St. David's is a cultural mix as rich as Dennis's Hideaway fish chowder -- and the voters of St. George's South have a unique view of the rest of the Island.

And residents in the constituency -- which also includes the Wellington area, part of Tucker's Town and Ferry Reach -- pleaded for more racial tolerance in the run-up to the General Election and the new century.

Dennis Lamb, 73, owner of the legendary Dennis's Hideaway restaurant, said: "We've all got to work together -- there's too much aggression between black and white people.'' He added: "There is an important election coming up and we've got to be careful.'' Mr. Lamb -- unusually for Bermuda -- complained not that Government is not doing enough, but that it does too much.

He said: "You can do too much for a person.'' Elsewhere in the area, the national concerns of crime, drugs and housing are linked to the closer-to-home issue of the future of the former Base lands.

Gas station attendant Micky Pitcher, 62, of Texas Road, said: "It's crime and drugs -- it's a problem in all of Bermuda and we've got our share of it here.

"I think the Magistrates should use the powers they have got and get tougher.'' Mr. Pitcher added that old age pensioners deserved a better deal than they currently get.

"The pensions aren't high enough -- I don't think Government over the years have had enough initiative. As people are living longer, I don't think they've done enough to take care of them.'' But Mr. Pitcher said he was generally satisfied with the state of the Island.

He added: "I think the Government has done a lot right in the last five years. The plan they came up with, they've fairly well completed. But everybody's going to grumble, I suppose.'' And he singled out the new CedarBridge Academy and the work at the old dump in Pembroke for particular praise.

But he added: "One concern down here is the base and how that's going to be.

But I say give them a chance -- the money's got to come from somewhere.'' For young mother-of-two Vanessa Butterfield, 32, housing is the key issue.

Ms Butterfield said: "We need housing -- I've been looking for a house for a year.'' She added she had put her name down for a house on the Base lands a year ago -- and had been told recently there was a long waiting list.

Ms Butterfield -- who was laid off from a cashier's job recently and is working in a bar -- added jobs should also be a priority.

But Valerie O'Connor, 52, of Cashew City, said she was happy with the quality of Island life.

Mrs. O'Connor added: "I just live here and enjoy. I think the Government's doing a good job. Everything's OK as far as I'm concerned -- I don't see anything wrong. I just live one day at a time.'' Sally Pitcher, 59, also of Cashew City, echoed Mr. Lamb's fears over the racial divide.

She said: "Drugs are big in Bermuda right now -- and there's too much prejudice as well.'' Mrs. Pitcher said some black people "would turn their backs'' if a white Jesus Christ was to appear -- "and vice versa.'' Henry DeSilva, 69, of Battery Close, also said affordable housing was a major problem.

He added: "They need to do something for the people who can't afford housing.

The rents are scary and not enough's being done.'' And he called for an even harder approach to drugs importation to Bermuda.

Mr. DeSilva said: "It's a shame because we have a problem here they should be able to correct -- I feel Government aren't doing enough to correct that problem.

"The stuff can only come in one of two ways -- air or boat -- and it should be dealt with.'' Micky Pitcher Graphic file name: PITCH Vanessa Butterfield Graphic file name: BUTTER Henry DeSilva Graphic file name: DESILVA Dennis Lamb Graphic file name: LAMB