GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – Several people Monday blocked a section of Middle Street outside the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) mortuary as three foreign forensic pathologists were conducting an autopsy on 11-year old Adrianna Younge, whose body was found in a hotel pool at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo in Guyana last Thursday.

The protestors, beating drums, chanting slogans and ringing a bell, called for justice for the child whose death has rocked the hearts of Guyanese across the divides of politics, race, culture and religion.

A CT scan had earlier been conducted on Younge’s body before it was transported to the GPH mortuary for the autopsy expected to take over four hours to be completed..

Two of the forensic pathologists- Dr Glenn A Rudner and Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul- have been brought in by the Guyana government to conduct the autopsy. They are being joined by Trinidad and Tobago-born Chief Medical Examiner of the US State of Delaware, Dr Gary L Collins who was arranged by the girl’s family and lawyer, Darren Wade.

In addition to the three foreign pathologists, the family has also requested that Dr Caleb Mc Cloggan, an endocrinologist be present during the autopsy.

“At 12.30 (local time) they will start the process,” Dr Mc Cloggan told reporters, adding “please have patience”, appealing to the protestors to acknowledge other patients being cared for at the hospital.

Meanwhile, Opposition legislator Amanza Walton-Desir Monday called on the National Assembly to urgently debate a petition demanding an independent investigation into the actions taken by the Guyana Police Force, following the death of Young.

Walton-Desir questioned when the motion, submitted by the Guyana Human Rights Association and supported by concerned citizens, would be addressed. The petition urges Parliament to respond to public outcry over what it describes as persistent failures by the police to act lawfully and justly.

However, Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir, explained that the petition could not be debated due to its late submission having being received on the same day the Assembly convened. He reaffirmed that all petitions must first be reviewed by the Clerk of the National Assembly before being placed on the Order Paper.

The motion calls for an independent, internationally led investigation, the temporary leave of the Police Commissioner, and a comprehensive reform of the force to restore public trust and accountability.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has since that then Region Three Commander, Assistant Commissioner Khalid Mandall, has been transferred and sent on administrative leave, and three other police were placed under close arrest. The hotel owner and staff had also been questioned.

The hotel and a house belonging to the hotelier were burnt.