People living in the town of St. George's will no longer pay taxes to the Corporation if the United Bermuda Party forms the next Government, Opposition politicians promised yesterday.

And they said the Police Station will be fully staffed and the old Club Med will be redeveloped. The promises were made at a press conference in the town square when UBP Leader Grant Gibbons confirmed that businessman Kenneth Bascome and Senator Kim Swan were the party's candidates for St. George's North and St. George's West respectively.

"First, we will eliminate the burden of double taxation for residents of the town of St. George's ," Dr. Gibbons said.

"Second, the old Club Med site will be redeveloped, and redeveloped as a hotel and mixed use tourism site. Third : We pledge that the St. George's Police Station will be fully staffed and remain in St. George's."

Town residents are estimated to contribute about $200,000 to the Corporation's coffers, in addition to paying land tax to the Government.

Dr. Gibbons said that the "double taxation" was was "hard to justify" and will be removed by a UBP Government.

The resulting shortfall will be made up from Government funds.

Mr. Bascome, an Alderman for the Corporation, said that he was honoured to have been selected the candidate for St. George's North.

He had been pushing for the redevelopment of the old Club Med which has been closed for 15 years, he said.

"This will be one of the main issues that we will tackle as the new UBP," he said. And he cited the fact that the facility is located close to the airport, a golf course and a "town steeped in history".

"We will make a concerted effort to bring that facility back online."

During question time, it was noted that the former UBP Government had closed the hotel down, but Mr. Bascome reassured the media that the hotel's redevelopment will definitely be "on the frontburner".

"I was not a part of the UBP 15 years ago. I am a member of the new UBP," he said.

Senator Swan, who will be contesting his third general election, said that Bermuda and St. George's residents "have been devoid of good representation".

"We have committed that St. George's Police Station will be in St. George's Town and fully staffed," he said.

"St. George's deserve a police presence."

Asked the difference between campaigning in Opposition as compared to being in power, Sen. Swan said that his experience in Opposition was "a humbling one and a necessary one". But, he added, "It's been an eye-opening experience for the electorate to see what has transpired for them as a result of what happened in 1998."

Like the old St. George's North, Constituency Number One takes in the town of St. George's. Mr. Bascome, who was a member of the PLP for 30 years, may well be competing against Premier Jennifer Smith.

Yesterday Mr. Bascome said : "I won't be running against anyone. I will be standing as a candidate for the United Bermuda Party and if elected be a representative for all of Bermuda, particularly the community in which I live."

The former St. George's North is represented in the House of Assembly by Ms Smith and Delaey Robinson. Mr. Robinson is not expected to contest the next election which has to be called this year.