By Rupa Seenaraine
In recent years, Guyana’s streets and thoroughfares have witnessed an increase in vagrant presence, especially key areas of the capital city Georgetown.
From teens to pensioners, these individuals often circle around several locations until they find a place where they can rest, and solicit food, money or other items.
After some time, many have faded in society’s awareness, so that they remain forgotten and sometimes, their stories untold. In every case, there are details which differentiate them from each other. 
The Sunday Times Magazine took to the streets, on Thursday last, where stories surfaced of many persons leaving their satisfactory lives to take beatings from the rain and others unfortunate to have a place to call home.
Many were cases of abandonment among the elderly population while others resorted to vagabonding because of some disability that disenfranchised them from entering the world of employment.
This was not the same for 53-year-old Ulus White, who once had a job and a stable life. Sharing his story with this publication, the elderly man sat at his usual spot at Regent and Light Streets while reflecting on his life.
Once a security guard for most of his life, White had even owned his own home at Grove on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). Originally from Berbice, the man said he had that profession for most of his life, but took to the streets in 2014 after losing his job multiple times. He said there was no definite possibility of regaining stable employment at another firm after exhausting all avenues.
“I belong to Berbice and I used to live in Grove, but all of this is out of frustration make I does got to be out here, you know. I had to leave most of my jobs and most of my life, I was a security guard. Out here, I certain to get a meal or so, but you can’t really depend on people to come,” he expressed.