ONE large frozen turkey.

That's all that was in the fridge of the house where David Allen was brought to spend his final days with his closest friends.

Those friends, Shirley Rose Higgins and Jim Higgins, felt that the dearth of basic provisions was just one example of how people close to Mr. Allen - and in particular his Government colleagues - could have done more for him.

"There was nothing there except this 20-pound frozen turkey," said Ms Higgins. "I wasn't particularly hungry, with all that was happening, but I did think it was strange that no one brought anything all day.

"Where I come from, people would come round with food and ask whether things were going well. I thought it was strange that no one made the effort because Bermudians are famous for being friendly.

"At about 10 or 11 p.m. Alex Scott said he could take us to a 24-hour store, but we decided to wait until the next day. The nurses gave us a list of things they needed, like paper towels and food and Alex took me to the grocery store the next day."

Mr. Scott came in for some criticism from Ms Higgins, particularly in the case of two basic practicalities where his help was needed.

With medical waste tainted with septic fluids from Mr. Allen's wounds accumulating in the house, Ms Higgins suggested to Mr. Scott that it urgently needed to be destroyed.

"He told me, 'My plate is very full, I've got a country to run'," said Ms Higgins. Another gripe she had with Mr. Scott was over a Native American totem pole, which Mr. Allen had bought on an overseas trip with Ms Higgins.

She said: "He loved that totem pole, it was a beautiful thing. He wanted to have it in front of him.

"It was locked up in a Government car on the drive outside. We asked Alex Scott to get it out for him."

Mr. Higgins added: "Four days went by before they finally got it out of the car. This was a dying man's wish and it was not asking for much."

When the totem finally emerged, it was set in front of Mr. Allen with four lit torches around it, against the backdrop of the ocean view.

"I think it gave him a sense of peace," said Ms Higgins.

There were occasional visitors, but all too rare, said Mr. Allen's friends.

"For long periods, nobody came, nobody called. Nobody was there for him except the nurses. When the pain got too much they gave him morphine. The Premier came round once, on Sunday, and there was certainly genuine emotion when she went in to see him," said Ms Higgins. "I know she was leaving the country on Tuesday, but I'm surprised she didn't at least call before she left that day."

Government Senate Leader Col. David Burch had also come round. "He was in the house, but he said he couldn't face going in to see David - so he didn't go through," said Ms Higgins.

"But (PLP backbencher) Delaey Robinson was genuinely concerned. He was one of the few to send flowers. (Director of Tourism) Judith Hall-Bean visited too and she was genuinely upset to see him like that. She said the staff were praying for him twice a day."

Among the others to have sent flowers to the house were Mr. Allen's political rival, Shadow Tourism Minister David Dodwell, Mr. Allen's Pembroke constituency, his staff at the Ministry of Tourism, the United Bermuda Party and the Bermuda Football Association.

"There was nothing from the higher echelons of his own party," she added.

Medical staff who looked after Mr. Allen came in for glowing praise from the Higginses.

"The nurses were simply superb," said Ms Higgins. "They were like angels. One who often gave him injections was Dorothy Morgan-Swan. She is just a lovely woman.

"When the doctors' work is done and death is near, it's the nurses who have to stay there and do whatever they can for the patient. Some were paid-for nurses and some were from PALS, but they were all wonderful.

"And Dr. Peggy Bissell was incredible. She has such a soothing, calming manner."