BV school shut down over pigeon plague

Oct 16, 2025 News

– teacher punished for speaking out

(Kaieteur News) – The BV Quamina Primary School on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) has been closed for the remainder of the week as the regional administration addresses the pigeon infestation.

BV school closed over pigeon infestation

The pigeon infestation unfolding at the BV Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara.

This is according to a notice issued to staff by the headteacher on Wednesday.

Kaieteur News reported Tuesday that a seven-year-old student of the school was hospitalised, while at least four others fell ill as pigeon infestation and other health concerns spiraled out of control at the learning institution.

Contacted on Wednesday, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag said the issue is being addressed.

“We are looking at the infrastructure and see how we can be able to cover the holes etcetera. And the children are fine, from the time the incident has been brought to our attention and it is unrelated by the way. We sought medical attention for them, so they are fine.”

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News was informed that a teacher who spoke out to the press about the infestation was removed from the school on Wednesday with immediate effect.

A senior education official told this newspaper that an allegation made against the female teacher led to the transfer.

In a public statement Tuesday, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) said it was informed that the pigeon infestation in the classroom and around the compound was severe. “The build-up of droppings and nesting debris makes the classroom unsanitary. Pigeon waste exposes students and teachers to harmful bacteria and allergens daily,” WIN stated. The party even published images of ill students lying on chairs joined together in a classroom.

General Secretary of WIN, Odessa Primus at the BV Primary School on Wednesday.

On Wednesday part executives, Hanna Mohamed, Dr. Gordon Barker, Tabitha Sarabo- Haley and General Secretary, Odessa Primus visited the school, which also has a section for special needs children.

Primus told a live broadcast that the situation was “wholly acceptable.”

“It is unacceptable on so many levels because now we have children who already have challenges whether it is psychological, physical whatever the challenges are and now to have those children additionally placed in a situation where their health is compromised that is reason to worry even for those children who may not have a disability,” she explained.

The situation, she noted, is forcing parents to find additional resources to take their sick children to the hospital for medical attention.

Calling for immediate intervention, she noted that the education minister should put systems in place to ensure the school is properly sanitised and conducive for learning. Primus noted that the government talks about Guyana being the fastest growing economy, yet children and teachers are exposed to “unfortunate situations like these.”

“If we are going to sit up on social media as a government and you are going to talk about all of our infrastructural development in this country. Big celebrations over the bridge, let us be able to celebrate the way we treat with our human resources, the way we treat our children, the things that we put in place to ensure their security, to ensure that they are protected that of course is extremely important,” she further expressed.

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BV Quamina Primary School, pigeon infestation, Teacher, victimization

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