from Opposition MPs that he was "out of touch'' with poor people.

C.V. (Jim) Woolridge dismissed a call for his resignation by his opposite number in Parliament as "pathetic''.

And he said a special Cabinet committee had already been set up to study the crisis in "affordable'' housing which has sparked a wave of protests by tenants.

Groups of Government tenants and people renting from private landlords have already demonstrated against evictions and rent hikes.

Shadow Housing Minister Stanley Morton told The Royal Gazette Mr. Woolridge did not even know that evictions were taking place.

He said: "I think it's time Mr. Woolridge stood down. It's a job for somebody who's younger and more sensitive -- somebody who's in touch with people's needs.'' But Mr. Woolridge said: "So Mr. Morton thinks I should resign? Well, I won't be resigning, that's for sure.

"It's really pathetic. The people of Smith's South have put me to the top of the polls for the last 30 years and I have every reason to believe they will show the same confidence in me at the General Election.

"The current housing situation is serious but a Cabinet committee has already been formed to look urgently into the needs of these people. There is no such thing as low cost housing and it's very difficult to find so-called `affordable' housing.

"There is a housing assistance programme in place and the Bermuda Housing Corporation is dealing with people's needs in a professional manner.

"I'm trying to prevent evictions from taking place and start a dialogue to see if we can agree on some amicable terms.

"But some people won't even admit they've been delinquent in paying their rent.

"Others in the community are making noises, jumping on the bandwagon and pushing people to start protests.'' Mr. Woolridge said Government was spending around $18 million this year on housing assistance and other social benefits.

He added: "We had a housing problem in the 1940s when there were 32,000 people living in Bermuda. Now we've got nearly 60,000 people, an expanding population and another housing problem.

"On the one hand, we are trying to preserve as much open space as possible.

On the other hand, we try to provide for the needs of our people. It's difficult to see how we can ever have a satisfactory balance between supply and demand but we are doing all we can to help these people.'' But Mr. Morton said: "Government rents are supposed to be going up from $1,053 to $1,179.

"That's a hike of almost 12 percent which is way above inflation. There are tenants also paying land tax but many of them are only on $300 or $400 a week.

"People just can't afford to pay that. Mr. Woolridge is out of touch. He really doesn't know what's going on.

"He met with these people once and that was it. Then, suddenly he realised the spotlight was on him and he was caught out when he told the TV that he didn't know people were being evicted.

"He's not the right man for the job and he's not sensitised to that type of job.

"Now is the time for him to step aside for a more energetic, youthful man who's in touch with other people and the hardships they are facing.'' Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen also criticised Mr. Woolridge in the closing minutes of House of Assembly debates on Friday night, claiming he "didn't even know that evictions were taking place''.

House coverage: Pages 4 and 5 C.V. (Jim) Woolridge