THE ordinary meaning of loitering suggests “lingering”, hanging out or pausing around indolently. Loitering becomes a minor offence against the law if, when asked by law-enforcement officers, the loiterer has NO REASONABLE EXPLANATIONS as to his/her purpose for being in a particular place at a specific time. Police can ask loiterers to move on, if they (the police) have reasonable suspicion that the idler is up to no good.

Similarly, a VAGRANT is a wanderer or idle, itinerant rover, vagabond or disorderly person given to being in places as a trespasser without permission of the owners of those places. Vagrants, like loiterers, are also liable to questioning and prosecution by police, when they don’t heed advice to move on.

Normally in Guyana, as elsewhere, young and old tend to gather in small social groups at certain favourable public spots. “Liming” or hanging-out” was a pastime in town and country for years. Folks gathered at the “four-corner” or on shop-bridges or on parapets for healthy chats, games and observations.

Also, criminal elements have now transformed liming into LOITERING WITH INTENT. Weapons are concealed on the person; citizens’ movements are monitored for criminal purposes and the law-abiding are molested and assaulted. CITIZENS NEED TO NOTE AND AVOID CERTAIN LIMING SPOTS. OBSERVE BUS-STOPS, BRIDGES AND SHELTERS and note who “limes” there frequently. GET TOGETHER. REMOVE LARGE CLUMPS PF BUSHES AND OLD, UNUSED VEHICLES from around the community. Times have changed and nothing seems to be wholesome and innocent as before.

BELOW IS THE LATEST UPDATE ON POLICE DIVISIONAL COMMANDERS: