The New Amsterdam Town Council along with community stakeholders are set to address the growing prevalence of child beggars which is on the increase in the century old township.
At its statutory meeting, Ms. Patricia Lynch, chairperson of the Social Development committee, said that initially the group’s intention was to tackle vagrants within the town, however, it was observed that child beggars are a much bigger issue, with some minors being drawn from outside the municipality especially from East Canje areas.

Children, primarily males under the age of fourteen years, are often seen gathered outside at popular restaurants where they indulge soliciting money. It is the assumption of the Council, that the children are victims of child neglect, as some parents are usually at home, but their children are on the streets at various hours of the night.

Further, it was observed that the tendencies are heightened whenever at entertainment events, as the children would come out in large numbers to solicit monies and other items from revelers. It is said that this occurrence also causes trouble for event sponsors, as the children would allegedly gather emptied glass bottles which would then be taken away and sold elsewhere.

“This is a troubling issue for us here in New Amsterdam,” Ms. Lunch said, “As a result of this growing issue, we are looking at an inter-agency approach involving the Ministries of Education and Social Protection along with the Guyana Police force to hold a community stakeholders meeting , where we can discuss this situation. I personally would deal with the parents first, but the community stakeholders would have varying expertise’’, she concluded.