Economically stressed seniors who feel they have no other choice but to move abroad to live more affordably can call ruling party MP George Scott for help.

?It?s not an acceptable situation in any country,? he toldyesterday.

Mr. Scott stressed yesterday that he had not advocated that seniors who found Bermuda too expensive should leave the Island for more affordable countries.

But, he said, they should be provided with information on all the options and that included settling in retirement communities abroad.

Seniors advocacy group Age Concern harshly criticised Mr. Scott for comments he made to last week.

He said then that retirement communities exist in many countries and that citizens of other countries often retired somewhere other than where they spent their working lives because it was more affordable.

Mr. Scott added that Government should provide the information that could help locals make that choice.

?It?s okay to leave,? he said.

He pointed out yesterday that Age Concern in the UK does provide such information for seniors.

?My overall response is that Government and all organisations that represent seniors should be giving people more information on retirement communities around the world. In particular Age Concern seeing that we have a local chapter here,? Mr. Scott said.

?If you read the article, I have not been misunderstood. Information was the key.?

Reaction has not been all negative, Mr. Scott reported.

?Most of the people that identified with what I said, said that the only problem they had was that they had to identify themselves as still living in order to get their benefits ? those that read the story ? a lot of people have not read the story.?

The Island?s radio talk shows have also been abuzz with criticisms of his stance but Mr. Scott said that many were reacting based on hearsay, without really knowing what he said.

?Everyone knows what I said to you and they weren?t present ? they didn?t call me or you and they all know what I said,? he continued.

?I?m not saying they should go live anywhere. I?m saying offer information. We are not a closed society we cannot force people to go or to stay. But they need information ? that?s the key, operative word here.?

And asked to respond to charges by Age Concern?s Claudette Fleming that he had abandoned his election year commitments to seniors, he said: ?I never made any commitments. I?ve ran for the PLP in five elections. The process is to take information, not promise anything, and give it to the party. We don?t promise anything ? look at what the platform says. I couldn?t say more than that (what?s contained in the platform)... We never say more than whatever?s in the platform. That?s the document.?

Seniors? issues make a brief appearance in the ruling party?s last election platform. ?Recognising that there is a growing proportion of the elderly population over 65 who, are unable to afford an individual insurance policy, the Government plans to review additional benefits that may be extended to seniors,? the document says.

Asked whether he had any commitments to seniors, he said he will be saying more on the subject at a Press conference today.

?I don?t know anybody who is feeling like they are forced to leave because Bermuda?s expensive but if it is happening they need the information,? he said when asked his philosophy if seniors were feeling pressured to leave for economic reasons.

?You?re asking something that?s pie in the sky. I can?t answer that question. It?s a hypothetical question.?

But pressed on whether it would be acceptable, in his view, if seniors felt they had no other choice but to leave for economic reasons, he said: ?It?s not an acceptable situation in any country.?

And if any senior was in that position, he added: ?Tell that person to call me. I?d like to talk to that person and help them in whatever way I can.?

He repeated earlier statements that he was personally considering relocating in his old age.

?You can get more for your money... It won?t be a situation year round. Like some people I?ll be in and out. I will have options. I am providing the options for not only myself but my children.?

And he said the idea of retiring abroad could not be inherently wrong.

?Are you telling me that company X that is registered here in Bermuda, that is a global company that sets up a retirement community in another country somewhere and offers those benefits to its employees... are you telling me that?s wrong ??

He continued: ?People who stay here will be taken care of whatever the policy is of the Government of the day.?

And Mr. Scott said he appreciated the responses that his comments had generated.

?Feedback is important always ? even if you don?t like it. That shows that the people and the country is maturing. And, if I?m wrong, I will take back what I said.

?But I can?t be wrong for saying people should have more information. Never did I suggest that people should leave this country and go to another country.?