Sections of North Road in Georgetown have long been the stomping ground for male and female sex workers.
However, a new wave of prostitution and associated drug use, mostly by migrant women, is disrupting the neighbourhood beyond the tolerance of citizens.
The nightly disturbances, characterised by loud chatter, music and occasional physical assaults have extended into the daylight hours, with these persons taking up residence in a run-down building along the road.
The specific area in question is between Albert and Light Streets on North Road, two buildings from former President Desmond Hoyte’s home, where he lived until the time of his passing.
Residents, in sincere complaints to the News Room in recent weeks, said the situation has now become a health concern.
They are left to pick up used condoms and wrappers, garbage, and buds from marijuana rolls and cigarettes that are thrown into their yards daily.
Even the construction of taller fences has not helped the situation.
The News Room visited the area on several occasions, during the day and after midnight; the sight was nothing short of appalling.
The once peaceful residential stretch is now overrun by migrants, with well over 20 migrant men, women and children living in the two-bedroom house.
The News Room spoke directly with persons from three different households in the area about the concerns.
“Nighttime we can’t sleep,” one man complained.
Because of the sensitivity of the issue, they opted to remain anonymous but believe family members have hijacked the property, which belongs to an ailing overseas-based Guyanese man, and are extracting huge fees in the form of rent and in some instances, even sex, from these migrant women.
“This place is a wreck, about 30 to 45… migrants up in the house… if you see how they have this place.
“It’s not a guest house, it doesn’t have facilities for all of them.
“Every night they go in front of Mr. Hoyte’s house, stay there late making all sorts of noise and leave their rubbish.
“… these girls are asking for $15, 000 and up; I’ve heard them. Negotiations are going on loud,” one resident told the News Room.
Sanitization officials were called in over public health concerns and the Police were called in over the noise nuisance and other illegal acts. Politicians were also written to. But relief from the situation is either short-lived or slow.
“They would stand up on the veranda and pee into the gutter, then they have a prevalence spitting and coughing all the time… you need to see this thing to see what I’m talking about,” another woman related.
In fact, based on several nights of surveillance done by the News Room team, it seems a small enclosed section of the bottom flat of the house is offered as short-term spaces to the sex workers and their clients.
According to reports, these women have been living in the house since the first quarter of this year. Previously a larger group of migrant men lived there but their behavior is becoming increasingly worrying.
“…last night the session was ridiculously loud. They finish about minutes to three but usually, they finish about five or six o’clock. Sun got to come up before these people would move away,” another resident related.
The residents fear that the situation is giving rise to petty robberies in the area.
“One night they snatched a…lady bag and run in there; the woman saw them and the Police came and got them.
“People come here and pelt the house and so because of what they are involved in.
“Another weird thing, when we first called the Police they would come but as they got familiar with them and befriended them, they stopped coming,” the News Room was told.
The residents are asking for the authorities to intervene so that the peace, tranquility and cleanliness of their neighbourhood are returned.
