Health Minister Patrice Minors responded to criticism from head of the Heart and Stroke Association Mark Selley, saying a Cabinet Minister cannot be in two places at once.

The Minister offered her apologies and said what actions follow from her words will show her level of commitment to Bermuda's disabled.

Mrs. Minors was present at a town hall meeting at the Anglican Cathedral on Wednesday where Bermuda's seniors and physically disabled gathered to ask speak with representatives from the Health Ministry.

However Mrs. Minors left after making some opening remarks to return to the Annual Ministerial Fellowship meetings at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, where Cabinet Ministers were meeting and discussing social issues with ministers from various churches on the Island.

"I am peeved that the Minister had the nerve to open the meeting and thought somewhere else was more important," Mr. Selley said on Wednesday. "If Michael Dunkley could be there, Cabinet Ministers should be there.

"I am disappointed and almost disgusted that she decided to leave ... If the Social Agenda was as important as it's made out to be, she would have stayed."

Former UBP Senator and Minister of Community Affairs Yvette Swan also contacted The Royal Gazette yesterday to criticise Mrs. Minors. "I think the Minister really insulted the disabled," Ms Swan, who was also at the meeting on Wednesday, said. "If everybody treated everybody like people, then everything would be fine."

However, Mrs. Minors said on Wednesday night, while she had agreed to the Ministry hosting the meeting, she had an obligation to return to the meeting at the Hamilton Princess.

"I was very much in support of (the meeting)," she said. "But I told them I can only bring remarks and then I had to depart."

The Minister had "the utmost confidence" in representatives from her Ministry who were at the meeting. Permanent secretary Kevin Monkman, head of the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged Melvin Dickinson and co-ordinator with the National Office Ann Lindroth facilitated the meeting. Also present were the head of Financial Assistance Dianna Taylor and at least one other employee of Financial Assistance, as well as National Office research assistant Keith Simmons.

"I knew I would get a detailed account," Mrs. Minors said. "I have already received a verbal report," with issues such as whether the phrase "physically challenged" should be used, or whether "disabled" was more appropriate as it encompasses those with hearing or sight loss, or learning disabilities.

Mrs. Minors said she was not surprised at the criticism. She offered her apologies and said her actions would show how committed she was.

When asked if the event could not have been scheduled at another time, she replied: "The fact that I wasn't there for the duration of the meeting doesn't mean the issues won't be addressed ... I wasn't there, does that dismiss my interest? No."