Montague to probe disgrace at Vineyard Town Golden Age Home

Minister with responsibility for local government, Robert Montague, has ordered an investigation into the conditions at the Vineyard Town Golden Age Home in Kingston.

At the same time, Montague has directed the board of directors for the home to convene an extraordinary board meeting "as soon as possible" to go over the allegations.

The minister's directives, which were announced in a statement to the media yesterday, came after a Sunday Gleaner exposé highlighted cases of abuse and neglect and the inhumane conditions at the facility which houses elderly and disabled indigents.

"The minister has also unreservedly expressed regret and is apologising to the families, guardians and loved ones of the affected residents vowing to 'let the chips fall where they may' once the facts have been unearthed and should they give rise to the allegations," read the statement issued by Ann-Marie Mittoo, director of communications in the Department of Local Government (DLG).

"The DLG wishes to place on record that these images do not reflect the level of quality delivery of care administered daily and every effort is being made to improve the operational efficiencies and level of care to the residents entrusted in their care," the statement added.

conditions shocking

Meanwhile, general secretary of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Senator Aundré Franklin, also weighed in on the shocking conditions, urging the Government to "leave no stone unturned in addressing the serious and heart-wrenching concerns".

Franklin expressed disgust at the "acts of inhumanity and abuse" reported in the Sunday Gleaner article, adding that it was in "direct contravention of the party's manifesto commitments for improving the treatment of elderly and indigent citizens under special care.

The Sunday Gleaner exposé, which included disturbing pictures and an online video at www.jamaica-gleaner.com/videos, revealed that in some instances elderly residents are subjected to a mass bathing each morning. They are stripped, lathered then sprayed with water from a hose.

According to the article, a number of severely disabled residents spend most of their days wallowing on dirty floors with flies all around.