Better health care for seniors, including a new $1 million dedicated clinic, was promised as the United Bermuda Party unveiled its final batch of candidates yesterday.

Asked about funding UBP leader Dr. Grant Gibbons said it was a question of priorities.

He said the PLP had spent a lot of money on travel, cars and fast ferries.

"We have costed out the senior clinic, we feel with salaries and staffing we are probably looking at something like one million. Clearly a million dollars can be found in the budget. We can makes savings in some of the areas I have mentioned. That shouldn't be difficult at all."

Health spokesman Michael Dunkley said: "We are not going to propose any plans if we don't feel comfortable that we can fulfil them. "You have have to put that in stark contrast with what the Smith administration have done over a number of years."

He said Minister of Housing had pledged to spend $10 million to cover overspending at the Bermuda Housing Corporation. "If the minister can pull $10 million out of the sky to cover up the alleged corruption and mismanagement we can better appropriate tax payers' dollars to take care of our seniors."

Dr. Gibbons said he knew of a 90-year-old on a $300-a-month pension who had to chose between paying her electricity bill, buying drugs and buying food.

Under the UBP she would get help with medicine and would be less likely to need more serious medical care because her situation had deteriorated, said Dr. Gibbons.

Mr. Dunkley, who is standing in Devonshire East, said the UBP would provide free prescription drugs and glasses to hard-up seniors and look to expand the use of generic drugs to drive down the cost of prescription drugs. Consultant Scott Hunter, who is standing in Pembroke East Central, said the UBP was keen to reduce health care costs for seniors. Former dance teacher and businesswoman Louise Jackson, who is standing in Pembroke South West, said there were too many gaps in health care for the elderly people. She said a gerontologist and registered nurses would staff the centre for seniors lacking coverage. She said HIP covered heart surgery but not the drugs to stave off heart disease in the first place.

Lawyer Edward Bailey, who is fighting in Sandys South Central, said the UBP would restore Somerset Rest home which was a crack house and used by squatters.

UBP Sandys South candidate Ted Gauntlett, a chartered surveyor, said his party would end age discrimination by allowing civil servants to work until they were 70 if they wanted.