The Good Samaritan Home For The Aged in Yellow Elder Gardens. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
THE operator of an old folks' home said yesterday his facility is now stuck "in the wilderness" after struggling to secure donations to beat a Friday deadline by Bahamas Power and Light to pay an outstanding bill of $7,000 or face disconnection.
Dr Kendal Capron, head of the Good Samaritan Home for the Aged, said that as of yesterday afternoon, the home had secured some donations -- approximately $700 -- which is not nearly enough to meet the amount needed to avoid disconnection.
Dr Capron said he and the home's 40 residents are now "waiting" for the week's end to see whether the facility will be without power, adding they "don't know where we are" on the facility's chances of avoiding disconnection.
This, Dr Capron said, is after he allegedly paid some $14,500 since February to settle a previous balance of $10,000 on the home's light bill.
He claimed the former figure was the result of an alleged discrepancy over two accounts and questions about where these payments should have been applied.
When contacted yesterday about the allegations, BPL officials told The Tribune the utility provider "does not comment on the accounts of its consumers".
"Persons experiencing difficulty in paying their electricity bills are encouraged to come into one of BPL's offices and speak to a customer service representative to make payment arrangements," a statement from BPL said.
Dr Capron, when asked if he has reached out to BPL for assistance, replied by saying: "I prefer speaking with (Minister of Works Desmond Bannister). If he wants me to have a word with him, then I'll do that with him. I wouldn't speak with nobody else until he tells me what to do."
Dr Capron told The Tribune that he has been invited by Mr Bannister to speak with him on the matter, but said he was unable to reach Mr Bannister due to the minister being in Cabinet yesterday.
Nonetheless, when contacted by The Tribune for an update on how donations were going, Dr Capron said: "We got some donations but not (the amount) that is needed. We still need donations, we really need donations.
"…So, we are here in the wilderness. That's all we are right now, we are in the wilderness. We don't know where we are as far as the government is concerned, we're in the wilderness, so we don't know.
"We have about 40 people inside of here, and they're dependent," he added. "Even the water, with the light off we can't get water to bathe them, we can't get water to do nothing. "We can't clean without water."
The Good Samaritan Home for the Aged has been in operation since the 1990s. It is located on Melvern Road in Yellow Elder Gardens.
Comments
Sickened 7 years, 4 months ago
This is something the numbers fella's should be contributing to - instead of refusing payouts to legitimate winners.
DDK 7 years, 4 months ago
AMAZING THAT IT GOT TO $7000.00 WITHOUT BEING DISCONNECTED....... CONNECTIONS PERHAPS BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD LOL!
sheeprunner12 7 years, 4 months ago
Do these people ever manage their finances and their I/E?????? ....... from MOF to old folks home ...... no one seems to have any accounting sense in this country!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG 7 years, 4 months ago
Did our friend "MIller" ever pay his outstanding bill? While were at it, this fuel surcharge is beyond a joke and never seem to reflect world oil prices, that coupled with a higher rate being applied after 200Kw hrs. To burn less than 200 Kw a month is almost impossible so why is the consumer being charged more for what is effectively a better consumer/customer ?.
DDK 7 years, 4 months ago
One would think with the amount of press coverage Mr. Miller gets, he would be squeakly clean and above board lol!
WHY the stupid fuel surcharge and VAT on TAX? Because We The People ALLOW it!!
Did I dream that the VAT was to be removed from electric bills?
alfalfa 7 years, 4 months ago
Homes like the Good Samaritan are a much needed entity in the Bahamas. They are the only places, other than the Geriatrics Hospital, that provide care and shelter for senior citizens, who are sick, are not cared for by their families, and for the most part are destitute. Having visited both homes (there was one on Bernard Road), It is evident that without the care of Dr. Capron and his staff, most of these people would perish. They receive a small subsidy form government, and irregular payments from family members of the residents, as well as NIB payments from those who are paid these. These funds are not sufficient to keep the facilities operating; pay staff members; utilities; purchase food, medicine and diapers, and they rely heavily on donations to keep their doors open. Because of the nature of their operation, BEC/BPL were no doubt compassionate in dealing with them. Perhaps Government should allow entities such as this to operate free of utility, and tax fees. People from all facets of society find themselves residents at these places, and many of them are from the Family Islands (Long Island included sheeprunner12). They turn no person away as long as there is a bed for them, and in most cases become the family of their residents, as visits from blood family members are few and far between (if at all). I commend Dr. Capron and all like him who provide this service to our community, and urge all who are able, to assist these institutions as much as possible with whatever donations they can afford. One never knows whether or not you or a family member may end up a resident at one of them.
sheeprunner12 7 years, 4 months ago
Not hating on Capron ......... but too many children are abandoning their senior citizen parents on the islands or in Nassau to "enjoy the good life" ....... Capron is running an institution that must be accountable for his OFH
proudloudandfnm 7 years, 4 months ago
What an ass. GO TALK TO BPL stupid...
jus2cents 7 years, 4 months ago
Get those dammed Web Shops to start paying the community some of the ill gotten gains back to the people they cheat!
It would be a great thing if they donated to the sick and elderly in our community.
We should force them by law to give 10% of all money to the aged. 10% to Education 10% to Environmental issues.
DDK 7 years, 4 months ago
WEB shops should be closed as the referendum of The People voted for NO web shops. They are the single largest drain on the economy of our country. Shame that the current government seems to be in bed with them as was the former. A state run lottery could legally support health, education, environment, etc. Why they don't just take the bull by the horns and start the Bahama National Lottery is beyond me. Please don't tell me religious community would oppose it!
jus2cents 7 years, 4 months ago
Yes I'm for a National Lottery all the way! Shut down WebShops I believe a lot of money laundering Drug and terrorist money goes through them with no accountability.
jus2cents 7 years, 4 months ago
and get Dr Kendal Capron some lessons on money management instead of sitting on his throne like chair he should be better representing his people. Check his bank account and the others sitting in the thrones...
I never trust a person who sits on a throne chair.
Trump, Putin, Kim Jong Un, and every self appointed bishop in this land all self-serving scumbags if you ask me.
Greentea 7 years, 4 months ago
This is a much needed service but this Capron fellow is a lousy manager. His inability to manage this situation has now put the entire operation in jeopardy. What sense does that make? As the old values of caring for parents and older relatives without children pass away, we need proper facilities for the elderly. These places are better than nowhere but the standard, in my opinion is too low. having visited one or two- I find them to be depressing AF. He completely lost me here: "Dr Capron, when asked if he has reached out to BPL for assistance, replied by saying: "I prefer speaking with (Minister of Works Desmond Bannister). If he wants me to have a word with him, then I'll do that with him. I wouldn't speak with nobody else until he tells me what to do." He "prefers" to go political rather than be responsible? God help these old people. I hope he doesn't have them all in insurance policies with the home as the beneficiary. The elderly and the needy are easily exploited and something ain't right here. But as always, I hope I am wrong.
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