Each day Jamaica gets at least one more beggar. I have written about it before but it continues to confront me every day. Each day you step out on the street, you see someone new who has either fallen on hard times or lost their mind and has been abandoned by their family.

The latter is of great concern to me because I don't know if it is the economics of taking care of someone who has gone mad, or the 'embarrassment', I could not see myself doing that to a member of my family.

But, hey, this is Jamaica today where we don't hesitate to turn our backs on those who need our help the most because somehow we feel that it is all about us. It's about the shame we feel as opposed to the pain the other person suffers daily, kind of like those beggars we see on the street each day.

Now I don't have a problem helping someone, but more often than not I don't have any money to give to anyone. Most days my wallet is empty. So when someone walks up to me and begs for money, I am sorry but I am not about to give the little I have to someone when I need it as badly as they do. Sorry, that's just how it is. I have a wife and children to feed and God knows it's hard enough as it is.

their approach

However, what drives me nuts sometimes is their approach. One morning this week I am coming out of an ATM where I had gone to get some money to buy something for my son. As I exit, this man disheveled and smelly walks up, "Yow, gi me a money nuh?" I ignore him.

He then says, "Me see you a come outa de machine so me know you have money."

I was going to reply but then I said to myself, he is desperate so he is liable to say anything.

As I drove off I thought about it some more and began to get angry. Did this man give me any money to put down? Why does he somehow feel like I am obligated to give him anything? I am not the Good Samaritan or the woman in the Bible who gave up her last mite to the church. No, I am not that person.

no obligation

Oftentimes I will buy a homeless person some food because I am not inclined to give them cash. I am never sure which of them ended up on the street because of drugs and I am not about to feed a bad habit, but I am also under no obligation to hand out cash to any and everyone who walks up to me on the street looking like a train wreck.

By the way, there is a woman out there who begs and then lodges the money in the bank. She has been doing this for decades now so I am guessing she is rich. There is also an elderly man who begs along Waterloo Road who can be quite rude when he doesn't get what he wants.

There is this other man along Half-Way Tree Road who strategically positions himself at the traffic light in front of Balmoral Avenue. As soon as the light turns red he appears asking for money and you can't move unless you run the light.

I honestly don't like it because it's like you are being confronted by a beggar every turn you make. It's not a good look for either them or the country.

Their families should do the honourable thing and help them to help themselves.

Send comments to levyl1@hotmail.com.

One morning this week I am coming out of an ATM where I had gone to get some money to buy something for my son. As I exit this man disheveled and smelly walks up, "Yow, gi me a money nuh?" I ignore him. He then says, "Me see you a come outa de machine so me know you have money."