The Caribbean Cries Out for Its Children

By Island Writers

Across the Caribbean, the cries of mourning mothers echo through communities, each one grieving the unimaginable – the violent loss of a child. In what should be safe spaces — homes,
schools, neighbourhoods – innocent lives are being cut short. From Guyana to Jamaica, Trinidad to Saint Lucia, the Caribbean is mourning under the weight of grief and injustice as children fall
victim to unspeakable acts of violence.

The recent death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge of Guyana is just one of many tragedies that have sent shockwaves throughout the region. Her body, discovered in a hotel pool under questionable circumstances, has sparked a chorus of outrage, suspicion, and deep sorrow.

Though the autopsy declared drowning, visible injuries and unanswered questions have left the public demanding more than a medical conclusion – they want truth. They want justice.

Adrianna’s story is painfully familiar. In Trinidad, 9-year-old Ashanti Riley was brutally murdered in 2020 after leaving home to visit her grandmother.

In Jamaica, the country wept for  Kyllian Campbell, a 10-year-old boy whose charred remains were discovered after being reported missing. These children, like so many others, are not just names in headlines – they are symbols of a region losing its soul to violence and silence.

Each tragedy reignites the same haunting questions: How did this happen? Who is responsible?

And why does justice feel so delayed – or denied?

Far too often, investigations stall, evidence disappears, or the system moves at a glacial pace. In some cases, families endure years of agony with no resolution, while perpetrators walk free.

The result? A growing sense of distrust in law enforcement, frustration with the justice system, and a dangerous acceptance of violence as an unfortunate norm.

But the people are no longer silent.

Vigils are turning into marches. Hashtags are becoming movements. Communities are banding together to demand reforms in child protection, mental health support, and crime response.
Across the islands, activists, parents, educators, and young people are uniting with a single message: Our children are not expendable.

The Caribbean, rich in culture, colour, and resilience, must now channel its strength into protecting its most vulnerable. Governments must invest in better investigative tools, child welfare systems, and swift legal processes. Schools and communities must work together to educate and empower youth while keeping them safe.

“Our nations mourn” – not out of weakness, but from a deep and desperate yearning for change.

Let the mourning be a wake-up call. Let the pain of every mother who has buried a child echo through the chambers of justice. Let every tear water the seeds of a safer future.

Because until our children can walk freely, sleep peacefully, and grow without fear – the mourning will not end.