Health Minister Nelson Bascome was accused yesterday of breaking a promise he is said to have made to find a house for a family scheduled for eviction today.

Scott Smith, his wife Shawnette, and their four children will be homeless after their landlord won a court order to evict them from their house on Dundonald Street, Hamilton.

Mr. Smith said Mr. Bascome promised him three weeks ago on the Everest DaCosta radio show that the family would be found a home.

Mr. Smith, a disgruntled Progressive Labour Party voter, contacted The Royal Gazette to express his disgust that Mr. Bascome has allegedly gone back on his assurance that his family would not be thrown out on the streets.

He said he could not understand why Mr. Bascome would make the promise when Bermuda Housing Corporation had told him there were no houses available.

"I'll have to break up the family and I don't know where I'm going to go. My wife will probably go to her aunt's and my church has agreed to take two of the children," he said.

"What has really upset me is that Mr. Bascome promised me on the Everest DaCosta show. He said `Don't worry, we'll take care of you. Housing won't put you on the streets'."

Mr. Smith added: "Housing (BHC) said to me `I don't know why he told you that because we don't have any housing available'.

"He's saying that to look good in public, but it's backfired on him."

He said he spoke again to Mr. Bascome after the show and the minister said he would contact housing to find out what could be done. But since then he has heard nothing and Mr. Bascome has not returned his calls, he said.

Mr. Smith, a paint contractor, said he was three months behind in his rent but he has just secured a major order from Bermuda Electric Light Company which would enable him to pay off his arrears in a few weeks.

He added: "The PLP fought a long time to get in power and a lot of people are disgruntled because it isn't happening. Something needs to be done.

"At election time everyone knocks on your door, but between times you see them or hear them. They say they're the people's party, but their not helping the people at all.

"I'm not going to vote them back into power if they treat me like that. We could have kept the UBP in power. All this travel and expenses and flowers, it's sickening.

"It's really disheartening to know that we thought we were in power for a better Bermuda, and in my eyes, they haven't made it any better."

Mr. Smith said the Housing Corporation suggested he go to a guest house in Pitts Bay Road, but he could not afford the $500-600 per week rent.

Mr. Bascome was off the Island yesterday and could not be contacted for comment.