By MP Natasha Singh Lewis- My Heart is heavy – I wish Adrianna’s parents can hug her one more time and tell her how much they love her but instead their grief is now compounded by the burdens of National unrest.
I stand in solidarity with the family and loved ones of Adrianna Younge, whose tragic death has evvel again highlighted systemic injustices in our society. While I unequivocally support the demand for justice, accountability, and meaningful reforms, I also emphasize that the destruction of property, though sometimes a desperate cry for attention, is not the most effective or sustainable path to achieving lasting change.
I wish to re-emphasize that as a Muslim, a mother, a National Leader I condemn in the strongest terms the circumstances that led to the death of Adrianna Younge and demand a full, transparent, and impartial investigation into circumstances that led to her death.
It is time that those responsible for this gruesome act must be held accountable under the law, and systemic failures that enabled this tragedy must be addressed.
My dear Guyanese let us look at what is going on and make sound decisions, while property destruction may force government attention, it often: Shifts focus away from the core issue of justice, it harms small businesses and communities already struggling economically, it provides justification for heavy-handed state responses that further endanger protesters.
Let me be clear, I want justice for Adrianna but I am also cognisant that the Henry boys (despite violent street protest) never got justice and so I urge all of us who are hurting to understand that sustainable change requires strategic, organized advocacy—not chaos that alienates potential allies and hurting other innocent people especially school children.
I am heartbroken, as I would have hoped that as a Member of Parliament seconding the Motion dated 28th April, 2025 calling for the establishment of a National Child Emergency Notification System by my colleague Jermaine Figuera would have given me and others the opportunity to highlighted the systemic injustices in our society and articulate a demand for justice, accountability, and meaningful reforms but that motion was denied by the Speaker of the National Assembly because he felt that the Government and the Police is doing enough.
The series of events in my mind could have been handled differently but denying the motion compounded by the initial announcement of the autopsy results for little Adrianna has led to Guyanese demonstrating public outrage.
I want Justice for all the people who lost their loved ones by Police brutality or incompetence but I do not support hurting innocent people in that process.
God Almighty will not change the condition of a people until they change themselves!