General Supplies, covered only the first phase of the project.
That phase, he noted, entailed the redesign of the frontsectionofthebuilding, w h i c h w o u l d b e reconstructed. The minister explained that the works at the sports hall would be carried out in phases that wouldrunconcurrently This publication had reported that in December
Supplies to the sum of $89,840,020.
Aside from the $97 million contract and the $89 million contract for the HVAC,theNPTABhadalso awarded a contract in December 2022 for electrical installation. That project was awarded to A. Ogransein&Sonstothetune
rehabilitation of the sports hallbackinJanuaryduringa press briefing, Minister Ramsonhaddisclosedthatin total,thegovernmenthad,at that time, invested some $321 million in various workstothebuilding.
Providing a brief breakdown on some of the projects, he said that for
Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had awarded an initial contract for the installation of the HVAC systems at the facility That project was given to ECS Construction & General
Sections of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall which have been refurbished (Photocourtesy,PresidentIrfaanAli/Facebook)
of$31,409,000.
Following that, NPTAB awarded a $60,324,675 c o n t r a c t t o S & K Construction Consultancy Service & General Supply for the completion of the northernfaceofthebuilding.
Speaking about the
p l u m b i n g w o r k s , approximately $7.6 million wasspent,andthatwasdone b y K N V D e s i g n s
Construction Another $4 million was spent to replace an area which had rotten boards in a concrete structure Further, he mentioned rehabilitation workwasdoneontheroofby Rishma and Sisters Enterprise for $9.4 million. Rehabilitationwasalsodone on the side walls for $7.9 million,whichwasexecuted by R. Persid Construction, and ceiling works for $12 million.Notably,theminister explained that in relation to theinstallationofAC,which wasinitiallyawardedfor$89
million, “We had to terminate that project in 2023.Theycompletedabout $65 million worth of works, butweterminatedtheproject because they were delaying, itwaspoorperformancesoit delayed. It is not that they weren't doing quality work, itisthattheyweretakingtoo long.”
To complete the installation of the AC, he explainedthattheywentout backtotenderandawardeda $37 million contract toward this. At the briefing, he also mentioned that the remaining works they intended to roll out to fully complete the project are to
upgrade the parking lot area andinstallbucketseats.
The minister had disclosed to this publication in2022thattheSportsHallis old and rehabilitation is aimed at modernizing the facility “You know, we are in a modern country We need to have a modern facility especially a modern indoor facility, it would be the only air-conditioned facility that is indoor in the country and that's important not only for the sports that we play there currently, let's say we wanna host international boxing this would be a good facility for that,” he explained at the time.
Pakistan vows retaliation after Indian strike over tourist deaths
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan/NEW DELHI, May 7 (Reuters) - India hit Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir with missiles on Wednesday and Pakistan vowed to retaliate saying it shot down five Indian aircraft,intheworstclashin more than two decades between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
India told more than a dozen foreign envoys in New Delhi that "if Pakistan
responds, India will respond," fuelling fears of a largermilitaryconflictinone
of the world's most dangerous - and most populated - nuclear flashpointregions.
Theescalationcomesata fragile moment for Pakistan's $350 billion economy, which recently emerged from an economic crisis with the government trying to shore up finances andmakeprogressonthe$7
Fund loan programme of 2024. India said it struck nine "terrorist infrastructure"sites,someof them linked to an attack by Islamist militants that killed 25 Hindu tourists and one local in Indian Kashmir last month.Pakistansaidatleast 31 of its civilians had been killed and 46 wounded, a military spokesperson said, andthatIndia"hadignitedan inferno in the region". This included deaths from the strikesandbordershelling.
Islamabad pledged to respond"atatime,placeand manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violationofitssovereignty", emphatically rejecting Indian allegations it had terrorist camps on its territory "For the blatant mistake that India made last night,itwillnowhavetopay the price," Pakistan Prime MinisterShehbazSharifsaid inatelevisedaddressonstate broadcaster PTV to the nation "Perhaps they thought that we would retreat, but they forgot that...thisisanationofbrave people." Pakistan's Defence M i n i s t e r K h a w a j a Muhammad Asif told broadcaster Geo News that Islamabadwouldonlystrike Indian military targets and notcivilians,inretaliation.
The Indian strikes included Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province, for the first time since the last full-scale war between the oldenemiesmorethanhalfa centuryago."Thetargetswe had set were destroyed with exactness according to a well-planned strategy,"
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said. "We have shown sensitivity by ensuring that no civilian population was affected in theslightest."
Islamabad said none of the six locations targeted in Pakistan were militant camps.
Fifty-seven commercial aircraft were in the air over Pakistan when India attacked, endangering thousands of lives, the spokesperson said, adding they included airlines of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Thailand, South Korea and China. In Muzaffarabad, the capitalofPakistaniKashmir, the Indian strike had badly damaged a mosqueseminary in the heart of the city. Five missiles killed threepeopleinthetwostorey structure, which also had residential quarters, locals said.
Reuters journalists saw the roof and walls of the concrete building crumbled under the impact of the strikes and household items scattered on the first floor
An Indian source said the mosque was actually a "terrorist camp", which Pakistan denies Pakistan has said all targets were civilians Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan have fought two of their t h r e e w a r s s i n c e independence in 1947 over Muslim-majority Kashmir, which both sides claim in fullandcontrolinpart.
‘OPERATION SINDOOR’
The Pakistan prime minister's office said five Indianfighterjetsanddrones had been shot down, although this was not confirmed by India The Indian embassy in Beijing called reports of fighter jets downed by Pakistan "disinformation" Local government sources in IndianKashmirtoldReuters threefighterjetshadcrashed in separate areas of the Himalayan region overnight and their pilots had been hospitalised. Indian defence ministry officials did not respond to Reuters requests
for comment Images circulating on local media showed a large, damaged cylindrical chunk of silvercoloured metal lying in a fieldatoneofthecrashsites. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticityoftheimage.
Indian forces attacked facilities linked to Islamist militant groups Jaish-eMohammed and Lashkar-eTaiba, two Indian military spokespeople told a briefing in New Delhi, in what New Delhi called "Operation Sindoor".
Jaish said 10 relatives of its leader Masood Azharwho was released from an Indian jail in 1999 in exchange for 155 hostages from a hijacked Indian Airlinesplane-werekilled.
Sindoor is the Hindi language word for vermilion,aredpowderthat Hindu women put on the forehead or parting of their hair as a sign of marriage. India had earlier said two of three suspects in the tourist attack were Pakistani nationals, without detailing any evidence. Pakistan has denied any links to the attack. Wednesday's strikes used precision weapons to target "terrorist camps" that served as recruitment centres, launchpads and indoctrination centres and housedweaponsandtraining facilities, Indian military spokespeople said. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the top official in its externalaffairsministry,said the strikes were to pre-empt furtherattacksonIndia.
Misri briefed 13 foreign envoys in New Delhi on the strikes, an Indian source f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e developments said. "India madeitclearthatifPakistan responds, India will respond," the source said.
The neighbours also exchanged intense shelling and heavy gunfire across their de facto border in Kashmir, with 13 civilians killedand43woundedonthe Indian side and at least six killed on the Pakistani side, officialstheresaid.
Blairmont Cricket Club youths get support from Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”
Blairmont Cricket Club, a leading producer of youth cricketers in Berbice and beyond, is the latest club to benefit from this noble joint initiative between Anil Beharry of Guyana and KishanDasoftheUSA.The youth section of the West Bank Berbice based cricket club were the recipients of one pair of batting pad, one cricket bat, one helmet and cricketballs.
Shabeer Baksh, a long serving player and cricket administrator, was very thankful for the gear which will used to by the junior cricketers of the club. This projectishappytobepartof the development of young cricketersinthearea.
This initiative will continue to strive to make everycommunityasaferand better place. We are pleased tobepartofthedevelopment of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports,cricketinparticular
Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $610,000 in cash, thirteen colored cricket uniforms, one set of stumps, twotrophies,thirtyfivepairs ofcricketshoes,thirtyseven pairs of batting pads, forty
six cricket bats, forty one pairs of batting gloves, twentyninethighpads,three pairsofwicketkeepingpads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, fourteen gear bags, thirteen bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fiber glass bat, one pair of floppyhat,onepairofinners, sixteen boxes and four of white cricket balls, thirteen boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone and twenty eightfootballs.Inadditionto theabove,gearwithvalueof over $600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former N a t i o n a l w i c k e t keeper/batsman All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available atthetime.
To date, ninety-eight players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directlyfromcash,eightgear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, thirty five bats, four boxes,sixhelmets,thirtysix pairsofcricketshoes,twenty one pairs of batting pads, twenty five thigh pads, one bat grip, thirty eight pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeepingpadsandfour pairs of wicketkeeping gloves with one pair of inners Many others
benefited indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited from two used bats
Pomeroon, Leguan and Wa
t CommitteesandCottonTree
Die Hard also received one boxofredcricketballseach, Cold Fusion Cricket Club thirteencoloruniformswhile RHCCCCreceivedsixboxes ofballs,fifteenwhitecricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicketkeeping gloves, two setsofstumpsandbails.
Severalotherentitiesand persons are among the other beneficiaries.
Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the countryandclubleadersalso assist to identify same Progressive and well managedcricketclubswitha youth program, will also benefit.
Distribution will continue.
Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
Central Stags confirmed for 2025 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League
G E O R G E T O W N , Guyana – TheCentralStags will represent New Zealand in the 2025 ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), marking the team's first international campaignin15years.
Following a dominant domesticseason,theCentral Stags enter the GSL as the reigning champions of New Zealand's 2024/25 Super Smash. Topping the regular season table, the Stags showcased their class in the final, beating a star-laden Canterbury Kings side to secure their fourth national T20title.
Led by experienced skipperTomBruce,whowas named New Zealand Cricket'sMen'sSuperSmash Player of theYear, the Stags come into the GSL on the back of an excellent campaign last season
Bruce's explosive 157 67 strike rate underscored his value, while strike bowler Blair Tickner claimed the most wickets in the competition, averaging just 19.13withtheball.
Thesquadwilldrawona rich talent pool from New Zealand's central provinces that have been a proven breeding ground for internationalstars.Several (Continueonpage19)
Youths of Blairmont Cricket Club poses with their gear.