Businesses in St. George's are closing and people have "evaporated" from the streets of what appears to be a "ghost town", a meeting heard last night.

Citizens of the Old Town told candidates running in tomorrow's municipal election they feared that St. George's was slowly dying – due to the economic downturn, rising crime and a lack of visiting cruise ships.

They asked Mayoral candidates Kenneth Bascome and E. Michael Jones, as well as those competing for the three alderman and five common councillor posts, how they planned to bring tourists back and revitalise the former capital.

One man told the room that Government's actions in keeping cruise ships out of St. George's and running few ferries to the town was fuelling its demise.

"All of these things are systematically undermining this town," said the man.

About 25 people attended the hour-and-a-half meeting at the Town Hall, with another male resident telling the room: "Businesses have closed; people have evaporated. What's the plan to bring people back?

"It hurts me as one who has been in the town since the age of five to see the deteriorating things that I see."

Both mayoral candidates agreed that change was needed and that the cruise ships and reducing crime needed to be two key priorities for the Corporation of St. George.

Mr. Bascome described the former capital as "like a ghost town" after 9 p.m. He said locals were safely at home by that hour because they believed there was "an element taking charge in this community".

A fully functioning police station was required in the town, according to the current Deputy Mayor. "I believe that when the residents are comfortable, other persons that come will be comfortable," said Mr. Bascome.

Mr. Jones, a former Mayor of the town, said more police patrols were needed on the streets. He agreed with voters that cruise ships would boost the local economy but said the town needed to find other sources of income and ought to be "going after" hotel guests as well.

"The town needs to open earlier and stay open later to encourage the residents of Hamilton and Smith's parishes to come to our town," said Mr. Jones.

Both men said they would open up municipal meetings to the public if elected.

Local resident Phillip Anderson said he had lived in St. George's for almost 50 years and found it difficult to understand why he did not have the right to vote.

He questioned why the franchise was limited to property owners and quizzed Mr. Bascome on his eligibility to be on the municipal register.

Mr. Bascome said he was a tenant on York Street and owned a clothing store. He suggested that Mr. Anderson speak to his MP about his desire for the franchise to be extended.

"That has to be done through the legislative process," he explained. "If you are really serious about that I would suggest that you speak to other persons who have a similar passion."

The meeting heard that the Corporations of St. George and Hamilton have submitted a joint proposal to Government on changing the law to allow more people to vote in both municipalities - but have heard nothing back.

On the future of the town Leslie Brackstone, who is running for a seat as alderman, said: "If you walk down Water Street, it's like going down a ghost town."

He said the Chamber of Commerce in the town wanted to clean up Water Street. "It doesn't have to look seedy; it doesn't have to look desolate," he said.

Clarence Minors, also running as alderman, claimed Government was "destroying the town" and said the electorate needed to make their concerns known to those in power.

• Voting takes place tomorrow between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.