Age Concern has called on the Bermuda Government to show that it is in touch with the Island’s social issues as it prepares to deliver its fourth Throne Speech tomorrow.

Claudette Fleming, the charity’s director, said that the “tone, intent and relevancy” of the Speech are more important to the people of Bermuda than any promises, which may or may not be fulfilled.

Ms Fleming has previously urged the Government to show more empathy to seniors, many of whom are struggling to pay for health insurance and fear that financial assistance could become further stretched. She told The Royal Gazette: “Age Concern’s advocacy messages have been clear and consistent.

“The cost of health insurance for seniors is too high, the standardisation of residential care facilities is long overdue and should be a national priority. Age discrimination in the workplace is a violation of what should be a fundamental human right — the right to earn a living and take care of oneself.

“There is no doubt that the signs of an improving economy is good news for Bermuda, but if those improvements are not likely to be experienced by the average senior than our financial progress has a serious social problem.

“The Throne Speech shall determine whether the Government is in touch with the social issues of the country to the same degree as it is concerned about our financial success, particularly those issues that impact seniors and families: the two should go hand in hand.”

The charity was one of several groups who laid out what they hope to see in tomorrow’s Throne Speech, in which the Government details its plans for the coming legislative year.

The Coalition for the Protection of Children listed several wishlist items, including legislation to allow a parent, caregiver or therapist to testify on a child’s behalf in matters related to child abuse.

The Coalition’s founder, Sheelagh Cooper, said: “This is an amendment that was made by the Supreme Court in Canada called the Khan Decision. Sixty per cent of all reported cases of child sexual abuse never proceed because this amendment has not been enacted.”

The group further called for amendments to legislation which grant the automatic release after two thirds of a prison sentence are served in the case of serious sexual or violent offenders.

“This policy should be changed so that refusal to engage in treatment in these areas is considered a serious enough breach of prison rules to hold the inmate until the full expiry of his sentence,” Mrs Cooper added.

The charity said it also wants to allow the publication of the names of the victim of sexual offences if the victim consents, the reinstatement of the sexual offender treatment programme at Westgate, a reversal of the decision to reduce costs at the Island’s community centres and supporting the use of family mediation by establishing a fund to help cover costs in appropriate cases.

Meanwhile Martha Dismont of the Family Centre said she hopes for more initiatives to help struggling Bermudian families.

“We are seeing a great many people struggling to ‘make ends meet’, particularly those who are unemployed,” she said.

“Our goal is to work in partnership with Government and other agencies to ensure that while the economy is recovering, struggling families have their basic needs for food, shelter and clothing, met.”

She called on Government to recognise and acknowledge the importance of continuing to invest in the local population and hold a round-table discussion with representatives of the Island’s low-income families to hear about their challenges.

“It is not necessary to promise solutions, but to listen to their challenges,” she added.

Mrs Dismont further suggested that the Government should consider how to prioritise a level of investment in the youth and vulnerable families and prioritise funding for the organisations who ensure that the vulnerable members of society are getting their basic needs met.

Last week, environmental group Greenrock called on the Government to announce initiatives ranging from a bottle bill to a mandatory minimum fee for single-use bags.