The United Bermuda Party have pledged to renovate and re-open St. George's Police Station and pump more money into the Old Town as it formally introduced Kenny Bascome yesterday as its candidate for constituency one.

Currently St. George's deputy mayor, Mr. Bascome lost St. George's North by just eight votes to incumbent Jennifer Smith in 2003.

Mr. Bascome thanked the UBP for sticking with him. He said: "We have had many parliamentarians — I am looking to be a representative for the Town of St. George.

"We will make a commitment to reopen this Police station if we form the next Government — it will become fully functional."

The Police have a presence in St. George's above the Post Office but mainly operate out of the new facilities at Southside.

But the UBP have pledged a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week presence in the Old Town. Mr. Bascome said that was the number one local issue.

Party leader Michael Dunkley said the vibrancy and life of St. George's had been sucked out of it by inaction and many of the landmarks were struggling to keep their doors open despite the tourists.

So the UBP will put forward a percentage of the revenue from the fuel tax to boost investment.

The UBP said Bermuda imports between $100-150 million worth of petroleum products per year so a cut of 0.5 percent would yield $500,000 to $700,000.

But the precise percentage point of the fuel tax will have to be worked out with the Corporation of St. George, based on a budget they present to the Government.

The cash would be in addition to the Old Town's wharfage revenues from the oil docks (Esso and Shell), which yield between $1 and $1.5 million/year.

The UBP predict Premier Ewart Brown will spring another press conference promising exciting plans for the old Club Med site in the election campaign. But Mr. Dunkley said none of Dr. Brown's previous promises had been kept while his party would seek to get things moving.

Mr. Bascome, a former PLP activist with 30 years of service, said he would stay loyal to the UBP — despite what people were saying.

Mr. Bascome has always insisted his defection in 2002 was not an act of revenge but came after he became convinced the UBP had the interests of the community at heart.

His relationship with the PLP began to founder when Leon (Jimmy) Williams, who was Jennifer Smith's running mate, died and Mr. Bascome was snubbed in favour of Delaey Robinson, a decision which stung Mr. Bascome who then became an independent candidate at the 1998 general election.

He told The Royal Gazette: "As I say to people quite frequently. My life is governed by R.E.S.P.E.C.T. People ask me if I am being used because I am a black person.

"I am definitely being used, first of all, as a Bermudian and as a black person for what I bring to the table as (someone with) grass roots.

"And I will stick with the United Bermuda Party because I have made a commitment to the United Bermuda Party. And those people who believe I will jump ship — all I can say to them is they don't know me."