TUSCHEN, Guyana [Peter Paul Media] — A once-sleepy community on the East Bank Essequibo, this village has always been defined by its roadside commerce, busy markets, and the steady spread of housing schemes. For nearly two decades, one landmark dominated its landscape and its identity: the Double Day Hotel.
It was more than just a business. For families, it was a poolside retreat; for young people, a nightlife spot; for the community, a sign that Tuschen had its own share of modern convenience. Today, however, that same hotel lies in blackened ruins — its name etched into history not for leisure, but for controversy and loss.
When the Double Day Hotel opened its doors in the early 2000s, it quickly became a gathering spot for weddings, birthdays, and festive celebrations. In a region with limited recreational outlets, the hotel’s swimming pool was its crown jewel, drawing children and families every weekend.
“It was the only place close by where you could get that kind of experience,” recalled one longtime resident. “Before Double Day, if you wanted to take the kids swimming, you had to go to the city.”
Its location on the busy Tuschen Public Road made it visible to commuters and the hotel soon became a symbol of the area’s growing economy.
Over the years, stories about Double Day shifted in tone. Late-night parties, loud events and suspicious deaths earned the venue a bad reputation. Police were occasionally called to break up fights, and rumors spread about questionable activity at the premises.
Still, it remained open with its pool and event hall continuing to draw steady business. Few could have predicted the series of events in April that would thrust the hotel into the centre of national outrage.
On April 23, 2025, 11-year-old Adrianna Younge vanished during a family visit to the hotel pool. The next morning, her lifeless body was discovered in the very water where she had last been seen. The case shocked Guyana, sparking protests across the country.
For many, the Double Day Hotel became a symbol of neglect and unanswered questions. Community members demanded to know how a child could disappear unnoticed and why initial police accounts seemed riddled with inconsistencies.
Vigils were held outside the building, and its once-friendly facade became a backdrop for grief and fury.
As protests escalated, tragedy struck again — this time in the form of flames. In late April, the Double Day Hotel caught fire, its upper sections consumed by a blaze that firefighters later described as “maliciously set in multiple areas.” Investigators confirmed what many suspected: the fire was no accident.
By the time the flames were under control, much of the building was destroyed. Walls were blackened, the pool deck littered with ash, the interior gutted.
The destruction marked the symbolic end of Double Day as a functioning business. What remained was a skeleton of concrete, and with it, questions about whether the fire destroyed valuable evidence linked to Adrianna’s death.
Reactions to the fire were mixed. Some residents expressed relief that the hotel — a place now tied to painful memories — was gone. Others worried that burning it only made it harder for investigators to find the truth. “The fire took away whatever answers we might have had,” said one protester. “We wanted justice, not more silence.”
The owner’s home, located a few streets away, was also set ablaze by angry demonstrators, highlighting the depth of the community’s rage. The nearby community suffered as well, residents become sick from the toxic air and soot-filled homes took weeks to clean.
Peter Paul Media visited the area on Wednesday and noted the hotel exists only as a shell of its former self with its future uncertain. For some, it remains a symbol of happy days gone by; for others, it is inseparable from tragedy, anger, and mistrust in institutions.
What is clear is that Double Day’s story is no longer just about a hotel. It is about how a community grapples with loss, how a nation struggles with accountability, and how a building once associated with joy became a rallying point for justice.
The Double Day Hotel may never be rebuilt but its history — and its destruction — will linger in Guyana’s memory for years to come.
Double Day Hotel Timeline
Early 2000s – Hotel opens in Tuschen, offering lodging, an event hall, and one of the area’s first public pools. Quickly becomes a local leisure hub.
2005–2015 – Hotel grows in popularity. Hosts weddings, birthdays, and holiday events. Develops a reputation for nightlife and noisy gatherings.
2016–2024 – Concerns rise over safety and security at the premises. Police called to break up disputes on several occasions.
April 23, 2025 – Eleven-year-old Adrianna Younge disappears during a family visit to the pool.
April 24, 2025 – Adrianna’s body is found in the pool, sparking nationwide protests and unrest.
April 25–26, 2025 – Fire engulfs the hotel. Investigators later confirm the blaze was maliciously set in multiple locations.
May 2025 – Hotel reduced to ruins; public debate grows over lost evidence and the role of authorities.
September 24, 2025 – The Double Day Hotel remains a charred shell, its future uncertain, its history tied forever to a national tragedy.
Peter Paul Media 