Adrianna Younge’s drowning: ERC slams ‘inflammatory’ link between child’s death, Hinduism by Caribbean Life

…warns journalist to revise misleading report

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has issued a formal letter of concern to Caribbean Life journalist Bert Wilkinson, denouncing the outlet’s recent article titled “Child killed in bizarre religious ritual at a Guyana hotel,” for what it calls a misleading and inflammatory portrayal of Hinduism and Guyana’s religious diversity.

The article, published on April 28, 2025, appeared in the wake of the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose body was discovered in the pool of the now-gutted Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on April 24, almost 24 hours after she was reported missing from the facility.
The ERC on Tuesday said that while responsible journalism is crucial in moments of national grief and concern, the framing of the article risks inciting religious division and perpetuating harmful stereotypes, particularly targeting the Hindu community in Guyana.
“The phrase ‘bizarre religious ritual’ could be interpreted as attributing the tragic event to a specific religious practice,” the ERC’s statement noted. “This characterisation risks associating this tragedy with Hinduism, especially given the context provided in the article,” the letter to Wilkson and Caribbean Life seen by this publication stated.
The ERC emphasised that Hinduism does not condone or support violence or human sacrifice, highlighting core tenets such as non-violence (ahimsa), respect for life, and compassion. The Commission added that the portrayal not only misrepresents Hindu traditions but also undermines the shared values upheld by Guyana’s religious communities, including Christianity and Islam.
“Such implications are misleading and do not reflect the diversity and complexity of religious practices within Hinduism, nor do they accurately represent the principles and traditions of the other major faiths in our country, Christianity and Islam. These religions, each deeply rooted in values of compassion, peace, and human dignity, categorically reject any notion of violence or human sacrifice.

Suggesting otherwise not only distorts the truth but risks deepening religious misunderstandings in our multi-faith society”.
“Suggesting otherwise distorts the truth and risks deepening religious misunderstandings in our multi-faith society,” the Commission stated.
Under its constitutional mandate, the ERC is tasked with promoting harmony and mutual respect across ethnic and religious lines in Guyana. It warned that such editorial choices in international reporting, when left unchecked, can fuel intolerance and erode social cohesion in an already emotionally charged environment.
The ERC urged Caribbean Life and Wilkinson to revise the article’s headline and content, noting that such narratives must be grounded in verified facts and approached with cultural sensitivity, especially in plural societies like Guyana’s.
The ERC is mandated by the Constitution of Guyana to “encourage and create respect for religious, cultural and other forms of diversity in a plural society.”
In the letter to Wilkinson, the ERC said, “articles like yours, when not carefully framed, can undermine these efforts by fostering misconceptions and intolerance. We urge you to consider revising the headline and content to avoid generalisations about religious practices.”