By Idrissa Bangura

The “bra u borbor dae” slogan is widely regarded in Sierra Leone as a new method devised by especially unemployed young people to beg on the streets.

They often chase people in their vehicles or those who appear neatly dressed and hanging bags on their shoulders. The situation is becoming quite embarrassing, if not a menace. Those in this trade believe it’s the only means of their daily survival, until they are fully engaged in any kind of meaningful activity. The number of this new breed of beggars is growing on a daily basis especially in the capital, Freetown. “These guys are really becoming nuisance not only to other people in our society but also to people who visit our country,” an irate elderly citizen fumed, suggesting that government needs to find every possible way to engage them by creating vocational and other skills learning (training) institutions as the case maybe. Otherwise, he added, their number will keep growing.

There is no denying the fact that the situation has exacerbated criminal activities including but not limited to excess consumption of dangerous drugs such as marijuana, kush and armed robbery making life very uncomfortable for unanticipated population.

“If these people have something to do or somewhere to engage themselves gainfully, it will help a lot, thus reducing the constant fear we are living in,” another suggested.

Given the backdrop that governments all over the world cannot provide jobs for its entire population, calls have therefore been made on the youth themselves to take responsibility of their own future by embarking on anything that will make them self-reliant, considering the fact that their current trade will not improve their lives or make them put food on their tables.