Bermuda began in St. George's – and it seems as if the 2007 election campaign started in earnest in the old town as the parties spent the week scrapping it out over who could claim credit for the idea to revamp the Police station.

The UBP kicked it off with Kenny Bascome pledging his party would install round-the-clock coverage in the Old Town which was followed on Monday with Public Safety Minister David Burch promising the PLP would have this done within months.

The Opposition hit back, saying it had been calling for this for ages and now Government was scrambling to get something done with the election day looming, pointing out Minister Burch could not even specify planned manpower levels and noting that the civil servant responsible for getting the building re-opened was only contacted the day after the UBPpress conference.

Minister Burch responded with typically frosty response and said Government had promised this as far back as 2003 but had scheduled the York Street project for after the completion of the new Southside Police station.

With the parish boasting four marginals, the issue is a live one. Former Premier Jennifer Smith held her seat last time by just eight votes, PLPnewcomer Phil Perinchief is defending St. George's South by the same margin.

And in St. George's West – currently held by PLPMPDean Foggo by just 22 votes – voters raised the law and order issue in a Royal Gazette focus on the highly-prized marginal this week.

Locals said attacks on visitors harmed tourism while Police response times were too slow.

And voters seemed unimpressed with the latest promise to development the former Club Med site, one telling this paper:"Everyone in St. George knew there would be an announcement for a hotel in Club Med. I think it happens before every election.

"But for whatever reason, the Government of the day is very good at coming up with why it hasn't happened."

Someone could pay come election day. Political insiders on both sides believe Mr. Foggo has an uphill task to hold his seat against UBP challenger Kim Swan who is trying his luck again after two previous defeats.

Opposition strategists believe Mr. Perinchief is vulnerable although Jennifer Smith will be more difficult to shift, despite her tiny majority.

However PLPchairman David Burt predicted the UBP would find all three PLP MPs hung on while Lavita Foggo would take St. David's off the UBP which it holds by just 15 votes.

He said the party had a string of accomplishments in the east end including introducing a ferry run to town and eliminating double taxation in the old town.

"St. George's Police Station was always going to be renovated, it makes perfect sense to me."

But the priority had been to get the Southside station done first.

And PLPelection candidate Walton Brown, who is standing in Pembroke West, said he thought the national campaign had been going very smoothly for the PLP with the party pumping out its message via a variety of methods.

He said he was encouraged the election had been relatively clean so far but he expected things to come alive in the final weeks.

"I suspect both parties are expecting to crescendo as they lead up to the 18th."

But he said, like so many others from both sides, that the election would ultimately be won on the doorstep.

"If you connect with the constituency you have a reasonable chance of victory."

Voters demanded more of their representative under the single seat system, someone who could attend to parochial matters as well as see the bigger picture, said Mr. Brown.

He added that the election was defined by the UBP concentrating on economic growth and stability whereas the PLP's approach was on giving the average person opportunities.

Asked for details he said voters no longer had to register every year and he praised the PLP for pledging to introduce output standards in schools.

Each election has a totally different dynamic. In 1998 the PLPtide was unstoppable, in 2003 doubters felt they deserved another chance.

But now United Bermuda Party chairman Shawn Crockwell feels the mood is one of "You have had your chance", with voters wanting action not more promises from a party which hasn't delivered in nine years.

He said his party's pledge to eliminate payroll tax for low earners was getting a lot of play.

"That is something people can understand. It's money in their pocket, people start immediately to see how they can use that additional income to improve their standard of living.

"Their concern is how can I survive more successfully in my country."

Mr. Crockwell thinks his party can pick up 22 seats in the election because of widespread disillusionment with the current Government across the board.

"Voters don't like the obsession with race or the divisive politics. They want to talk about the issues and the plans which will help their family."

"I am surprised a lot of people are saying colour is not an issue – that we are all Bermudian and we want a Government which performs and delivers."

He said the UBP would not be drawn into personal attacks but nor would it flinch from criticising the Government and pointing out why it had to go.

The UBP has already released a large part of its platform in the Agenda for Change document and Mr. Crockwell said he was surprised by how many people had already read it.

If the UBPis elected, it will release a timeline for implementation, said Mr. Crockwell.

Asked about the timing of its own manifesto, Mr. Burt said the PLPwas proud of its record on housing, transport, tourism and seniors and would be hammering home its achievements on the doorstep before putting out an "exciting" manifesto.

Every significant social change in Bermuda had been brought about through pressure from the PLP or through its policies in office, said Mr. Burt, who said his party could still take 30 of the 36 seats up for grabs.

However Opposition insiders believe Gina Spence-Farmer's appeal to the female voters in marginal Warwick North East, where woman make up the majority with 599 electors to 464 males, could help turf out Dale Butler, despite his popularity.

And the UBP is also banking on a Michael Dunkley win in Smith's North and a Wayne Scott victory over El James in Warwick North Central. However they will need Suzann Holshouser to fend off a strong challenge from Lavita Foggo in St. David's and David Dodwell to defeat Zane DeSilva in Southampton East Central.

But Mr. Burt is unworried. "The fact of the matter is the PLPhas accomplished a lot for the people of Bermuda."

The UBP finished the week by pledging a Police station in Warwick – which has three marginal seats. The battle over Police stations could run and run.