RIVERSTOWN, Essequibo Coast — Former youth parliamentarian and standout debater Nayomi Singh was killed in a car crash Sunday afternoon, sending shockwaves across Region Two and prompting an outpouring of grief on social media. She was 18.
Police confirmed that the fatal accident occurred around 5 p.m. as Singh, of Huis t’Dieren, was driving along the Riverstown public road. Preliminary reports indicate that a motorcyclist suddenly entered her lane, causing her to swerve and lose control of her vehicle before crashing into a utility pole. A video circulating online shows her car badly mangled in the middle of the roadway.
Singh was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her body was later taken to the Suddie Mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Residents, relatives and friends flocked to the hospital shortly after news of the accident spread, many visibly shaken and in tears. Her mother, described by witnesses as inconsolable, said the two shared a close bond and had spoken just hours before the tragedy.
Singh, a former student of Abram Zuil Secondary School, was widely admired for her academic achievements and her exceptional talent in debating. In 2023, she earned the title of Best Speaker while leading her team to victory over Anna Regina Secondary in the regional leg of the JOF Haynes Debating Competition.
Tributes from classmates, teachers, youth advocates and members of the wider community flooded Facebook and other platforms Sunday evening, many remembering her as disciplined, confident, and full of promise.
Police in Region Two said investigations into the crash are ongoing.