been claimed.

Shadow Health Minister Kim Young said the older generation have slipped down the pecking order when it comes to funding -- a point she said was illustrated by the state of St. George's Parish Rest Home.

Mrs. Young questioned why the Progressive Labour Party Government had waited for 15 months to decide to work on the property, when it had been common knowledge for years that it was in need of major renovations.

And she questioned what the $864,000 allocated in the current budget under the headings of parish councils and rest homes was actually being spent on.

Her comments come as it was revealed that all five parish rest homes have been surveyed by Government architects.

Devonshire looks set for major work in the next two years and at present was in good condition, according to a staff member.

Warwick home confirmed the property had been reviewed by Government staff, but said the building did not need any serious work at present.

It was not known what condition the homes in Sandys Parish and Pembroke were in.

Mrs. Young said she was shocked at the suddenness of the announcement that St.

George's was to close by March for 18 months of renovations.

"It seems that seniors are pretty low down the pole, whereas in the rest of the world they are the number one priority,'' she said. "I really would have thought that after 15 months something would have been done, not just come out and say `we are going to close this now'.

"I would have thought there would be a plan for the residents. We shouldn't be putting stress on them.

"With all that money in the budget St. George's could have been done by now.'' Concerns about the decrepit state of the St. George's home go back several years. In 1997 then St. George's North MPs Jennifer Smith and the late Leon (Jimmy) Williams condemned the state of the building.

The Shadow Health Minister said the former United Bermuda Party Government had prepared a plan for the homes which was not implemented, but added St.

George's would have been top of their list.

The 100-year-old home has failed fire safety standards, with electrical systems in particular being identified as not up to scratch.

Mrs. Young queried when the standards for nursing homes would be revealed, after legislation passed for homes to be registered did not include what regulations properties had to meet.