In the midst of the arguments were the residents themselves and Stabroek News went to hear what they had to say.

Patrick Baird, 75, who says he suffers from stricture - the retention of urine - says he lives at the Palms because his children are not in a financial or social position to care for him.

Baird does not think much of his meals saying that “the food is no good. I have to go and buy food from a [nearby cafe].”

According to him, there is need for an official from the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security to visit the home and make observations.

His complaints were echoed by 72-year-old David Harry who also suffers from stricture. “The washroom in a terrible state and dem [physically challenged persons] does fall down in there sometimes.” Official figures from the ministry state that $3.5M has been spent on cleaning

and janitorial items for the first five months of this year.

Harry says the lighting system also needs to be refurbished, “...if something bite me, I can’t even see fuh save meself.” He praises the nurses and notes that it is difficult for one nurse to efficiently care for more than 40 residents at the same time.

According to the official figures, there is a nursing staff of 81 for a resident population of 282.

Meanwhile, David Shaw also says he is unhappy with the food: “I like chowmein, soup and cook-up rice, not plain rice.” Shaw, who has no children, comes from Linden and his mother lives abroad. He says he often receives just two or three slices of bread with some coffee for dinner at 6 pm and is often hungry shortly afterward and has to wait until 9 am the following day for breakfast.

At a recent press conference, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Bibi Shadick said at least $8M had been expended so far this year on food supplies. This included monthly purchases of 2,200 lbs of fresh fish, 800 lbs of beef, 1,000 lbs of chicken and 6,000 eggs.

Another resident, Hilbourne Ramsammy, 63, has lived at the old- age home since 1981, meaning he was a resident when he was only 41. He originally lived at William Street, Campbellville. According to Ramsammy, his meals are sometimes supplemented with chicken and other meat because he helps out the kitchen staff. Official figures number the kitchen staff at eight along with a food supervisor.

Former Assistant Accountant at City Hall, Lawrence Denny, 69, says the Palms became his home in 1999 after he became destitute.

“Most of the nurses treat me very good. But here I get rice and beans to eat and rice and hard fish... I got to soften [the food] with my gums.”

Denny, who was initially very ill when he started living at the Palms, says he needs to consume a high protein diet. He adds that he has to purchase his medication and supplement his diet with his pension.