Former Hope Homes chairperson and UBP Minister Yvette Swan has demanded an apology from Premier Alex Scott after what she labelled a ?nasty personal attack?.

However Mr. Scott last night maintained he had no reason to apologise, and that he was simply using the example of Hope Homes to illustrate the point that certain challenges facing Government did not originate solely with the Progressive Labour Party, but in fact have been around for years.

The controversy arose when Mr. Scott dropped the name of Hope Homes during a Press conference held last week. The Premier called the conference to respond to comments made by United Bermuda Party leaders on the close of the Police investigation into the Bermuda Housing Corporation scandal.

During the conference Mr. Scott, while trying to point out that the ?culture of mismanagement? at the BHC did not begin under the PLP?s tenure but had existed before that, asked: ?Why do you think (UBP leader) Grant Gibbons knows where all these skeletons are??

He then used Hope Homes as an example to strengthen his point.

The residential facility for the mentally challenged made headlines in recent weeks when UBP backbencher Louise Jackson highlighted appalling conditions at the facility.

At the Press conference last week, Mr. Scott said a UBP senator had been chairperson of Hope Homes up until about two months ago ? yet Ms Jackson did not publicly draw attention to the state of affairs at Hope Homes until after that chairperson had stepped down.

Ms Swan, a former UBP senator and Minister of Community Affairs, did step down several weeks ago to allow Alan Robinson to take her place as chairperson of Hope Homes. Before Ms Swan?s four or five years as chairperson, former PLP chairman and senator Ira Philip was chairman of Hope Homes.

?The recent comments made by Premier Alex Scott on August 13?s VSB Evening News implying that I, as past chairman of Hope Homes, relayed information regarding conditions at that facility to United Bermuda Party MP Louise Jackson are completely false,? Ms Swan said in a statement released on Monday night.

?Furthermore, the Premier?s claim that I stepped down from the post six weeks prior to Mrs. Jackson publicly raising concerns regarding Hope Homes is also false.? was unable to ascertain what did spark off Mrs. Jackson?s interest in Hope Homes as the MP is currently off the Island. ?As the former chairman for Hope Homes I have made a concerted effort to remain outside the recent political controversy surrounding Hope Homes,? Ms Swan continued. ?I believe that it would be inappropriate for me to involve myself in an issue that is being addressed by the current Hope Homes administration.

?It is distressing and unfortunate that the leader of this country has found it necessary through innuendo and untruths to malign my reputation and my good name. All my years in working with Bermuda?s mentally challenged have been based on love, compassion and personal sacrifice. I find it extremely hurtful that all of my work could be disparaged by a self-serving statement made by a politician.

?I believe that the Premier owes me an apology and urge him to refrain from launching nasty personal attacks on other private citizens.?

However Mr. Scott maintained last night that no apology was necessary. ?They (the UBP) know all about these organisations,? he told .

Saying he cited the case of Hope Homes specifically because of Ms Swan?s tenure there, he added: ?These problems aren?t recent ... They existed under Sen. Swan, you can?t deny that.

?But now that she has left, Mrs. Jackson has found her voice.?

He did not know if the two had personally talked together about Hope Homes, he said, but that was not the point. The UBP as an organisation had to be aware of what was going on during Ms Swan?s years as chairman. ?I?m not saying it?s their responsibility to clean it up ... It?s a coincidence that a UBP chairman steps down and a UBP politician finds her voice.

?So I don?t owe any apology for anything.?