To facilitate rehabilitation…
THE New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court, in Berbice, has been temporarily relocated to Main and King Streets, to facilitate rehabilitation at the Vryheid Street location, which started on August 30. The Vryheid Street building, which houses two courtrooms, a holding area and offices where bail, fines and affiliation fees are paid, was in need of major corrective works.
A notification about the relocation of the Court, signed by Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice of Appeal Carl Singh, said, due to the work being done at Vryheid Street, the business of the Court and all its sittings will be conducted at Lot 3 Main and King Streets until further notice.
On December 11, 2006, a woman attending Court in Vryheid Street was left suspended in the corridor on the northern side of the edifice, after the rotten floor boards broke under her weight.
Dolly Alexander, of Angoy’s Avenue, on the eastern fringe of New Amsterdam Township, had gone there in the interest of her son, who was a defendant in a criminal case.
Alexander and others were standing on the walkway, from where, as is customary, litigants would listen to hear their names called by the Court Orderly.
However, while waiting, she, unknowingly, stepped on the weakened flooring and was left dangling for moments before being assisted by a Police rank.
On July 17, 2009, Magistrate Geeta Chandan Persid-Edmond, presiding, was hit by falling debris from the deteriorated ceiling in her chambers.
The magistrate was on her way to the washroom when fragments of asbestos fell on her.
Almost immediately, she started to cough and felt burning sensations in her eyes.
Police Inspector Satrohan Dayaram, prosecuting, was summoned into the chambers and he, too, complained of a burning feeling in his throat and nose.