MP Figueira presents motion calling for National Child Emergency Notification System

Opposition Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira today presented to the National Assembly a motion calling for the establishment of a national child emergency notification system, named in honour of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge.

This motion reads:

WHEREAS the tragic and brutal abduction and murder of 11-year-old Adrianna Young has shaken the collective conscience of the people of Guyana, transcending all ethnic, religious, and social divides;

AND WHEREAS there is a national outcry for urgent reforms to enhance child protection and strengthen public safety mechanisms;

AND WHEREAS the experiences of other jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union, have demonstrated the effectiveness of child emergency alert systems such as the AMBER Alert in facilitating the rapid recovery of missing children and saving lives;

AND WHEREAS the swift dissemination of critical information to the public through mobile devices, media outlets, and public networks has proven to dramatically improve child recovery rates and deter criminal activities against minors;

AND WHEREAS Guyana, as the fastest growing economy in the world, must proactively implement security measures to protect its most vulnerable citizens, especially its children, amid increasing exposure to criminal elements;

AND WHEREAS the establishment of a national child alert system would not only improve law enforcement’s ability to respond promptly to child abductions but would also empower the general public to actively participate in safeguarding our children;

AND WHEREAS the implementation of the national child alert system would stand as a lasting and meaningful tribute to the memory of Adrianna Young, ensuring her life and untimely passing serve as catalysts for lasting national protection reforms;

BE IT RESOLVED that this National Assembly calls on the Government of Guyana to immediately begin consultations with stakeholders, including the Guyana Police Force, telecommunications providers, civil society organizations, and child rights advocates, to design and implement a national child emergency notification system;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, within six months, the necessary legislation and regulations be drafted and tabled to establish the operational framework, responsibilities, and protocols to govern the national child alert system.

 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the system be named the “Younge Child Alert System” in honor of Adrianna Young, to symbolize Guyana’s commitment to the protection of every child within its borders;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that annual reports on the system’s activation, effectiveness, and outcomes be laid before the National Assembly to ensure transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.

In presenting the motion, the parliamentarian expressed “the tragic abduction and murder of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge has profoundly shaken the consciousness of this country and again I say, it transcends ethnic, religious and social divide. This grievous loss demands not only solemn remembrance but decisive action and justice.”

Proposing that the system be named “The Adrianna Alert System”, MP Figueira said such a system would significantly enhance child protection mechanisms, foster public vigilant and deter potential predators.

Further commenting on the situation, MP Figueira said the gruesome murder of Adrianna Younge underscores glaring gaps in Guyana’s child protection and the Guyana Police Force’s emergency response framework.

“It did not go unnoticed that while this proposed motion was made public, it resulted in the Office of the Commissioner of Police of the Guyana Police Force putting out a statement of its standard operating procedures with regards to missing children and persons, which essentially said they do have ways and means of dealing with this already. Mr Speaker, it is with the greatest of respect to the efforts of our good men and woman in the Guyana Police Force, it should be known that what this motion seeks to promote is not to compete with the Guyana Police Force, but to complement and improve its efforts for greater effectiveness and reliability,” he outlined.

According to an emotional Figueira, “the police must come to the consciousness that their presence efforts and actions with this very sad circumstance has resulted in the loss and death of a Guyanese child, a niece, a student, a friend, a neighbour, a daughter.”

The parliamentarian added that “people of Guyana demand more, Mr Speaker, from our people in uniform. Clearly, Mr Speaker, the reliance solely on traditional investigative techniques used by the Guyana Police Force is insufficient in a rapidly digitising and expanding society.”

Moreover, the parliamentarian called for reforms within the Police Force.

“Mr Speaker, most will agree that there is too much loopholes in this Babylon system where trust and confidence in the police has to be restored…the Guyana Police Force has to rid itself of some individuals, criminals, Mr Speaker, in uniforms, giving shelter under the Force’s umbrella.”

Meanwhile, pointing to the successes of similar systems in other parts of the world, the parliamentarian noted that “beyond practical outcomes, the institution of this Adrianna Alert System would have profound societal impact. It would send an unequivocal message that the safety of the children of this country is a national priority, reinforcing communal responsibility and moral vigilance. Moreover, Mr speaker, it would honour the memory of Adrianna Younge, by ensuring that no other child falls victim to similar horrors without an immediate, and powerful, collective, Guyanese response.”