Ruling party MP George Scott's suggestion that senior citizens look to living out their retirement in another country has been roundly condemned by seniors' advocacy group Age Concern.

And Opposition seniors' spokesperson Louise Jackson echoed Age Concern's view that Mr. Scott's comments were “reprehensible” and “insulting”.

In an interview last week Mr. Scott said that Government should promote the idea of living in retirement communities abroad because Bermuda is unaffordable on the average pension.

Unacceptable, says Age Concern director Claudette Fleming.

“The buck stops with you. If you can't do it get out of the way,” Ms Fleming said.

“There's a blatant disregard not only for the seniors but for the less fortunate in this country.”

Mr. Scott had said that a $1,000 pension would go further in countries such as Costa Rica, Brazil and many other countries, and that Government should provide information on foreign living as an option.

“That has nothing to do with the fact that I live here. Help my thousand dollars go further, elected official. Come on. Where's the affordable housing? Where's the subsidised health care? If anything it points to a bigger Government responsibility. And what's with this business that Government can't do it all? If I hear someone say that again I will scream. No one's asking for Government to do it all, we're asking for Government to do something. But don't abdicate your responsibility.”

Ms Jackson, who said she was “stunned” to read Mr. Scott's comments, agreed. “It makes me wonder whether he understands what the role of Government is.”

For Bermudians who have lived, worked, paid taxes, and contributed to Bermudian life for years to be told “the best thing you can do is to go off to another country and retire ... was a most heartless thing to say,” she said.

“To callously say the cost of living and the cost of caring for seniors is so high that it's better for you to have to go someplace else...

“I think that is dictating a lifestyle to people which is reprehensible.

“I have worked here for 52 years and I want to retire in my home ... It's insulting.

“If that's the outlook as he sees it - that Government won't be able to take care of them - that's just awful. It's very sad that a member of Parliament would be thinking this of his constituents.”

Mr. Scott is the ruling party's MP for Warwick North Central and had expressed concern for the plight of seniors during the 2003 General Election campaign which sent him to Parliament for the first time.

“I seem to recall Mr. Scott making references to improving the lives of seniors in Bermuda during the last election campaign,” Ms Fleming said. “In fact, Mr. Scott seemed very interested in the needs of seniors at that time as he invited me to join him while he canvassed his constituency in Warwick,” Ms Fleming continued.

“Unfortunately now, for whatever reasons, Mr. Scott appears to have abandoned the commitment he made to seniors that seemed so politically expedient during election time. It is quite intriguing that not only as a management employee of the Bermuda Industrial Union but also as a PLP member of Parliament that Mr. Scott could even dare to suggest that retired workers of this country find a home somewhere else. Particularly after the fact that it is off the backs of these very same retired workers that he enjoys his current positions. And, what's even more extraordinary, is that Mr. Scott would also dare to send a message to the current workers of this country that once they are older and retired there may be no affordable place or benefit for them to remain here in Bermuda.”

She added that she hoped that his ideas of “exporting seniors” had no currency with the Progressive Labour Party.

“If, however, this is the case, then may God help us all,” Ms Fleming said.

“Finally, it is worth noting that it was mentioned in Saturday's article that Mr. Scott has remained mostly silent in his first year as a MP. After reading Saturday's paper it may be a good idea for him to maintain his silence indefinitely lest he prompts the voting public to afford him a retirement package to Brazil a little earlier than he anticipated.”

She added: “Should however, Mr. Scott have a genuine desire to rethink his position, I for one would welcome his honest efforts to ensure that every senior citizen of Bermuda is afforded the highest quality of life possible in their own country. This is simply the right thing for any just and honourable Government to do.”

PLP spokesman Scott Simmons said that the Premier will be addressing the matter when he returns to the Island from a trip abroad.