The University of Guyana (UG) has expressed profound sorrow and solidarity with the nation following the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose passing has sent shockwaves throughout the country and reignited urgent calls for child protection and justice.
In a statement issued on Sunday, UG described the past month as a “horribilis mensis”-a horrible month-marked by a surge in violence against the country’s most vulnerable, including women, girls, and young boys. The university said Adrianna’s death has “shaken the conscience of the nation,” underscoring the unthinkable and heart-wrenching nature of losing a child in such circumstances.
UG acknowledged the outpouring of support from its alumni, staff, students, and members of the public, many of whom have been providing trauma counselling, legal guidance, and community outreach to those affected. The university pledged to continue offering medical and counselling services to staff, students, and anyone directly impacted by the tragedy.
In response to the incident, UG welcomed the Guyana Police Force’s introduction of new Standard Operating Procedures for missing persons cases, informally dubbed the “Adrianna Alert.” The university called this an “important initial response” to safeguarding children in the future and committed to maintaining active engagement with law enforcement to address concerns about operational lapses in the early stages of Adrianna’s disappearance.
Plans are also underway for the launch of additional “UG Cares” hotline services, aimed at supporting individuals grappling with trauma triggered by the incident. The university emphasized the need for collective action to prevent such tragedies from recurring, calling for a national commitment to honesty, fairness, justice, caring, hope, reciprocal respect, and love.
“As we mourn, we must also work together to ensure that such tragedies never happen again,” UG stated. “Let the tears of us all not fall in vain, but fall to nurture the seeds of honesty, fairness, justice, caring, hope, reciprocal respect and love in our country.”
The university extended heartfelt prayers and condolences to Adrianna’s family, the grieving community, and the nation, reaffirming its commitment to support, healing, and justice in the wake of this devastating loss.
