shocked into action after delays in issuing pension cheques.

For the pensions -- normally issued on the first of the month -- have not arrived from Canada.

And one ex-employee said the hold-up was causing hardship to a host of pensioners of the company.

The woman -- who declined to be named -- said pensioners banked on the money to live.

She said: "They have left people without food and unable to pay their bills -- it's ridiculous.'' And a worried male pensioner who also contacted The Royal Gazette said: "This delay is causing me real hardship.

"I worked for years and I'm entitled to my pension -- but they haven't even given me an adequate explanation for why they're late.'' But yesterday the mystery delay was blamed on double trouble with computers at Sun Life Canada and Air Canada.

A fault in Air Canada's Montreal computer, which crashed on Friday, was partly responsible, while a changeover in the computer system at Sun Life added to the problem.

Air Canada refused to accept packages without the computer system -- which was not back up until Monday -- for security reasons.

Pension cheques are issued by Sun Life in Canada and couriered to the Island by DHL.

The woman said she had contacted Sun Life and had been told the financial giants had DHL investigating the delay.

She added she had been advised the cheques left Canada last Wednesday and Friday and should have been in Bermuda within 48 hours as normal.

The woman said: "It takes two days for the courier service. Once they weren't here after that time, they should have cancelled the cheques and issued new ones.'' David Rees, DHL manager for Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda, who is visiting the Island from his Florida base leapt into action yesterday as soon as The Royal Gazette alerted him to the problem.

After checking out the hold-up, he said that the shipment from Canada had now arrived in Bermuda and would be delivered as soon as possible.

Mr. Rees stressed that the delay was not the fault of the courier company.

He said: "Air Canada refused to accept shipments, so there was a delay. But that is understandable from a security point of view.'' A spokesman for BELCO said the cheques were further delayed because of the Sun Life computer.

But he said: "Any pensioner who has direct deposit, we will definitely have their money in by tomorrow.'' And he added special arrangments had been made with Sun Life for those who normally get their cheques by mail.

The spokesman said: "Our human resources department are calling these pensioners to ask them if they want their cheques in the mail or if they want to pick them up.'' And he added that anyone who wanted to collect their cheques direct from the Island Sun Life office should contact the firm's Michelle Benevides on 292-0640.