Local veterans who defended Bermuda during the First and Second World Wars may soon be eligible to receive pensions and other benefits.

The veterans, their families and supporters have been outraged for decades because soldiers who served in Bermuda have been denied pensions as the law provides for benefits to be awarded only to those veterans who served overseas during the wars.

has learned that the War Veterans Pensions Commission (WVPC) has asked a lawyer to review the War Pensions and Gratuities (War Service) Act of 1947 with a view to having the law amended so that all veterans, regardless of where they served, receive pensions.

Chairman Ottiwell Simmons said the WVPC is making a concerted effort to address the issue.

?There are members of the Commission who believe it is unfair that only vets who served overseas are eligible for benefits.

?As chairman, I am consulting with the legal fraternity to see if the law can be amended to include people who served and protected Bermuda during the wartimes.?

Veteran Herbert Tatem, who was stationed in Bermuda during the Second World War, said it was disgraceful that soldiers who defended Bermuda have been denied benefits: ?It is time to accept that all veterans are of equal value when it comes to serving their country. This situation truly annoys me.?

Glen Doars, 82, and Philip Lambe, 84, both served overseas during the Second World War, and they believe successive Governments have failed to recognise the sacrifice and contributions veterans have made in the defence of Bermuda ? which at that time was strategic to the defence of North America and the Caribbean.

Mr. Lambe said: ?I feel Bermuda does less for its war veterans than any other country in the world.

?There are some veterans who are in dire financial straits and they should receive pensions and benefits.?

Mr. Doars believes that veterans have been ignored for over 60 years.

He said: ?Every veteran should be entitled to benefits. It shouldn?t matter where they served.?

The Shadow Minister for Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, Maxwell Burgess, described the situation as unconscionable.

He said Bermuda has a moral and legislative responsibility to correct it.

?I have a keen appreciation for the fact that pensions for seniors, be they war veterans or not, does not appear to be a top priority for the government, but it matters to me.

?I hope that the chairman of the commission (WVPC) gets permission from the Minister of Finance to bring forward the amendment to the act and make it retroactive to the day that we first had the matter drawn to our attention.?

There are approximately 40 veterans still alive in Bermuda and, of that number, 14 veterans or their widows currently receive a monthly pension.

Mr. Simmons said even those veterans who served overseas must apply to the WVPC to receive benefits.

?The Commission has as its mandate to grant statutory benefits to the war veterans who served overseas and the commission encourages everybody who has a need to make an application. Benefits are not automatically granted,? he explained.

Mr. Simmons said widows of veterans could also apply to the WVPC for benefits.

Veterans who served overseas are entitled to a $400 monthly pension and assistance with doctor and hospital visits, prescriptions, eyeglasses and funeral expenses.