has been cheated of her pension.

But Finance Minister Eugene Cox, named as a co-defendant with Accountant General Heather Matthews, yesterday agreed former United Bermuda Party MP Ann Cartwright Decouto had been unfairly treated.

Mrs. Cartwright Decouto told The Royal Gazette she was "totally denied'' her pension rights last November when she lost her Pembroke West Central seat in the General Election after 18 years in the House.

"I have written a whole series of letters and gotten no satisfactory reply,'' Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto explained. "All the obvious things were done by me. I was absolutely shocked. I couldn't believe it.

"They're saying because I wasn't re-elected at 60 or after, I'm not eligible.

It totally abrogates the whole concept of pension plans.'' Cox to review pensions percent interest last month, but maintained her compulsory contributions entitled her to more.

"It's a bizarre interpretation of the relevant legislation,'' she said.

"Although this is my action, it's all about the interpretation of the Act. I am challenging this curious and bizarre interpretation of the Act for every Parliamentarian.'' Former Cabinet Minister Harry Soares, an MP for 15 years, is understood to have also received a lump sum of his contributions instead of pension payments.

Mrs. Cartwright DeCouto continued: "If you cease to serve before you are 60 years of age, yet you have done the eight years which the Act says is the vested period, they say you do not get a pension.

"It runs totally counter to anybody's idea of a pension plan. Once it's vested it's vested. It doesn't matter what age you are.

"I honestly can't believe that this is happening.'' Mr. Cox admitted yesterday he had also been surprised by the recent pension denial -- and Mrs. Cartwright Decouto's writ.

"I found that extraordinary because I know that was not the original intent of the Act,'' he said. "We set in place a pension plan that the criterion was that you had to be in term for at least two terms, two four year periods.

"We have to get a reading from the Attorney General's office and an interpretation of the Act,'' he said, "and then right any wrongs that have been carried out. Failing that, we have to amend the bill.'' Mrs. Matthews said she could not comment on the matter.

POLITICS PTL