"wrong and offensive'' yesterday.

He accused the new Government of "getting it backwards'' -- by paying an extra $3 million in social assistance but refusing to fund even $500,000 for university scholarships.

And he insisted poor Bermudians needed a hand up instead of a handout, claiming the Island's family life was under siege.

Sen. Burgess was responding to Sen. Calvin Smith's Budget presentation on Health and Family Services.

And he said he had done more than his Government counterpart to help solve Bermuda's housing crisis.

"I declare my interest as I have sold houses and developed houses from time to time,'' he said.

"I have done more to assist Bermudians in housing than that good Senator has ever done or ever will do.

"If you asked me at the end of this speech if I thought I would get an extra 50 votes, I would say no. But if I can save 50 people, you are 50 houses nearer to solving the problem.'' He said the Bermuda Housing Corporation could help find affordable homes by fixing deals between low-income buyers and small contractors.

Sen. Burgess added: "The purchaser would get a house at a lesser price. The contractor would get a price with less risk. It's a win-win situation.'' But concentrating on university scholarships, he attacked the PLP's plan to "emancipate people's minds'' in the battle against racism and inequality.

"If you want to free people's minds, educate them,'' he said. "They came along and increased financial assistance by almost $3 million but they couldn't increase scholarships by $500,000.

"Yes, the downtrodden have to be taken care of. But the way to take care of them is to make sure they don't become downtrodden.

And he insisted it was wrong to rap the UBP for "throwing money'' at social problems for 30 years, only to increase spending even more.

"It's wrong and offensive,'' said Sen. Burgess. "If it's wrong, correct it.

It's irresponsible, irresponsible, irresponsible.'' Sen. Smith opened the debate, with Senate sitting in committee form, saying: "This is the biggest Ministry in Government and has several key `people departments'.

"It is the Ministry which can revive some of those people who have been left behind by the economic and social policies of the previous Government.

"It reflects how money has priority over people.'' He insisted the PLP Government would: work to provide affordable housing; reduce child abandonment; tackle drug abuse; try to bring down insurance rates; improve parenting skills; and increase awareness about "elderly neglect''.