FOR many years Guyanese have suffered at the hands of idle persons who spend many hours loitering on roadsides, junctions, bridges etc. These persons are sometimes drug users, thieves, vandals and assaulters. Many of the idlers are youths no older than 14 to 19 years and these wrongdoers like to engage in their evil pursuits after nine o’ clock in the night. Members of the public are often in danger because these idlers could invade homes, hit persons for little or no reason at all, rob individuals, and hijack cars, rape women who may have the misfortune to cross their paths and damage property including things like vehicles. My vehicle was struck with an object by a member of a road side gang and I had to secure the services of a Police Constable to disperse the gang so that the idler and/or his group could not cause further trouble to unsuspecting persons.

I am sure that I am not the only individual who has been bothered by an idler and I am certain that many others have had to face unpleasant and lawless behaviours.

These behaviours have to be dealt with since petty crimes can lead to big crimes and small offences can lead to grievous infractions of the law. The example of the kind Police Constable who helped me needs to be emulated, not only in the curative sense but in the preventative sense as well.

The dispersion of road side and other idlers ought to done in conjunction with other long term plans which focus on a reduction of idleness. The latter plans should centre on education, employment and constructive social pursuits possibly including religious activities.
ERROL R. RAMDHANY
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