society to prepare for the enlarging elderly population.

And Rodney Smith told Hamilton Lions that he felt memorials should be established to mark the contributions from great Bermudians who have passed on.

"Bermuda's elderly population is the fastest growing age group. I am referring specifically to those over the age of 65,'' said Mr. Smith.

Quoting from the 1980 Census, he noted that 8.1 percent of the total population fell into this age bracket then. By the 1991 Census, he continued, this had increased to 9.2 percent of the total population.

However this was an increase of 17.1 percent of the elderly population in 11 years. Over the same period of time, Bermuda's total population increase was 6.5 percent, said Mr. Smith.

"The elderly population is growing nearly three times faster than any other age group.'' This aging population "will place increasing burdens on our limited resources, and Bermuda would be wise to move now to ensure that the necessary services and programmes are in place to meet the needs of this group''.

"We need a national education programme -- teaching our society to value and respect our elderly.

"Based on how we view aging will determine how we treat our elderly and the types of programmes and services that we will put in place in order to make their latter years their best years.'' Mr. Smith added that memorials be established to commemorate Bermudians.