A leaky roof at the Mibicuri Magistrate’s Court in Black Bush Polder provoked Magistrate Krishndat Persaud to say that he would not be holding court in that building again until the problem is fixed.

At Tuesday’s session, Magistrate Persaud told the court that all other matters would now be heard at the Whim Magistrate’s Court. He took the decision to shift the sessions to the new location because the “ridging from the roof is missing and it allows the rain to come right through.” Stabroek News understands that during a session on February 5, it rained and the magistrate’s documents were soaked. Reports are that the building is also plagued by marabuntas (a stinging wasp) and that the magistrate and other persons had been stung in the past.

This newspaper has also learnt that the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court has been closed temporarily, because of its dilapidated state. Matters that were scheduled to be heard at that court were shifted to the Springlands Court three weeks ago “until further notice.”

According to reports the court was housed in the bottom flat of the police’s living quarters and was infested with bats and marabuntas. During hearings bat droppings would fall on lawyers and the magistrate, causing discomfort. This newspaper was also told that the windows were broken and that rain often splashed into the building, necessitating, on one occasion, the bar table to be moved to a dryer spot.

Magistrate Chandra Sohan who was asked to sit at the Number 51 court while Magistrate Persaud was on leave, had commented that he could not work under those conditions.