Yesterday's story in The Royal Gazette revealing that war veterans have not yet received the pensions they were promised with great fanfare in April is a major disappointment and a does a disservice to these men.

It is worth remembering that all of the eligible veterans are now in their 70s and 80s and may not have long to live. On that basis, the longer the delay, the fewer survivors there will be to get what almost all agree is their due.

The Social Insurance Department says that it has had difficulty verifying who and how many veterans are eligible for pensions. That's understandable given the amount of time that has passed, but it is beyond comprehension that those veterans who have already qualified, and there must be some, are being denied the pensions they were promised.

Some of these veterans are in desperate financial straits. They are entitled to receive the rewards they have earned for the service they voluntarily gave to keep Bermuda and the world safe.