Guyana President Irfaan Ali on Monday dismissed calls for additional international investigators to be brought in to probe the tragic death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge, whose body was discovered in a hotel pool on April 24.
Speaking after delivering remarks at the 39th annual general meeting of the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police (ACCP), Ali said he has already fulfilled his commitments to the case and suggested that political interests are now shaping the narrative.
“I’ve already done what I had to do,” the president told reporters. “Everything I committed to in the case…I’ve done what I said I would have done. The political handlers are now at work aggressively. Let the political handlers deal with what they want.”
Younge’s family had called for a probe by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or another international law enforcement agency, expressing doubt over the initial findings and the pace of the investigation. In response, President Ali pointed to steps already taken, including the involvement of independent foreign forensic pathologists and the hiring of retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police homicide investigator Leonard McCoshen to assist local police.
McCoshen is expected to arrive in Guyana on Monday night, according to Deputy Police Commissioner and Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Wendell Blanhum. He said that investigators are currently gathering evidence and will weigh it against competing theories before seeking legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“The investigators, they were instructed not to disregard any evidence whatsoever,” said Blanhum. “What they are going to do is evaluate and examine the evidence against some competing theories and possibilities.”
So far, statements have been collected from a “substantial” number of witnesses, with interviews scheduled for two more individuals who were at the pool when Younge went missing. Investigators are also reviewing video footage and still images from the scene.
The autopsy, which was conducted by foreign forensic specialists, concluded that Adriana died from drowning. Authorities confirmed that water samples and specimens from the child’s body have been sent to the United States for further testing.
U.S. Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot acknowledged the family’s request and said the FBI stands ready to assist—if the government makes the formal call. “They would determine, based on their capacity and their resources, if they’re able to assist,” she said. Theriot also emphasized the U.S. embassy’s support for peaceful demonstrations, noting that she had no objection to protests outside the embassy.
“The protest: It’s part of free speech and, as long as it’s a peaceful protest, we’re more than happy to hear the demands of the protesters,” Theriot said, referencing the FBI’s role in the 2023 Mahdia dormitory fire investigation as an example of successful international cooperation.
Despite assurances from the government, public pressure continues to mount, with many still calling for broader international oversight into what has become one of Guyana’s most high-profile and emotionally charged investigations in recent memory.
