Controversial St. George's North promises to be a closely watched constituency in Monday's election.

Although traditionally a PLP stronghold -- party leader Jennifer Smith and running mate Leon (Jimmy) Williams romped home with 61.4 percent of the vote in 1993 -- the defection of party faithful Kenny Bascome throws a wild card into the equation.

Mr. Bascome left the PLP after former top Finance Ministry official Deleay Robinson was delegated as Mrs. Smith's 1998 running mate.

The ousted candidate then chose to run as an Independent candidate despite a reported peace offering -- a Senate seat -- from PLP leaders.

Another more recent development is the recent public attack upon Mr. Robinson in an advertisement submitted by UBP supporters which appeared in The Royal Gazette on Monday.

Yesterday Mr. Robinson said the "defamatory violation of human rights'' now overshadowed any other issues for St. George's North voters. "Bermudians are incensed, they are really, really steaming,'' he told The Royal Gazette .

"People who have not been going to the polls have been calling me and swearing assistance.

"Even in St. George's -- tranquil, staid, historic St. George's' -- people are very, very mad,'' he continued. The personal attack effectively displaced the previous focal points of a day care nursery -- which had failed to receive government support -- and workers who had been "left in the lurch'' after the closing of the Club Med Hotel, Mr. Robinson explained.

And his constituents are now "up in arms'' and "have put everything else aside''.

"People don't want to talk about anything else,'' he said.

"The issue clearly is this nastiness,'' he continued. "I have to throw out a challenge to The Royal Gazette to tell the public who the ad agency really is.

I challenge the ad agency to come forward.'' Ms Smith was unavailable for comment. United Bermuda Party hopeful Bob Stewart sees getting the Camberley Group to reinvigorate the Club Med Hotel as a central issue for the East-end "to provide jobs, opportunities, and growth for the future''.

"That would be a real shot in the arm for St. George's,'' he said. And his running mate Kim Swan said the area was "different from any other constituency''.

"The actual constituency itself is a working economic centre. And from that standpoint alone the town needs to be protected. People don't like leaving to work, they want jobs in St. George's,'' he explained.

Mr. Swan went on to point out that the parish was self-sufficient because it contained the Island's airport and oil supply, and a cruise ship terminal.

Crime, drugs and traffic were also "big issues'' for Mr. Stewart.

"Traffic, narrow roads, small lanes, speed, a lot of houses are very close to the road, getting irritated by the noise. It's dangerous as well, obviously,'' he said.

"For a small community there seems to be a lot of crime which people see because they're living close together. It's not like Smiths Parish for example where the houses are miles away from each other. The houses are very close to each other. People live right on top of each other.'' The two men also singled out Town Cut and the parish rest home as issues needing attention.

And political Independent Kenneth Bascome also singled out the Town Cut as an ongoing concern.

"One of the main bones of contention with the business people in particular is proper access for the cruise ships through the Town Cut channel,'' he said.

He also described the area as a special constituency due to its business and residential mix.

"Hopefully the discussion in regard to the hotel will come to fruition and with that a number of young people who are presently unemployed hopefully will find employment,'' he said.

"Another issue that needs addressing is the upgrading of the parish rest home. And an issue that you hear no-one speaking to is the dual tax system that people who live in the town of St. George's are subject to.

"If you live or own property in the municipality of St. George you are subjected to pay two taxes -- one to the central government and one to the municipal government.

"And I believe with proper representation, legislation could be enacted whereby that tax could be halved because it's impossible for the central government and the municipal government to provide two services. I think that a number of people are pleased with it, but they just don't make enough forceful representation to their elected officials. As a St. Georgian I don't believe that we have received the financial assistance that I believe that St.

George's as a historical entity in Bermuda should receive,'' Mr. Bascome continued.

"Particularly when you look at all of the money that has been spent in the Dockyard which are taxpayer dollars.''