Landlady removes tenant’s door, window panes for non-payment of rent

A landlady yesterday admitted to a court to removing a door and window panes from a tenant’s apartment, saying that she did so out of anger because she had not been paid rent since May.

Onika Wishart, 33, appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman in a Georgetown court, where the charges read to her stated that on August 2, at Middle Street, Albouystown, being the landlord of Yonette Jordan, she removed a door and several window panes while she was not executing any repairs to the building.

She pleaded guilty.

Wishart was also accused of using threatening language and threatening behaviour to Jordan on June 3. She pleaded not guilty to these charges.

Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick made no objection to bail.

When granted the opportunity to speak, Wishart told the court that Jordan signed an agreement to pay her $30,000 in rent but had failed to do so since May.

She subsequently requested that Jordan remove from the premises, given that the rent is her only means of income for herself and her special needs child.

It was out of anger, she said, that she removed the door and the windows from the room the defendant occupies.

Wishart, who pleaded with the Magistrate for lenience, was ordered to replace the door and window panes that she removed. She was also granted a total of $60,000 bail on the abusive language and the threatening behaviour charges. The matter was later adjourned to September 14.