battlegrounds in the October 5 general election, The Royal Gazette today looks at St. George's North.

St. George's may or may not have a cruise ship, and the old Club Med remains an empty shell.

The Progressive Labour Party hopes to tap voter dissatisfaction over those issues to wrest a second St. George's North seat away from the United Bermuda Party.

But that could prove a tough task as UBP MP Mr. Phillip Smith has built a reputation of putting St. George's interests before his party's, even when this has led to rows with Cabinet Ministers.

The cruise ship and Club Med are "the two most talked-about issues'' in the constituency, said PLP MP Ms Jennifer Smith, who won election on her sixth attempt in 1989.

Until then, the UBP had held both seats since 1968, the first election fought on party lines.

The UBP's margins got slimmer as feelings heightened that the East End was not prospering through Government the way Dockyard in the West End of the Island was.

St. George's North includes the Old Town and all of St. George's Island east of Wellington Lane.

Ms Smith, who benefited from "plumping'' when she ran as the lone PLP candidate last time, now hopes to bring running mate Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams into the House of Assembly with her.

Mr. Williams is a St. George's common councillor and popular businessman. But to take both seats, the PLP faces a big task.

Two-time UBP incumbent Mr. Phillip Smith is calling for an East End Development Corporation, saying he is prepared to "fight everybody in the party,'' on the issue.

"I've always put the interests of St. George's first, even when getting into trouble as a result of fighting with Cabinet Ministers,'' Mr. Smith said. "I will continue to do so.'' Mr. Smith said: "There is no point in us having a cruise ship if we do not have a plan for St. George's for the future.'' Mr. Smith said "EEDCO'' should be modelled on Wedco and said Government should spend up a minimum of $3 million on the quango -- which would encompass all of St. George's, not just the town -- to carry out repairs to streets, sewers and Fort St. Catherine.

The new corporation would thus be able to get over the town's antiquated taxation system, he said.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said yesterday that the EEDCO was "under active consideration''. "Mr. Smith has taken some very firm positions on St.

George's,'' he added.

Ms Smith was unimpressed. "If it has taken him 11 years to come up with some way of getting funds for St. George's to do some of the things that need to be done. then the people need to be warned that it may take 11 years for him to convince his colleagues to do it,'' she said.

On the cruise ship, Mr. Smith said prior contracts did not permit a dedicated St. George's ship until 1994, and he remained confident a ship would arrive in May.

A deal is not finalised, but Government has promised that St. George's will have its dedicated cruise ship next year. A deal to bring the Sally Albatross to Bermuda fell through, but other ships were promised, Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge said yesterday.

Both Carnival Cruise Lines and Majesty Cruise Line have reportedly promised ships.

As for Club Med, Mr. Smith said it was difficult to sell a house during the recession, let alone a large hotel.

No concrete proposals have emerged for the building, referred to by many voters as "an eyesore.'' Government should tell the owners to apply a fresh coat of paint to the exterior, Mr. Smith said.

Mr. Smith is joined this year by UBP newcomer Mr. E. Michael Jones, another St. George's common councillor.

Mr. Jones is part of what the UBP calls its "new face''.

A unit manager at British American Insurance who also operates the East End Florist, Mr. Jones has been involved in the St. George's Historical Society, the Bermuda Society of Arts, the Masterworks Foundation, and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, among others.

"We're out working hard,'' Mr. Jones said.

Ms Smith said St. George's residents were sceptical enough about the cruise deal that it would take "the actual physical ship paying a visit'' before they were reassured.

A dedicated cruise ship is seen as important because many visitors save their money until ships reach Hamilton, where they believe the choice and prices are better.

Government may have soothed some hard feelings in St. George's when it reduced a head tax on yacht passengers in its last budget.

Unlike 1989, the National Liberal Party is not running a candidate. But Mr.

Albari Assalaam, an Independent candidate who polled five votes in 1985, has returned for a final try at winning a seat.

St. George's North: Candidates -- Albari Assalaam, 56, van driver (Ind); E.

Michael Jones, 42, insurance unit manager (UBP); Jennifer Smith, 46, journalist (PLP); Phillip Smith, 53, insurance agent (UBP); Leon (Jimmy) Williams, 53, businessman (PLP).

Electoral Hall -- East End Primary School. Electorate -- 1,455. 1989 election -- Jennifer Smith (PLP) 650; Phillip Smith (UBP) 421; Gladwin Doc Hall (UBP) 379; Maureen Ware (NLP) 127.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION