Pigeons, sewage cause havoc at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court

Feb 04, 2018 Sports, https://www.kaieteurnewsonline...n-magistrates-court/

Once again, the sewage is overflowing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts despite the $160M spent to rehabilitate the building a few years ago.

The sewage tank which is located in close proximity to the prisoners’ lock-ups continued to overflow posing a health hazard to scores of persons traversing the court daily.

Last Friday, the sewage which began to overflow with an unbearable scent, flooded the main entrance to Courts One, Two, Eight and Nine and also the collection office, which is situated on the lower flat of the two-storey courthouse.

Many persons including police officers, prisoners, and reporters stationed at the court have raised concerns about the situation which has become intolerable.

Not only do persons who have matters in the courts and the prisoners have to endure the overflowing sewage, they also have to deal with dozens of pigeons that live in the ceiling of the courthouse.

A pregnant woman who was at the court last Friday stated, “Just imagine I came to accompany my son who has a matter in court and I had to leave before the matter was called because of the unbearable scent.

“I would not advise any pregnant person to go at that court if they don’t have matters there because the condition is terrible. Is bare s#*t and p#*s you smelling when you reach at the court.

“What’s worse is that you can’t even sit on the benches because half of them are covered in faeces and if you sit on the bench too long, the pigeons will s#*t on you.”

Another court visitor who was standing on the stairway when the sewage began to overflow stated, “Every time you come here, this place getting more and more bad. They gun fix this situation when one of them pigeons s#*t on one of them Magistrate or when they accidently walk in the sewage.

All the money the government spent on rebuilding this court and it can’t be maintained. Imagine them children have to come here and see s#*t floating around this place.”

The pigeons on the other hand cause havoc for persons sitting, standing or even making their way to the courtrooms.

While persons sit on the benches outside the courtrooms waiting for their matters to be called, they are sure to walk into the courtroom with pigeon droplets on their clothing or on their head especially if they are visiting the courts for the first time or not paying attention.

While many reporters and photographers stand on the steps to get a glimpse of the prisoners when they arrive and to take photos, that is not always the best idea.

One reporter added, “I went and look for a house. And I didn’t eat any breakfast. So when I reach back in town, I bought pholourie and the bird s#*t inside the bag. They also s#*t in my hair. This is not the first time. It’s like every other day them bird does s#*t on me.

“Another time, they s#*t in my bag of channa but I didn’t notice it at first. Is when I was about to put the spoon in my mouth, I notice something strange on my hand and on the channa bag.”

Another woman who gave her name as Stacy said that while she accompanied her son to the court last Friday, for a matter, she was seated on a bench outside of Court Six with her daughter. While there, she felt something wet on her forehead.

The woman added “After I felt a wet substance on my face, I wiped it and that is when I realised that a pigeon mess on me. When I looked up in the ceiling, I saw about a dozen pigeons on the beams in the ceiling.”

Last May, the sewage tank overflowed, flooding the main entrance. The prisoners had to use the stairway to enter and exit the different courtrooms.

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