In the sleepy centre of St. George, it's hard to imagine a more peaceful place in the world. With not a cruise ship in sight and just a handful of tourists browsing the stores, locals sit and shoot the breeze around King's Square on a rainy November day without an apparent care in the world.

But behind its quiet exterior, St. George's North — or constituency number one — is proving to be the breeding ground for some of the hottest issues in the forthcoming General Election.

Just yards from the square sits the Police station on York Street, the subject of what this newspaper dubbed "the battle of St. George's" two weeks ago.

Both parties vying to win the seat claimed to have conceived the idea of round-the-clock policing in the old town — suggesting that canvassers are hearing that crime is a key concern for constituents.

Head out of town towards Tobacco Bay and it's impossible not to spot the former Club Med — a once grand tourist destination now dilapidated and harbouring a handful of homeless people.

Premier Ewart Brown recently called a press conference to say that negotiations for a five-star hotel on the site are in the final stages. But cynics, who have been waiting since 1988 for a plan for the resort, wonder if that agreement will ever be signed, sealed and delivered.

Less well known, but equally rundown, is Arcadia House, on Slippery Hill. UBP candidate Kenneth Bascome says the former military building, damaged by Hurricane Fabian, can be seen from the harbour and is "an eyesore".

"Most of the folks I know would like it to be razed to the ground," he said. "I would have thought that by now the Government would have made a definitive statement; it's owned by Government."

Other issues for the town include cruise ships, raw sewage going into the sea, how the Corporation of St. George should be funded and where the weekly tourist street festival in summer should be held.

Current mayor Mariea Caisey turned down a request from The Royal Gazette for an interview to discuss key concerns in the constituency on the grounds that it would be in "bad taste" before an election.

Former mayor E. Michael Jones said both parties should ignore the importance of St. George's at their peril. "This is a community that needs to have attention," he said. "Any number of successive governments have in my opinion not accorded St. George's as much attention as they should have.

"The politicians need to be aware that as it's a seat that could be considered a marginal and one or two votes could sway the election or the number of seats."

He said Mr. Bascome and PLP candidate Dame Jennifer Smith had both been pounding the streets to win votes. "Everybody is out on the doorstep. There is a buzz around. People are talking about it, people are interested in what happens."

Former UBP MP Jamahl Simmons is a resident in constituency one and has been canvassing on behalf of the PLP in the area. He thinks personalities, not issues, will make the difference on December 18.

"Crime is number one in terms of issues though it's less of a problem," he said. "I know that at least where I live it's tremendously improved.

"But I think really it's about getting on the doorstep and people thinking they have someone they trust who will represent them."