By Navendra Seoraj

DESPITE the efforts of local authorities to rid the city streets of vagrants, areas are still plagued by what many irritated locals see as the “unpleasant site of the unhealthy and unkempt bunch.” Recently, a building was erected at the corner of Regent Street and Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown. However, due to the displacement of vagrants from their regular base, they have taken over the area, which is yet to be utilised by the legally authorised persons.
Therefore, persons within the area are calling on the authorities to do what they must in order to rid the area of these vagrants.
Vagrants have been a perpetual problem for not just the authorities, but also the regular citizens who traverse the streets on a daily basis.
Strewing the roadside and pavement with garbage and other unwanted items, vagrants create a great deal of discomfort for the average individual, even becoming targets for inhuman treatment.
While the factors influencing their personal plight may not be obvious, their presence in public places pose a number of difficulties for the society.
Meanwhile, it was reported last month that the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) had installed sprinklers around the perimeter of the building specifically to rouse sleeping vagrants and to force them to move from the area.
And, condemning the wetting of the vagrants, Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence had announced in the House that a Georgetown Resuscitation Committee had crafted plans to have many of the homeless persons taken off the streets.
Once these persons are screened, many will be sent to the Hugo Chavez Home for Reintegration and Rehabilitation on the West Coast of Berbice. There, she said, government will ensure that they are rehabilitated and receive life skills training to foster reunions with their families and communities and use their newly-acquired skills to gain employment.

Meanwhile, many citizens have expressed concern over the need for the Social Protection Ministry to get cracking on this issue in view of the expected influx of visitors for Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations in about 70 days.
Currently there are a number of faith-based organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations that cater for the homeless by providing accommodation, meals and other daily necessities but the issue, according to some social workers, must be dealt with in a cohesive multi-sectoral and comprehensive manner.