Seniors are to get their pension increase in time for Christmas, Government announced yesterday.

But during heated discussions in the house, Opposition members accused of treating Bermuda?s older citizens with ?contempt and disregard?.

Mr. Cox told the House that a three percent pension increase, back-dated to August, will be sent out to seniors by December 16, ensuring the cash is received in time for Christmas.

Nearly half of the Island?s 8,500 seniors are eligible to receive the maximum benefit which was raised to $920 from $893, he added.

But the UBP was furious that Government hadn?t approved the rise earlier in the year and therefore given the seniors their extra income in August, when a rise was originally due.

?We on this side of the House are happy to cooperate, but we have to ask why this took so long?? asked Opposition Leader and .

?Although the Government will claim they would have brought this in earlier had it not been for the election, I would suspect that it wasn?t on their agenda earlier this year ? it wasn?t even on their radar screen.

?This is about seniors who have not had a raise since August. It is about five months since they last got one.?

He added that when the UBP were last in power, in 1998, the pension increase was approved in May in the House, even though it was also an election year.

then also gave an impassioned speech, telling the House: ?We have been accused of being tiresome and grandstanding on this issue, but I?m a senior and I?m going to be tiresome and grandstand for myself and the other seniors for as long as I can stand on my feet.

?Why in the world can?t we treat our seniors decently??

Fellow added: ?It is shameful and inexcusable for our seniors to be treated with such contempt and disregard that something as important (as the increase) should be delayed without excuse. It is an embarrassment.

After Government blamed the calling of the General Election in June for the delay, she said: ?The real picture is that you have failed to do it. The excuse we have heard this morning is unacceptable.?

And added: ?We are talking about seniors as if they are stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. They are people, they are struggling and we should help them.?

responded: ?We should make it clear that this Government is very much in favour of helping our seniors ... but the Opposition has been going on and on about the same issue.

?The people are pleased with it and nobody is being cheated.

?The seniors love the PLP Government.?

It was also announced that contributions to the Contributory Pension Fund will increase by 4.25 percent in August, 2004.