Shadow Minister for Seniors Louise Jackson complained she deserves more respect after her speech to the House of Assembly on Friday was drowned out by laughing and shouting.The 80-year-old was repeatedly interrupted by Government hecklers including Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess who made comments about her age and referred to her as “Aunt Louise.”Mrs Jackson, who was taking issue with what she views as an unacceptable level of poverty and homelessness among seniors, told the hecklers: “One of my [UBP] members just said I’m a senior and I could do with a little more respect.”And she said: “They try to drown out my speech with a lot of laughing and talking and heckling...is it because they think this is one big joke?”Her comments were met with more noise from the PLP benches, with members accusing her of exaggeration.Mrs Jackson had provoked the ire of the Government members by claiming Bermuda was the richest country in the world under the United Bermuda Party.Now, she said, families are sleeping in their cars and can’t get financial assistance, and there is an unacceptable level of homelessness.“This, to my mind, is criminal,” she said.When she turned to alleged mistreatment of seniors in private care homes, the noise level rose so much that Mrs Jackson complained: “Mr Speaker, I can’t hear myself.”Environment Minister Walter Roban called out: “We’re not listening to you, you’re right.”Deputy Speaker Wayne Perinchief, who was overseeing proceedings, reassured Mrs Jackson: “I can hear you.” However, he called for quiet at several points during her speech.When Mrs Jackson, who is originally from Philadelphia, said she remembered the Depression of the 1930s as a little girl, Mr Burgess called out:“Louise, you weren’t born then, you’re not that old.”She was then interrupted by Health Minister Zane DeSilva. As she claimed seniors were better off 30 years ago, Mr DeSilva called out “30 years ago?”When she went on to speak of the “fine educational system” under the United Bermuda Party, Environment Minister Walter Roban called out from his seat: “Minimal wages, minimal pay, ten shillings, ten shillings.”At this point, PLP backbencher Dennis Lister stood up and started to shout over Mrs Jackson. Mr Burgess then called out: “That’s a woman for you, a wonderful woman,” which was greeted with more noise from the Government benches.Mrs Jackson remarked: “The people who have lost their home and lost their car have the Members of Parliament thinking this is the most hilarious thing that happened today. The [United Bermuda Party] people on this side of the House have been quiet. Your Government have been laughing and joking.”Mr Burgess stood up to make a point of order, saying: “That’s untrue. This party, this Government, we care about our seniors, as every other person in this Country does and to give that statement over the radio is unfair, Aunt Louise, you know that.”It’s not the first time Mrs Jackson has taken on hecklers recently. On February 11, she chided Government MPs for interrupting her hour-long response to the National Health Plan.A spectator in the public gallery, whose identity is unknown, was escorted from the House by the sergeant-at-arms after shouting: “Stop laughing at that lady. Don’t laugh at her. She has a right to speak.”Speaking after Friday’s debate, United Bermuda Party Deputy Leader Trevor Moniz told The Royal Gazette he does not feel the Speaker does enough to keep Government hecklers in line.He said Mr Burgess referring to Mrs Jackson as “Aunt Louise” was “extremely rude” and also “demeaning and unprofessional”.And he pointed out that Standing Orders governing proceedings ban offensive, insulting and disrespectful language and state that the correct way to address an MP is by their constituency. That means Mrs Jackson should be called The Honourable Member for Pembroke South West.“People pick up on it with Louise because she’s female and elderly. It offends everyone when they behave like that,” he said.Mr Burgess said last night: “I call her that [Aunt Louise] out of respect. I couldn’t call her anything else. That’s what I normally call older people. That’s out of respect. I never disrespect anyone.”Neither Deputy Speaker Mr Perinchief nor Speaker Stanley Lowe returned calls for comment.