parent tenants who live on Smith Hill and Fenton's Drive in Pembroke because it insists on raising their rent, a Shadow Minister declared.

And if this is carried to its natural conclusion, Shadow Housing Minister Stanley Morton said, there will be increased social problems.

But Housing Minister Leonard Gibbons said it was never Government's intention to add stress on persons who are legitimately in need of assistance.

However, he said that his Ministry was aware of families who were now doing better and it was important that they either moved out or paid the market rate for their accommodation.

"Anyone who has a problem with the rent should contact the Housing Corporation,'' he explained. "If they warrant assistance this will be dealt with then.

"There are people who are in there now and then there are people who should be in there.

"We do have rental assistance to help them if they need it.'' Meanwhile, Mr. Morton said he had received several calls from persons who had received letters from the BHC which outlined the rental increases.

He said these persons are not able to meet the increases but Government is still planning to do just that "no matter what.'' "Should Government resort to the kind of attitude that says `I don't care where the money comes from as long as it is paid?''' Mr. Morton asked.

"Is that the state we want these people to be in? What we need is a new look, a fresh look, at the economic situation in Bermuda.'' Mr. Morton said a better step would be for the Government to increase the skills and education levels of the people in the lower income groups so that they can compete for higher income jobs.

And he said Government could also use tax incentives and other methods to motivate businesses to invest in their employees.

Mr. Morton said that even those who could be said to be doing better were in many cases still no better off because the demands on them have also increased.

"Having to go to Government for help is not an easy thing,'' he continued.

"It is a demeaning thing because people in that department don't make people feel wholesome.

"It seems to me this whole idea of welfare and living in Bermuda has to be addressed soon and seriously.

"Either people will meet the increases by sacrificing their children who they will have to leave as they work to make more money, or Government will have to change its policy.'' STANLEY MORTON -- Uncaring attitude.

GOVERNMENT GVY