Dear Editor,
Each day I head off to my daily activities only after bracing myself to be accosted by a multitude of beggars coming to my gate, at almost every stoplight on my way to work, and at gas stations, restaurants, shopping plazas, etc. While I understand their plight, the issue is that the sheer amount of beggars, each with expectations of receiving a multiple of $100, is unaffordable.
I have worked out a system in which I carry money just for this purpose, but woe unto me when I try to explain that I have no money. I then have to endure the wrath of a spurned beggar along with his threats. They seem to think that, because of my skin colour, type of car that I drive, or where I live, that I have unlimited money to give away.
Our offices are located in the vicinity of Three Miles, in our PM's constituency, and over the years, the situation at the traffic lights has got worse. They seem to work on a shift system. Most are polite, but some are aggressive and abusive, especially embarrassing when we have foreign visitors in our cars. We have previously written letters of complaint to the Hunt's Bay Police Station and the Police Traffic Department and a few times they have taken them off the street for a day; but they reappear the next day.
Our dilemma is, if we move our offices to try and avoid them, then we would abandon the community projects that we assist with. But, if we stay, we have staff members who are uncomfortable with the situation, plus we are ashamed to invite suppliers to visit our offices and be exposed to the beggars' embarrassing behaviour. It seems to me to be symbolic of the breakdown of our society and the lack of options available to these young men — many of whom are asking for money to support their children.
The next question is, should I expect to be safe from those who keep looking at what I seem to have?
Surrounded Son
Are we a nation of beggars?
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Each day I head off to my daily activities only after bracing myself to be accosted by a multitude of beggars coming to my gate, at almost every stoplight on my way to work, and at gas stations, restaurants, shopping plazas, etc. While I understand their plight, the issue is that the sheer amount of beggars, each with expectations of receiving a multiple of $100, is unaffordable.
I have worked out a system in which I carry money just for this purpose, but woe unto me when I try to explain that I have no money. I then have to endure the wrath of a spurned beggar along with his threats. They seem to think that, because of my skin colour, type of car that I drive, or where I live, that I have unlimited money to give away.
Our offices are located in the vicinity of Three Miles, in our PM's constituency, and over the years, the situation at the traffic lights has got worse. They seem to work on a shift system. Most are polite, but some are aggressive and abusive, especially embarrassing when we have foreign visitors in our cars. We have previously written letters of complaint to the Hunt's Bay Police Station and the Police Traffic Department and a few times they have taken them off the street for a day; but they reappear the next day.
Our dilemma is, if we move our offices to try and avoid them, then we would abandon the community projects that we assist with. But, if we stay, we have staff members who are uncomfortable with the situation, plus we are ashamed to invite suppliers to visit our offices and be exposed to the beggars' embarrassing behaviour. It seems to me to be symbolic of the breakdown of our society and the lack of options available to these young men — many of whom are asking for money to support their children.
The next question is, should I expect to be safe from those who keep looking at what I seem to have?
Surrounded Son
Are we a nation of beggars?
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