Progressive Labour Party election candidates last night promised a brighter future for St George's as they fought back against claims it's a ghost town.At a packed town hall meeting at Penno's Wharf, St George's West candidate Renee Ming argued entrepreneurs have already taken advantage of Government incentives by starting new businesses in the Old Town which many say has lost its way in recent years.Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith, the PLP's long-serving MP who is running in St George's North, said the world heritage site is ripe for hotel development and a cruise ship if it gets the input from the community and the authorities.And Lovitta Foggo spoke of ongoing improvements in the nearby St David's, where she is aiming to retain her seat at next month's general election; she said the PLP plans to make St David's a self-sufficient community.Ms Ming, a former alderman who stepped up as candidate following the resignation of John Gibbons last week, said the area had recently seen six businesses open."All we hear about businesses closing, you tell me why people are confident enough to come to St George's and invest in our economic area," she told the crowd of about 100 people.Giving examples such as a cake shop and Japanese steak house, she said the PLP's economic empowerment zones policy has paved the way for recovery."When people say we are a ghost town, we are not. Maybe they don't understand," she said.Dame Jennifer said the PLP has a multi-pronged approach to bringing visitors and business to St George's."We continue to seek a cruise ship to tie up right here at Penno's Wharf, while participating in discussions for a new pier to accommodate larger ships in St George's," she said."We continue to believe that this world heritage site is prime property for hotel development and in the interim we will provide the impetus needed to get visitors to St George's as we continue to keep the golf course looking attractive."St George's has much and offers much — and there is much to be done at an individual level, at a business level, at the municipal level and at Government level. I believe that if we each do our part, St George's will benefit."Ms Foggo listed a host of parochial issues in her constituency, saying residents are benefiting from initiatives like the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre, better bus service, repairs to the lighthouse and assistance to the cricket club and gymnastics association."I can, with the assistance of my Government, help to ensure my community continues to be attended to in a positive manner," she said."We have much work to do — more streets to fix, more lights to put in place. The plan is to make St David's a self-sufficient community. I want to be the constant change agent for St David's that St David's needs."Crime was the first issue raised in a question-and-answer session at the end of the meeting, with residents once again raising the issue of the closed police station.Asked who had responsibility for the station, Dame Jennifer said: "We are not in charge of operations, we just pay for what happens."We have been told no. We have come up with various methods of why it can stay open, but having the police station there is not as important as having the police on patrol in the community."In St George's we have a dedicated officer who is there every day. She's dedicated to St George's, so anything you know that needs help, this is the person to call and she is extremely responsive."I know that having the facility there is a psychological conflict. We have had it there and we would like to keep it. But the police have said it's not practical. The fire station has said the same about the fire station because of mould."Responding to an audience member's question about the lack of a ferry service, Ms Foggo said the issue is being revisited, and that people's transport needs are being met with an improved bus service.Premier Paula Cox, who was in the audience, was asked to comment on the likelihood of a new hotel, which has been promised for the old Club Med site on numerous occasions in recent years."We are working to get a hotel in St George's as quickly as possible," said Ms Cox.She said negotiations are ongoing, adding: "We have gone silent until there's something concrete and definite to report."Dame Jennifer also spoke about the PLP's Standing Strong for Bermudians slogan, saying the party is trying to keep people in jobs when "others have talked of cutting jobs and putting people out of work".