Opposition Whip John Barritt yesterday called on Government to investigate why the Bermuda Housing Trust has increased rent for senior tenants by $75 a month.

Mr. Barritt described the move as "cold", particularly coming during 'Senior Citizens' Week' which aims to celebrate the lives of the elderly.

"This week we celebrated our seniors and elders, but yesterday I had a call from one of my constituents and I learned from them that this week, of all weeks, Bermuda Housing Trust wants to increase their rent.

"It seems cold to do that, particularly this week, and it also seems cold that it came from the Rent Commissioner, not the Trust themselves."

Mr. Barritt said the increase took monthly rents from $650 to $725. "That's a 12 percent increase," he said.

"When you think about seniors we have to ask the question. These are seniors on fixed incomes, and the increases and what they are getting is just going to put them deeper into a hole. It's not just the financial effect, but the psychological effect too. It's enough to cause despair in a senior's life, and they are also facing increased electricity costs."

Mr. Barritt said: "Government has an opportunity here. You can ask for their (the Bermuda Housing Trust) financial statements and give them directions and guidance. I would ask the Minister responsible for this to take a look at this next week and report back to this House, to see what can be done.

"Just laying it on like that, you would have thought there should be some compassion and some way in which Government should be involved. The whole point of the Housing Trust is to give them dignity.

"I am asking the Ministers responsible to come back and convince this House that it is necessary to have these increases, or if it's not, or to find a way of minimising it if there has to be an increase at all."

Responding, Health Minister Nelson Bascome said: "The honourable Member raises a very valid concern. The Junior Minister will contact the Minister, Senator Colonel David Burch, and we will get that answer to you, and it will be reported back to this House."