The Opposition United Bermuda Party (UBP) yesterday accused the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP) of "insensitivity" towards Bermuda's seniors.

But Premier Jennifer Smith defended her Government's record on seniors, saying it was the UBP who had not cared well for them. She said a lot of work had gone into determining how best to care for seniors, pointing out new rest homes were on the way.

"Just a few days ago we heard from a PLP candidate that they were tired of hearing about the problems of retirees. Apparently the PLP doesn't think that the government has to do anything different for seniors, since it's their own fault for not saving enough money," said the UBP's Michael Dunkley, referring to comments made by PLP candidate Aurelia Burch last week.

Mr. Dunkley, Opposition candidate for Devonshire East, or District 11, said Ms Burch's remarks showed that the ruling party had the wrong attitude towards the Island's seniors. "It's disrespectful, it's insensitive, it's heartless and it's wrong."

Ms Burch, who was unveiled as the PLP's candidate for Devonshire South Central, district 12, last week, had been asked her views on the plight of the seniors.

"They have to, like most folks, put something away for the time of retirement. I get a little tired of everybody saying that the Government must do this and give us some more... If they have lived like me and lived several, several decades and worked - not everybody can... but those who do have jobs are supposed to put something aside... for a rainy day."

"Once you are appointed by a party, you don't speak personally you speak on behalf of the party," said Mr. Dunkley when asked whether it was fair to criticise the ruling party when Ms Burch was giving her personal perspective as a senior citizen.

Mr. Dunkley said that all Bermudians were affected by the costs of senior health care.

"When a senior is rushed to the hospital because they can't afford their prescription drugs, who do you think foots the bill in the long run? Today we are spending 80 percent of our health care money on the 13 percent of the population that is over 65. Without reform, that's an equation that simply will not add up over the long term."

The party reiterated its plans for a free senior health clinic, free prescription drugs and eyeglasses for the Islands' seniors in financial need, and said it would revamp the existing Hospital Insurance Plan (HIP) to cover prescriptions and encourage more use of generic drugs.

Hilary Soares, a former nurse who is running as the UBP's candidate for Devonshire North Central, or district 13, criticised the PLP's plan to offer a $1,000 a year prescription drug benefit to seniors as a "band aid" approach.

"What that really adds up to is $83 a month. That's a drop in the bucket," she said. "I have spoken to seniors and I've spoken to pharmacists and what they tell me is that prescription drug costs often range up to $6,000 a year - that's $500 a month."

And the party said yesterday that its proposed national housing strategy would address "the specialised needs of Bermuda's seniors - with a focus on affordable assisted living facilities."

"It was this Government that introduced standards for rest homes because of our care and consideration for seniors and because of the difficulty that families were having in finding private accommodations and with not having them up to standard," Premier Jennifer Smith said when The Royal Gazette caught up with her two hours later at an Alaska Hall Press conference.

"We introduced standards not just for private accommodations but also for Government rest homes and as a result of introducing standards, as you well know, Government rest homes have been condemned."

Party spokesman Walter Roban added that Government had set up a seniors centre which did not exist before 1998.

"So again the accusation of being insensitive doesn't match practical achievement."

On the Opposition's plans for prescription drugs, Ms Smith said: "It's very easy to promise the world, as they are right now, but quite something different to deliver. They have had 35 years to deliver, we stand on our record."

On Ms Burch's comments, the Premier said: "I certainly, not being a senior yet myself, cannot criticise the remarks of a senior who talked about her peers in saying that a practical person would make provision for their old age.

"I don't think there's a grandmother in Bermuda who did not tell their children `save your money for your old age.' So I certainly could not criticise Mrs. Burch for making that remark."