Quote Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
" Wow...I would guess they are hungry, and having maybe grown up around it for the beginning of their lives up to now............and they have no other
skills or means of surviving OR help others to survive........that is WHY they do it, but I DONT think they find it easy.......
After living here in Jamaica for nearly 20 years now and getting to know many different people in all economic levels on the island, I have to say that I dont find all that different of a mindset from the America I lived in for some 30 years. Most Jamaican people, the vast majority of the tens of thousands that I have met want to provide for their family on their own, without handouts. They are hard working, proud people who would never ask a stranger for anything but will often offer up what they have when a stranger is in need. Only if they are challenged by forces out of their control would the idea of begging come into their mindset.

I have to agree with Rambo, the typical reasons for why people beg strangers anywhere are the same in Jamaica. There is no mystery, but simple economics that most often cause the behaviour.