By Svetlana Marshall
Surrounded by a thousand roses, the body of 11-year-old Adriana Younge laid in a pink casket at the Vergenoegen tarmac on the East Bank of Essequibo on Sunday, as thousands of Guyanese joined her grieving parents, relatives and friends, in demanding justice, while bidding their final goodbye.
Lost in grief besides her daughter’s casket, Adriana’s mother, Amecia Simon, wailed bitterly. Her eldest daughter’s face is now tattooed to her arm.
Adriana – who attended the Parika Salem Primary School – was found on April 24 in the pool of the Double Day Hotel, one day after she was reported missing at the same hotel. Her death triggered widespread protests.
At her funeral, she was eulogized in words, song and dance.
Her aunt, Amika Lewis remembered Adriana as a “radiant angel” who was born on November 12.
“She was no ordinary child”, her aunt said.
“As the first born, she quickly became a beacon of love, respect and care within the family. She was warm hearted, kind and always willing to help others. She encouraged her younger siblings, Gabriella and Sade, through cajoling, through coaching, through reprimanding, to strive for excellence and set an example of discipline, obedient and exemplary behavior,” Amika Lewis said.
Remembered as a devoted Christian, Adriana enjoyed attending Sunday school, the aunt recalled.
Having completed the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) days before her death, she dreamt of attending Queen’s College or Zeeburg Secondary School.
“Adriana was a joyful and optimistic child with wisdom far beyond her years. She often spoke of her dreams and had already envisioned herself walking the halls of Queen’s College. She was a little visionary with big dreams, determined, driven and destine for greatness. And even though I would like to add here, her life was cut short, she indeed achieved that greatness, even in her death,” her aunt said.
To her teachers and classmates, Adriana was more than just another student, she was special. One of her teachers said the class is not the same with Adriana’s absence.
“Her voice is missing from our lessons, her smile is missing, and every single day we miss her more and more. Adriana was taken from us in a way that was cruel, painful and wrong. She did not deserve to be hurt. No child deserves that. She deserved a future full of dreams, laughter and life. Today, we not only remember Adriana with love, but we also call for justice. We ask that those who hurt her be held responsible. We ask for fairness. We ask for truth and we owe it to her never to be silent,” her Science teacher said.
At the grave side, her father stood for more than 30 minutes talking directly to the casket bearing the body of his first born.
He reflected on their times together, the scoldings and laughter and how well she knew him. Before sealing the tomb, he placed his hat on top of the casket as a final personal gift.
Adriana Younge was laid to rest at the Vergenoegen Cemetery, almost two months after her death.
There are still calls for justice, as family members still question her death at the hotel.
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