A relative of a Bermuda war veteran has expressed "disgust" at a delay in pension payments to his widow.

The complainant, from Florida, US, said their mother had not received any cheques for four months, but that the Accountant General's Department had not yet provided an explanation.

The relative told The Royal Gazette: "I am disgusted with the Accountant General's attitude over my mom, who is a widow, and their lateness in sending her war vet cheques."

The person, who did not wish to be named, said the family had moved to the US 15 years ago and their father had served in the BVRC from 1939-1945, but had died last year.

Since December however, his widow has not received his war vet pension.

"I would like to know why the Accountant General thinks that it is OK that she has not received them," the relative asked.

"I would like to know why it takes the Accountant General four, almost five months, to figure out that if they don't have a cashed cheque or cheques, that obviously she hasn't received them.

"We live in the 21st century, where we have computers. No one has to go digging in the Archives. All of this, or at least I would think, should be on the computer.

"This money my dad worked for, it does not belong to the Bermuda Government and therefore they need to be more efficient, do their job and get the money to my mom on time each month without me having to call to find out where it is.

"We need to be thinking of our seniors. Some of them depend on their cheques to be there every month on time because they need it to pay their bills, eat, and in some cases buy medicine.

"So, to those of you who work in that Department that make out the cheques for the men and widows that receive these cheques monthly, think about how important they are to them and get cracking and get the cheques out on time.

"I am tired of the excuses: 'well it was mailed out and once it is in the mail it is no longer our responsibility'. You know what, you are right, but I also know that it doesn't take months on end to receive mail from Bermuda.

"So I am asking the Accountant General to get yourself in gear, see what is going on with these cheques and get my mother caught up-to-date."

Yesterday a Government spokeswoman said: "The Accountant General's Department values each and every customer, in particular the Island's seniors, and the Department offers its apologies to the affected individuals.

"The Department thanks the client for their patience, and has advised that the delay is not intentional.

"The Department assures that resources and personnel both internal and external have been working to rectify the problem, and steps have been taken to ensure that there are no further delays for this particular customer."