The woman who will leave Bermuda next week because she cannot afford to pay rent was offered both a cash settlement and the possibility of accommodation by her new landlords.

However, Winifred Dodd, 84, turned both down, noting the effort was not enough.

Mrs. Dodd, who has lived in Bermuda for 50 years, has spent 38 of those years in an apartment in Pembroke.

When her original landlords passed away, however, Mrs. Dodd was told the rent at the apartment would increase from less than $200 monthly - the rent she was paying since she moved in 38 years ago - to $1,500.

Though she looked elsewhere, Mrs. Dodd was unable to find even shared accommodation that she could afford.

With medical bills relating to a car crash and a stroke, she realised she could not afford to stay on the Island, and is currently preparing to leave her home of 50 years and return to Canada, where she is from originally. The property she lives on is being held in trust by the Bank of Butterfield.

A Bank spokesperson yesterday stated: “As Trustee we have always been sympathetic to Mrs. Winifred Dodd's situation. However, Butterfield Trust (Bermuda) Limited is legally obligated to act on the instructions of all the beneficiaries of the G.I. Holmes Will Trust, who are Westmeath, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, the Committee of 25 and Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association.

“Butterfield Trust is merely acting on the wishes of these beneficiaries.”

Westmeath administrator James Davis would only confirm last night that the nursing home is a beneficiary of the will.

Reverend Duncan Jeffrey of St. Andrew's, though admitting he had only been to one meeting with the other beneficiaries, was able to give some more information.

“Efforts have been made by the Trust on behalf of the beneficiaries to provide either a cash settlement or accommodation, and both have been refused,” said Rev. Jeffrey.

He did not wish to divulge further details. However, Mrs. Dodd said before Christmas the beneficiaries had offered to buy her lease.

When Mrs. Dodd pointed out that would not solve the problem of where she was to live, it was suggested that she go live at Westmeath.

“I said, why would I go there for two months?” she said. “It's not for me... I guess it's all right, but I'm not ready for that kind of stuff.

“I'm not going to go over there and sit in a rocking chair... You get worse when you go in to those places.”

Even if Mrs. Dodd were willing to go into the nursing home, she would not be able to afford it, she said. “They're asking for about $4,000 (per month).”

Instead, she will leave Bermuda on January 29 to receive medical treatment related to a stroke she had in 2002.