Seniors are being denied vital transport because rest homes won't club together to fund an Island-wide minibus service, says Sir John Plowman.

The former Government minister, who takes a special interest in the elderly, said he had been approached by one rest home wanting him to act as a patron to a fund to buy a minibus.

But he said: "Surely we need to have a central service, not one for just 12 people?'' He said other homes were now independently raising cash for the their own buses.

"Devonshire has collected $20,000 and Pembroke has collected $17,000.'' "They won't join in -- it's one of the problems in Bermuda. There's no coordination -- there are 46 charities in the health line.

"If everyone does it on an individual basis then it will be extremely wasteful.'' Hamilton Parish Resident Gaylhia Le May said she had been trying since 1995 to set up a free minibus service for the elderly with no luck.

She said the Transport Control Department had said she needed a separate facility to run the service.

Ms Le May said: "I don't see the need, just to take them from point A to point B.'' "A lot of minibus owners just park them outside their homes.

"I don't want to take care of seniors, I just want to take them to bank and wherever they want to go.'' She said TCD's ruling had blocked her from raising the necessary $32,000 to buy the minibus and get it on the road.

"I am willing to contract out to homes. I really want to do it. It's my calling. I'm doing a first aid course with the Red Cross in October.'' She explained why the service was so vital.

Charities need more co-ordination, says Sir John She said: "I know Government gives free passes to seniors but a lot of can't get to the bus stop and there are a lot of horror stories about seniors using the bus.

"My 77-year-old mother was getting on the bus but the driver drove off before she was in her seat and she fell down. Tourists had to help her up.'' Sir John said: "Every now and then you get someone with a burst of energy wanting to do something, and I don't want to discourage them. I will still work with them, but what's needed is a proper transport service for people who can't get around.

"Surely, the thing we need to do is to have a central service.

"We don't need to create a new body -- it needs Government to take a hard look at it or we could say to Age Concern here's the problem, you deal with it.

"Whoever does it must have some authority to approach the rest homes.''