next general election is expected to be decided. Our series starts with a look at St. George's North.

St. George's often feels as though it gets the short end of the stick. And regardless of what happens on high-profile issues like a dedicated east end cruise ship and a use for the abandoned Club Med, the candidates who can convince voters they will change that are likely to triumph in St. George's North.

Political experts interviewed by The Royal Gazette have identified St.

George's North as one of five bellwether constituencies that will decide the general election expected within the year.

It was once considered a United Bermuda Party stronghold.

But in 1989, on her sixth attempt, the Progressive Labour Party's Miss Jennifer Smith pulled an upset, topping the polls to unseat the UBP's Mr.

Gladwin (Doc) Hall.

Since then, Miss Smith has gained a national profile as Shadow Education Minister and respect for her work in the House of Assembly.

The other incumbent, UBP backbencher Mr. Phillip Smith, has tried to distance himself from some of Government's tourism policies as they affect St.

George's.

"My party doesn't like it when I say this, but I've always put my constituents before my party and I continue to,'' he said.

Miss Smith who, as the only PLP candidate, benefited from "plumped'' ballots in 1989, will this time be joined by St. George's businessman Mr. Leon (Jimmy) Williams, who the party hopes can be elected on her coat-tails.

The UBP is fielding another newcomer, Mr. E. Michael Jones, who like Mr.

Williams is a St. George's common councillor.

The National Liberal Party plans to field a candidate, but it will not be Dr.

Maureen Ware, who received 127 votes in 1989.

Observers expect a Government announcement on a dedicated St. George's cruise ship, and possibly even a new life for the Club Med "eyesore'' before a vote is held. "They're going to try to buy the east end back, but it's gone,'' a PLP strategist said.

Equal to the high-profile problems are more parochial issues like paving, streetlights, a new firetruck, the independence of the Old Town's volunteer fire service, even the lack of a place for children to fly kites on Good Friday.

Although it was reduced in the recent budget, resentment continues to brew over the head tax on yacht passengers.

Education will also be a major issue in St. George's North, and not solely because Miss Smith is a candidate. Whether parents should have a choice about sending their children to St. George's Secondary School is still a sore point, and it is felt the Education Ministry has sent mixed signals.

But repeatedly, talk returns to fairness from Government. Few begrudge the millions of dollars Government has spent on west end development, but they wonder aloud what happened to their share of the pie.

"We've got it all here in St. George's, and I just feel that we're being left out,'' one businessman said. Tomorrow: Warwick East.

ST. GEORGE'S NORTH Registered voters (June, 1992)............1,293 1989 election results Jennifer Smith PLP..............650 Phillip Smith UBP..............421 Doc Hall UBP..............379 Maureen Ware NLP..............127 1985 results Phillip Smith UBP..............479 Doc Hall UBP..............477 Jennifer Smith PLP..............412 Louis Ming PLP..............332 John Rankin NLP..............115 Albarl Assalaam Ind................5.