The Town of St. George's needs to raise $20 million in order to realise the goals of its Heritage Plan, Scott Hunter told Hamilton Rotarians.

And it hopes to raise the money by 2009 to coincide with Bermuda's 400th anniversary.

Mr. Hunter, who is a managing partner of Arthur Andersen as well as the director of the St. George's Foundation, urged Rotarians to "get involved'', when he spoke to them at their weekly luncheon.

"I'd like to invite each and every one of you to play a personal role in the future of our historic town and the future of Bermuda -- and in the futures of your children, your grandchildren and your great grandchildren,'' he said.

The Town Heritage Plan has five specific goals, he explained. The first is to create a World Heritage Centre "to provide orientation, information and educational programmes''.

Mr. Hunter said that a site for the centre has already been identified at the Queen's Warehouse by the cruise ship terminal at Penno's Wharf.

The plan also calls for the restoration of derelict and deteriorating historic buildings.

"We are doing this by building up a self-sustaining `revolving and endowment fund' with which to purchase and restore historically sensitive derelict properties which will then be sold on, protected by strict covenants,'' he said.

The town will enhance its old world feel by moving overhead wires underground, laying brick paving and introducing period lighting under the plan.

"You can already see the tremendous difference these improvements are making to the town,'' he said.

Restoring activity on the waterfront and improving parks and recreations areas in the town are the final main goals of the Heritage Plan.

The end product, it is hoped, will be a "St. George's buzzing with life and activity''.

The town received UNESCO World Heritage status -- which puts it in the company of only a few hundred sites worldwide including the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China -- because of its many unique features, he said.

Mr. Hunter pointed out that St. George's is the oldest continually inhabited town of English origin in the New World and retains much of its early street plan and buildings.

The town served as Bermuda's capital for 200 years and the Country was founded there nearly 400 years ago.

The forts associated with the town "are without parallel in the world'', he added. "They represent almost the complete range of British coastal fortifications and artillery overseas from the 17th century until the end of coastal defence in 1956.'' While the old town was the focus of his speech and has earned the "World Heritage Site'' designation, the entire Island might be sold as World Heritage Island, Mr. Hunter suggested.

"It could bring substantial increases in cultural tourists from all over the world,'' he said.

Action plans: Scott Hunter reveals an ambitions scheme for St. George's.