The town of St. George's is "as safe as it gets" in the context of 21st century Bermuda, according to Premier Jennifer Smith.

She told The Royal Gazette that, while crime was certainly an issue on the minds of voters she had come across, Government could only encourage Police to patrol as much as possible and make sure that officers have enough funding to allow them to carry out their duties.

Ms Smith was one of 75 candidates who made their campaigns for the House of Assembly official during Nomination Day yesterday, when those running are required to go to the Polling Booth of their constituency and sign their names.

She will be running against candidate for the Gombey Liberation Party Gavin (Sundjata) Smith, who was only announced yesterday, and the United Bermuda Party's Kenneth Bascome, who ran as an independent candidate during the 1998 election and gained 101 votes against Ms Smith's 773 and Delaey Robinson's 693.

She said community Policing was a central plank in the PLP's methods of dealing with crime because "it has at its heart neighbourhood and community issues".

"It is the kind of thing that is designed to come to grips with the violence that we have seen, but the violence in St. George's is not unique to St. George's nor is it unique to this time. What we have done is make sure that Police are funded enough so that they can carry out their mandate."

Asked if she believed the town had got safer over the last five years of PLP Government, Ms Smith said: "I can't answer whether it is safer. As with every area, as people have moved around and times have changed, there have been changes everywhere. I don't think that there is anywhere in Bermuda that hasn't suffered a break-in or that hasn't been subject to some kind of crime. Within the context of 21st century Bermuda, St. George's is as safe as it gets.

"Certainly the people who are transplanted to St. George's express how much nicer it is, how friendly the people are, how quiet and peaceful it is and just how nice St. George's is."

Asked how confident she was of winning the seat, which makes up the easternmost part of the old St. George's North constituency and includes most of the central part of town, Ms Smith said: "I never take the voters for granted, however my confidence is based on our record. If in fact voters wish to have a Government that is responsible and delivers on their promises they will vote for me. If voters want something else then they won't, so my confidence is based on the fact that we have delivered on our promises and on our record."

And she said many of the issues raised by constituents she has talked to related to national concerns: "They are the same issues that I've heard nationally and I can't say that I've heard a lot of issues. I've heard a lot of people say they think we are doing a good job but they know we haven't had time to do everything and they don't expect miracles. Among the issues I have heard is a concern for crime, and actually a concern for knowledge, what are the plans for seniors. And we can answer that. What are the plans for various issues, what else is going to happen in education, those are the things that come up, which is more positive that saying what is wrong with Bermuda."