GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Jun 13, CMC – The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Monday said it “strongly condemns” what it termed “the reprehensible and deeply offensive comments” made by a person on social media directed at the late Adrianna Younge and her grieving family.
Last month, the The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said 11-year-old Younge, whose body was found in a swimming pool on April 24 almost 24 hours after her grandmother last saw her during a family outing.at a hotel, has now been officially ruled a drowning, with no signs of foul play.
The GPF said that its position followed the the final postmortem report submitted earlier by the three internationally renowned pathologists.
In a statement, the ERC said that it is “appalled that, during a time of mourning, such vile and hateful expressions were publicly shared, further inflicting pain on a family already burdened by tragic loss.
“These actions violate the basic standards of decency and mutual respect that are essential to maintaining harmony in our multi-ethnic society,” it said with regards to the posting by a woman on social media.
The ERC said it has officially “opened a formal case into this matter and intends to engage” he woman, whom it named. It said she being requested to report to the Commission to address the content and intent of her remarks.
“The Commission reminds the public that freedom of expression, while protected, must be exercised responsibly. The use of social media to spread hate, incite division, or cause psychological harm, especially in the context of bereavement, is unacceptable and contrary to the values enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana.
“The ERC continues to monitor this matter and will act in accordance with its constitutional mandate to promote harmony, prevent ethnic or racial hostility, and encourage respectful public discourse,” it added.
In May, the government had had announced a four and a half hour curfew and banned all public meetings, gatherings, and assemblies of persons, procession or marches in any public space after people had protested the death of the child.
The United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, had appealed for peace and the rule of law, and urged all involved to commit to peace as the Guyana government sought to resolve the situation.
CMC/gt/ir/2025